Junior Public Health Professional - Digital Health and AI Collaborative Network

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO's primary goal is to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, which includes addressing health emergencies, promoting universal health coverage, and advancing health equity.

Job Overview:
The Junior Public Health Professional (JPP) will be situated within the South-East Asia Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Collaborative Network (SEA-DAC) Secretariat at WHO-SEARO. The primary function of this position is to support the Secretariat in enhancing Member State engagement, fostering technical cooperation, and promoting regional collaboration and strategic partnerships. The JPP will play a crucial role in identifying country priorities, connecting needs with appropriate expertise and resources, and developing collaborative initiatives. This position requires a proactive approach to facilitate sustained engagement with various stakeholders, including Member States, national focal points, WHO Country Offices, technical and development partners, academia, and civil society. The JPP will also be responsible for providing technical support to Member States on priority areas of digital health and AI, while promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building across the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The JPP will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the day-to-day functioning of the SEA-DAC Secretariat and the implementation of the SEA-DAC workplan, which involves planning and coordinating activities, preparing meetings, and documenting decisions.
• Maintaining regular engagement with SEA-DAC national focal points, Ministries of Health, and WHO Country Offices to identify country priorities and opportunities for regional cooperation.
• Providing and coordinating technical assistance to Member States on digital health and AI strategies, interoperability, digital public infrastructure, and capacity building.
• Engaging with technical and development partners, academia, and civil society to develop strategic partnerships that align with Member State priorities.
• Identifying opportunities for resource mobilization and contributing to proposals and partnership documentation.
• Facilitating regional convenings, technical working groups, and capacity-building activities to share knowledge and implementation experiences.
• Contributing to the development of technical guidance, policy documents, and other knowledge products.
• Supporting monitoring and reporting against the SEA-DAC workplan and agreed results.
• Facilitating coordination with the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) and other relevant WHO programmes. 1
• Documenting and disseminating SEA-DAC activities and results in collaboration with Member States and WHO teams.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in digital health, law, data science, public health, social sciences, social work, or a related field. A Master's or Doctorate degree in computer science, international development, social work, public health, or any related field is desirable. Essential qualifications include proficiency in spoken and written English, computer proficiency with standard software applications, and knowledge of digital health and AI, strategy development, and multi-stakeholder consultations. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to think strategically and work under tight deadlines while developing innovative approaches and solutions.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as digital health, law, data science, public health, social sciences, or social work. A Master's or Doctorate degree in related fields is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's suitability for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of one year of relevant professional experience in digital health, artificial intelligence for health, health systems, or related areas. Experience working on digital health and/or AI initiatives across multiple countries, particularly within the WHO South-East Asia Region, is essential. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of experience in strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and coordination involving various stakeholders such as governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society. Demonstrated experience in supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives and technical consultations is also required.

Languages:
Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of any or multiple South-East Asia Regional languages is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is open only to nationals of South-East Asia Region Member States, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. The age limit for applicants is below 35 years. The remuneration for this position is set at US$ 63,000 per annum. Candidates are required to submit their applications through the WHO online recruitment portal. Additional requirements include providing scanned copies of relevant degrees and certificates during the interview process. WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization emphasizes a smoke-free environment and requires proof of vaccination as a condition for employment.