National Professional Officer (Health Financing)

Country: Ukraine Organization: World Health Organization Closing date: 12 Nov 2026 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME WHO’s work in countries operationalizes the General Programme of Work (GPW14) and the European Programme of Work 2025-2029 (EPW2). GPW14 focuses on accelerating progress toward Health for All by strengthening systems for health, improving access to essential services, advancing preparedness and resilience, and reducing health inequalities. EPW2, endorsed at RC75 following extensive consultation with Member States, reaffirms WHO/Europe’s role in bringing unique value to countries through five core functions: 1. International knowledge hub for health – providing authoritative evidence, norms, policies and best practices from across the Region and globally to inform national public health decision-making. 2. Impartial coordinator for everyone’s health – convening national stakeholders and partners to align strategies and support coherent, multisectoral responses to shared health challenges. 3. Leader in tracking and managing cross-border health threats – supporting surveillance, preparedness, and coordinated action on public health emergencies in line with the Preparedness 2.0 agenda. 4. Driver of health system transformation – advising national authorities on evidence-informed reforms and policies that strengthen health systems and improve performance. 5. Voice for health equity – helping countries identify who is being left behind and integrating equity considerations into health policies and strategies. In this context, WHO Country Offices enable the translation of global and regional commitments into national action. They support Member States by providing strategic advice, convening dialogue across sectors and partners, connecting national authorities with WHO’s technical expertise, and facilitating the use of evidence and best practices to inform policy. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES With the overall aim of advancing progress towards Universal Health Coverage, promoting good practices in health financing and reducing financial hardship, the incumbent leads WHO's health financing work in Ukraine and provides technical advice to national counterparts on health financing policy and reform. Key duties: 1. Coordinate and provide technical leadership for the design, implementation and monitoring of WHO's health financing workstream, as programmed in the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA), including WHO's contribution to health sector coordination and national policy dialogue. 2. Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health, the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and other national partners on the development, implementation and evaluation of health financing policies and reforms at national and subnational levels, including strategic purchasing, the design of the Programme of Medical Guarantees, public financial management, to improve health system performance, including financial protection and progress towards universal health coverage. 3. Identify and guide priority areas for collaboration, capacity development and technical assistance in health financing, and translate these priorities into deliverable and costed workplans under the CCS BCA and donor-financed projects. 4. Lead and oversee the generation and use of evidence to support health financing policy and reform. This includes overseeing the analysis of health financing data and the planning, commissioning and quality assurance of studies, policy briefs, situation analyses, reports and other technical products on health financing, health system performance, service coverage and aid effectiveness. Work closely with WHO technical programmes to ensure that evidence generated is used to inform policy advice and dialogue, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of health financing reforms. 5. Lead and oversee the effective and high-quality implementation of health financing activities under donor-financed initiatives and agreed partnerships at country level. Provide technical direction for technical assistance, policy dialogue and capacity development, ensuring that activities are aligned with agreed objectives, priorities and deliverables. Monitor implementation and results and ensure timely and appropriate reporting to relevant stakeholders and donors. 6. Represent WHO, as appropriate, in discussions with national authorities, development partners and other stakeholders on health financing. Lead and contribute to technical discussions, coordination mechanisms and policy dialogue, and strengthen collaboration among partners to support coherent implementation of health financing reforms. 7. Supervise and provide technical direction to the staff working on health financing. Assign and prioritize work, clarify responsibilities, review the quality and timeliness of technical outputs, provide feedback and guidance, and support their performance and professional development. Ensure effective coordination between their respective areas of work and coherence across the health financing portfolio. 8. Contribute to strengthening national capacity in health financing through technical guidance, knowledge sharing and capacity development activities, in collaboration with national institutions and relevant partners. 9. Organize and substantively support WHO missions, visits and high-level engagements on health financing, and follow up on agreed recommendations and actions to ensure appropriate implementation. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education Essential: A university degree (Bachelor's level) in business administration, management, economics or health economics, health policy, public health, social and political sciences, with concentration in health financing. Desirable: Master's degree or postgraduate degree in any of the above fields. Experience Essential: At least five years of professional experience in health systems strengthening, including substantial experience in health financing. Experience working with national health authorities, purchasing agencies, academic institutions, international organizations and/or non-governmental organizations. Demonstrated experience contributing to or providing technical input to national health financing policy processes and policy dialogue. Desirable: Experience in WHO/UN and international agencies; Experience providing policy advice on health systems strengthening, health financing and health sector reform, particularly in transition, reform or post-crisis settings. Functional Skills • Demonstrated knowledge of health systems and health financing policy in the countries of the WHO European Region, including purchasing, benefit package design, public financial management and financial protection monitoring. • Proven ability to translate technical analysis into policy advice for senior decision-makers and to formulate technical positions independently. • Ability to interact appropriately and with credibility with high-level stakeholders, including senior officials and ministers. • Ability to lead high performing teams. Ability to work within significant uncertainties in a rapidly changing environment and to set priorities with limited supervision. • Data management and data analysis skills. • Good computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentations). • Strong written and oral communication skills, including drafting for policy audiences. • Emotional intelligence: ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same. WHO Competencies 1. Teamwork 2. Respecting & promoting individual and cultural differences 3. Communication 4. Moving forward in a changing environment 5. Building and promoting partnerships across the Organization and beyond Use of Language Skills Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Ukrainian. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of any other UN language. REMUNERATION Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 64,825 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave. Link to apply: Job Description - National Professional Officer (Health Financing) (2604631) How to apply Link to apply: Job Description - National Professional Officer (Health Financing) (2604631)