Country Program Advisor (CPA) Grade: P4

The Country Focus Support (CFS) ensures the involvement of PAHO/WHO Country Offices and the countries themselves in the essential functions of the Organization -- technical cooperation for national health development and standard setting functions. The Country Program Advisor (CPA) facilitates the appropriate mix of political, technical, and managerial perspectives in the guidance and support of corresponding Country Offices (CO) as the country advances in formulation and execution of the Country Program of technical cooperation (including projects of Technical Cooperation among Countries (TCC), based in the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS). CFS facilitates reviews, analyses, and integrates information of political, technical and managerial aspects of PAHO/WHO's country operations; and formulates recommendations to the Office of the Director and Executive Management on issues pertaining to country program and presence. CFS coordinates PAHO/WHO's subregional technical cooperation.
Description of duties: Under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor, Country Focus Support (CFS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Analyze, monitor and evaluate country presence by reviewing program planning and implementation and overall functioning of the country office from a political, technical, and managerial perspective, and make recommendations for the efficient and effective execution of technical cooperation; b) Support and assist the PAHO/WHO Representatives (PWRs) of assigned country offices and all other levels of the Organization by providing guidance on process and procedures in the definition of the corresponding technical cooperation program, and monitor the progress and participate in the assessment of the impact on national health development; c) Promote and participate in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS) to include quality assurance and comparative analysis of CCS within and between subregions; d) Support the definition of, elaboration of, and monitor country office's development plans along with the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), and the Organization's institutional development policies and plans; e) Review proposed Biennial Program Budget (BPB) and its implementation, programming and reprogramming requests to ensure coherence with CCS, as well as Country Office capability to achieve programmed expected results; f) Analyze the pertinence of the country offices' technical and administrative requests, including proposals that will modify a given country program such as legal agreements, regular and extra-budgetary projects; g) Analyze trends in the national political, socioeconomic and cultural environments to determine their implications for health policies and programs; h) Participate in country's joint evaluation exercises; prepare recommendations for Executive Management (EXM) decision in accordance with established policies and AMPES guidelines. Follow-up on EXM decisions regarding assigned countries; i) Support, monitor, and evaluates the progress of Subregional Integration systems and processes such as the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), Central American Integration System (SICA), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (OTCA), Association of Caribbean States (ACS); j) Collect, analyze and report any critical issues related to the national health development processes and managerial issues; identify and report those issues requiring specific attention; k) Organize and participate in activities to develop corresponding countries capacity for coordinating international cooperation in health, and resource mobilization; liaise and collaborate with corresponding Areas/Units in the Regional Office; l) Participate in task forces and selection committees to add the country perspective; m) Advise on subregional, regional and global issues and official positions, including inter-agency collaboration and UN Reform processes; n) Provide PWRs with information and guidance on new polices related to Country Focus; provide support for their implementation in line with countries priorities; o) In close coordination with the PWR, support the preparation and follow up for the Director's visits to assigned countries; assume responsibility for Briefing Books according to established guidelines; p) Support the preparation and follow-up of national authorities' official visits to the Regional Office and during meetings of the Governing Bodies; q) Represent the Director and participate as a team member in coordination with the Office of the Director of Administration (AM) in the PWR Transfer Process; r) Participate in the organization, follow up and provide reports of the Annual and Subregional Manager's Meetings, under the guidance of CFS Coordinator and in coordination with other CPAs; s) Promote, analyze, and follow up the approval process, implementation, evaluation and reporting of technical cooperation among countries projects (TCC); t) Follow-up, support validation and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt regarding country presence, progress of country program, particularly those related to new modalities of technical cooperation; u) Participate in response to emergency situations such as natural and manmade disasters by keeping up-to-date on procedures and mobilizing support; v) Advocate for a country perspective and ensure focus on products, processes and decisions at various levels of the Organization; w) Act as CFS Coordinator 'ad interim', and as a backup for other CPAs, as needed; x) Perform other duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A university degree in one of the health sciences with a master's degree from an accredited institution in public health, health administration or a related field.
Skills: Key Behavioral Competencies -- Intrainstitutional Action: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization. -- Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures. -- Information Management: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work. -- Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads one's area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one and two years ahead. -- Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization: Demonstrates initiative and managerial capacity in obtaining alternative sources of financing and in mobilizing extrabudgetary resources for interventions. Acquires adequate funding, based upon the resources allocated in intervention plans. -- Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks. -- Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions: Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction. Technical Expertise -- Strong public health and strategic thinking background showing resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities, skills to deals with difficult situations and sensitive areas. -- Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrate ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political, technical and administrative issues. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, including the preparation of official documents. -- Ability to integrate political, technical and managerial inputs into recommendations for decision-making. -- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources. -- Ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment to re-prioritize actions on short notice. -- Ability to address a wide spectrum of interlocutors from high level national and subregional authorities, representatives of sister and bilateral agencies, PWRs, and Managers, to technical and support staff. -- Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization. IT Skills Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.
Experience: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international progressively responsible experience in public health, international relations or the management of programs and projects within the public health sector, including epidemiology. Desirable: Experience in technical cooperation within international organizations would be an asset.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Additional Information: PAHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, assignment grant, rental subsidy, and home leave. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW WILL BE HELD FOR THIS POST. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 67,395.00 at single rate US$ 72,373.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 44.6 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.