Consultant - Engagement with Non-State Actors at the World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Engagement with Non-State Actors

Location: Unspecified
Contractual Arrangement: External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 11 months
Organization: HQ/DAN Due Diligence & Non-State Actors
Schedule: Full-time

Purpose of Consultancy

• To provide technical expertise that supports the Due Diligence and Non-State Actors Unit in the Office of Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics (CRE/DAN) when conducting due diligence and risk assessment on engagements with non-State actors and provide technical expertise to advance the implementation of the WHO Framework of engagement with non-State actors (FENSA) and the recommendations contained in the management response to the initial evaluation of FENSA implementation.

Background
To facilitate implementation of the recommendations, the Due Diligence and Non-State Actors Unit (CRE/DAN) in the Office of Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics, developed four overarching action areas that underpin a more detailed set of actions that respond to the six recommendations contained in the evaluation and are contained in a management response. The management response includes inter alia measures to increase communication to demystify FENSA and improve buy-in for consistent application, build capacity to strengthen the consistent application of the FENSA rules and procedures, and develop tools and mechanisms to support FENSA implementation while ensuring ongoing learning, drawing lesson-learning and knowledge exchange.

While ambitious goals have been achieved since its adoption in 2016, enabling actions highlighted by the evaluation are critical to ensure full implementation of FENSA and Member States recommendations in an aligned, coordinated, and systematic manner to maximize the value added from non-State actor engagement across the Organization. To facilitate full achievement of the recommendations, technical support is needed. Not to mention, the exposure of CRE/DAN, and the responsibility and the complexity of its duties have increased considerably in view of the evolving functions of the Unit and the Organizational context. This, constantly calls for a higher-level of expertise and proficiency when reviewing proposals, assessing risk and proposing mitigation measures, and guiding technical departments when developing engagements.  

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: Review, analyze and provide technical recommendations to Head of Unit on engagements with philanthropic foundations.
• Deliverable 2: Review profiles of non-State actors including those in official relations available on the WHO Register, identify issues related to FENSA and propose to the Head Unit risk mitigation measures.
• Deliverable 3: Review, identify potential risks and provide  recommendations to the Head Unit on workplans of WHO collaborating centres.
• Deliverable 4: Draft guidance documents and communication material to support a harmonized implementation of FENSA across the Organization and to address the recommendations contained in the management response to the initial evaluation of the implementation of the Framework.
• Expected implementation date is 15 March 2025

Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages
Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced University Degree from a recognized university in International Law, Business Law, Commercial Law or Corporate Law.

Experience:
Essential:

• Over 10 years of relevant experience in engagements with non-State actors with minimum of 8 years of experience at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience in the analysis of strategic engagements with non-State actors.
• Previous experience working with WHO on the subject matter or another UN agency or non-State actors.

Skills:

• Documented expertise in the area of due diligence and risk assessment, legal reviews, capacity to deliver implementable strategic recommendations.
• Advanced capacity to analyze and provide legal advises on engagements with non-State actors and on institutional rules, policies and practices.
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills, combined with ability to multi-task and produce accurate results under time pressure.
• Excellent ability to write and synthesize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.

Languages required:
Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN Language.

Conditions

• Off site: Home-based.
• Travel: The consultant is not expected to travel.  
• Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):
• Remuneration: Band level C - USD10,000 - USD12,500 per month.
• Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): N/A
• Expected duration of contract: 11 months.

Application Closing Date
19th April, 2024.