Special Representative

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the UNRWA Health Programme is to protect, promote, and improve the health of Palestine refugees by ensuring universal access to quality, comprehensive primary health care, supported by hospital referral services, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), disease prevention and control, environmental health measures, digital health transformation, and emergency preparedness and response. The Programme aims to achieve and sustain high coverage of essential health interventions, address both communicable and non-communicable diseases, reduce maternal and child mortality, strengthen mental health and psychosocial well-being, expand the use of digital tools to improve health service delivery and information systems, and enhance resilience to public health emergencies, while promoting equity and accountability in service delivery.

The immediate strategic objective of the position is to provide authoritative leadership, policy direction, and technical guidance for the effective management of UNRWA’s Health Programme across five fields of operation, ensuring that services are evidence-based, results-oriented, and aligned with WHO norms and standards. This includes fostering innovation, mobilizing and managing resources, strengthening health systems and workforce capacity, expanding integrated mental health and psychosocial services, advancing digital transformation of health information and service delivery systems, and coordinating with host governments, donors, and partners to address the evolving health needs of Palestine refugees in a highly complex and often insecure operating environment.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Directs the Health Programme, with the objective to contribute effectively towards improving the health status of Palestine refugees; provides strategic guidance and direction to ensure the Health Programme is managed on the basis of available funds in conformity with relevant UNRWA rules and regulations and a results-based budgeting approach. 

2. As Director of the Department of Health, governing the Health Programme of the Palestine Refugees in UNRWA and reporting to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and the Regional Director, WHO/EMRO, plans and directs the overall departmental, technical and administrative policies and programme. In this respect:

a)  Assesses and interprets major policy issues with the objective of establishing strategic overall plans and setting into action programme activities to fulfill the mandate of the Health Programme; conducts regular review missions to fields of operation for this purpose;

b)    Plans, directs and controls the strategic and technical operations of the Health Programme and its priorities with the operational and administrative activities directed through his/her Deputy who manages and mobilizes staff and financial resources;

c)  Develops future technical cooperative activities with other UN Agencies and negotiates agreements with donor organizations to enhance and mobilize financial resources; develops and approves expert technical advisory services from WHO and elsewhere;

d) Develops and leads Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme to address complex emergency situations.

e)    Leads the integration of mental health and psychosocial support services across UNRWA’s health system, ensuring policy development, workforce training, and quality assurance in alignment with WHO guidelines.

f)     Oversees the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of digital health transformation, including electronic health records, telemedicine, and health information systems, to enhance quality, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

g) Ensures the availability, quality, and effective management of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies, strengthening supply chain systems in line with WHO standards.

h) Develops strategies for health systems strengthening and workforce development, including workforce planning, training, and performance management, to ensure sustainable capacity and service quality across all fields.

3. Advises the Commissioner-General and reports on the planning, development and technical direction of the UNRWA Health Programme; contributes to and keeps the Commissioner-General well informed on WHO technical policies and approaches and scientific advances through attendance at scientific meetings and annual WHO Assembly, Executive Board and Regional Committees, as well as through communications with experts;

4. Represents the Commissioner-General at the WHO Assembly and Regional Committees and other meetings as assigned by the Commissioner-General and attends major meetings of UNRWA including the Management and Donors’ Meetings, Advisory Commission Meetings and other internal meetings;

5. Monitors, evaluates and reports on the health situation of Palestine refugees and UNRWA’s Health Programmes to the Regional Director, EMRO, and liaises and co-ordinates with the relevant Executive Directors at WHO Headquarters;

6. Liaises with the Palestinian Health Authorities on all policy issues related to the harmonization of services and building an integral health care system in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in particular co-chair with the Palestinian Minister of Health, and the UNRWA-PHA Coordinating Committee;

7.  Liaises with the Ministers of Health of the host countries for co-ordination of common activities and maintains close contact with major donors for programme development and fund-raising, and advocates for the health rights of Palestine refugees at international, regional, and national levels to influence policy and mobilize sustainable resources.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A Medical degree (MD) from a recognized university, with a master’s degree in public health and/or sub-specialties.

Desirable: 

Experience

Essential: At least 15 years of professional and managerial experience in planning and implementing various national health programmes, of which 10 years’ experience in public health administration and planning at senior decision-making positions at international level.

Knowledge of trends in preventive and curative medicine, nutrition and environmental health, ability to plan for health needs of population involved.

Knowledge of WHO policies and of UN structure.

Desirable: 

Skills

      1-    Broad strategic vision which enables meaningful contributions to the achievement of UNRWA’s mission;

      2-    High level diplomatic and representational competencies in international settings;

      3-    A highly developed ability to inspire, lead and implement innovation and change in the Health Programme;

       4-    Institutional awareness that contributes to UNRWA’s ability to achieve results in a UN inter-agency setting;

       5-    Empathy and effective communication skills in interpersonal relationships, providing for effective modeling and promotion of corporate values on integrity and accountability.  Maintaining effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

       6-    Sound understanding of regional/international political trends;

       7-    Sound understanding of the UN and Agency policy and practice, within the larger context of humanitarian agencies in general and of the Agency’s mandate and role in particular;

       8-    Negotiating skills; leadership skills; ability to resolve complex and/or sensitive issues;

       9-    Demonstrated supervisory and management skills;

       10- Demonstrated proficiency of introducing innovation and change to enhance capacity and programme effectiveness.

WHO Competencies

     ·      Teamwork*

     ·       Respecting & promoting individual and cultural differences*

     ·       Communication*

     ·      Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

     ·      Moving forward in a changing environment

     ·     Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
Desirable: Knowledge of Arabic, French or other UN languages.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 128422 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 4002 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.