Mental Health Specialist - WHO

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Policies and  Systems (CPS) assists countries in the Region with the design and implementation of appropriate health policies and systems to strengthen universal health coverage. It works to strengthen data-driven, evidence-informed, contextually tailored health policy development and implementation at national, regional, and local levels, taking an inclusive approach across the life course. The Division advocates strengthening of public health leadership, focusing on implementing policies that are people centered, promote health, prevent illness, and address the social and economic determinants of health, while fostering leadership on equity, human rights, and gender mainstreaming in health. It focuses on building capacity for health systems innovation to enable the sustainable delivery of high-quality primary  health and community services that are effectively linked to hospitals, and mental health, public health, and social care services. To do so, CPS supports country efforts to facilitate access to leave nobody behind, to improve financial protection, to strengthen the health workforce, to increase access to  affordable medicines and technologies, and to promote the uptake and implementation of digital technology. 

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives  of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii)setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options;(v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 - “United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens' expectations about health. 

WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavor; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. Mental health was prioritized in the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 as a flagship programme followed by launch of the Pan-European Mental Health Coalition in 2021 to mobilize national leaders, professionals, members of civil society, representatives of international organizations and experts for collaboration and mainstreaming  mental health in global agenda, integrating mental health into emergency response and recovery efforts, strengthening mental health systems and services as well as promotion of mental health across the life course. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the context of the WHO Country Office, the incumbent will contribute to country programmes to scale up prevention and treatment of mental, neurological, substance use disorders and support the promotion of mental health with particular focus on affected population. 
Under the overall guidance of the WHO representative, the incumbent will:

Key duties

1. Contribute to the assessment of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs, resources and capacities within the country and planning and implementing response to the needs identified.

2. Assist in planning, introducing, development, monitoring and evaluation of mental health services in both specialized and non-specialized settings.

3. Promote an inter-sectoral, multi-layered and coordinated approach in the area of MHPSS and promote “do no harm” principles.

4. Work with counterparts in the Ministry of Health, National Coordination Center for Mental Health and other national and local entities/institutions to improve the capacity in the MHPSS response and strengthening mental health system and services.

5. Provide technical support to partner civil society organizations and other entities, on MHPSS activities.

6. Prepare technical briefing notes, reports, information products and content on mental health topics.

7. Perform all other related duties as assigned.