Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Multisectoral Action Expert

** Deadline to apply is 11 September 2026 **

Description of assignment title

Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Multisectoral Action Expert

Host entity

WHO

Modality

Onsite

Type

National

Volunteer category

Expert

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Assignment country

Bangladesh

Duty stations

Dhaka

Work location

On UN premises

Context

Bangladesh has demonstrated strong political commitment to the prevention and control of NCDs through the Joint Declaration on NCD Prevention endorsed by 35 Ministries and Divisions. The Joint Declaration provides an important platform for strengthening whole-of-government action on NCD prevention and control. Its implementation requires translation of high-level commitments into practical sector-specific actions, responsibilities, timelines and monitoring arrangements, supported by effective coordination among Ministries, Divisions and relevant government institutions. WHO is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen multisectoral NCD action and facilitate implementation of commitments across government. Given the breadth of the Joint Declaration, effective implementation requires a prioritized and coordinated approach. Not all Ministries and Divisions require the same level or type of WHO technical support. Targeted engagement is therefore needed with selected priority Ministries and Divisions based on government priorities, implementation readiness, technical needs and areas where WHO technical cooperation can add value.

The National UN Volunteer will support WHO Bangladesh in operationalizing the NCD Joint Declaration through targeted multisectoral coordination, technical support and implementation monitoring across selected priority Ministries and Divisions.

The UNV will work with designated government focal points to translate Joint Declaration commitments into practical actions, ministry-specific workplans, timelines, responsibilities and monitoring arrangements.

The UNV will maintain a consolidated overview of Joint Declaration implementation, facilitate follow-up with selected Ministries and Divisions, identify implementation bottlenecks, coordinate relevant WHO technical inputs and prepare consolidated progress updates for the NCD team and relevant government coordination mechanisms.

The assignment does not require the UNV to provide intensive technical assistance to all 35 signatory Ministries and Divisions individually. Rather, the UNV will support the overall coordination and monitoring mechanism while providing targeted technical and implementation support to selected priority Ministries and Divisions.

Task description

The National UN Volunteer will provide technical, coordination and implementation support to WHO and relevant government counterparts to advance implementation of the NCD Joint Declaration and National Multisectoral Action Plan (MSAP), with a primary focus on supporting designated Ministries/Divisions to translate commitments into actionable workplans, strengthen coordination and track implementation progress. The UN Volunteer will also provide support to selected DGHS NCD & mental Health priorities, as agreed with the supervisor.

Key Responsibilities

1. Support implementation of the NCD Joint Declaration/MSAP

• Provide technical and coordination support to designated Ministries/Divisions to develop and finalize Joint Declaration/MSAP implementation workplans, including priority actions, responsible units, timelines, milestones and monitoring arrangements, with a focus on NCDs, mental health and injury prevention.

• Consolidate ministry-level workplans and inputs into an overall Joint Declaration/MSAP implementation framework and support preparation of Cabinet-level presentations and other high-level government briefing materials.

• Maintain and regularly update the consolidated implementation tracker, following up on agreed actions, implementation progress, bottlenecks and pending decisions.

• Facilitate coordination between relevant WHO technical teams and government focal points to support implementation of agreed priorities and address technical or coordination needs.

• Document key decisions, agreed actions and follow-up points from relevant coordination meetings and consultations.

2. Support to selected DGHS NCD & mental health priorities

• Provide technical and coordination support to DGHS in implementing NCD & mental health activities under the WHO Biennial Workplan.

• Facilitate relevant WHO technical inputs and follow up with DGHS focal points on agreed actions, timelines and implementation progress.

• Support preparation and documentation of technical reports, situational analyses, donor reports, meeting and consultation documentation, briefing materials and implementation updates, as required.

• Support monitoring of selected DGHS NCD & mental health priorities by tracking implementation progress, identifying bottlenecks and documenting agreed follow-up actions.

• Perform other related duties and provide additional support as requested by the supervisor, in line with the objectives of the assignment.

Key Deliverables

• Joint Declaration/MSAP implementation support package, including finalized Ministry/Division workplans, consolidated implementation framework and tracker, and Cabinet/high-level government briefing materials.

• DGHS NCD & mental health implementation support package, including implementation tracking, technical and situational analysis reports, donor reporting, meeting/consultation documentation and periodic implementation updates, as required.

• Periodic and final implementation summaries documenting overall progress, key achievements, bottlenecks, lessons learned and priority follow-up actions.

Relevant experience

7 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Bengali, Level: Native language, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in medicine and dental science, public health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics or a related field.

Desirable: Master's degree in in Public Health, Health Policy, Health Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Global Health, NCDs, Health Promotion or a related field.

Skills and experience

At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, noncommunicable disease prevention and control, Health System, health policy, multisectoral coordination, government engagement, programme implementation, or related fields.

Experience working with government ministries, WHO, UN agencies, or development partners is highly desirable.

Required:

• Strong understanding of NCD prevention and control and major NCD risk factors and Bangladesh’s public health system.

• Demonstrated experience in multisectoral coordination, public health programme implementation, policy implementation or government engagement.

• Experience supporting government institutions in translating policies, strategies or commitments into practical workplans and implementation actions.

• Understanding of WHO’s multisectoral approaches, Health-in-All-Policies and whole-of-government action.

• Strong stakeholder coordination and relationship-management skills.

• Ability to work effectively with government officials at different levels.

• Strong ability to track multiple commitments, timelines and stakeholders.

• Ability to identify implementation bottlenecks and facilitate solutions or escalation.

• Strong drafting, meeting documentation, reporting and presentation skills.

• Strong organizational and follow-up skills.

• Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Good computer literacy, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and online collaboration tools.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting a national NCD strategy, multisectoral action plan or inter-ministerial initiative.

• Experience working with Ministries/Divisions beyond the health sector.

• Experience in Health-in-All-Policies or whole-of-government approaches.

• Experience in policy implementation, programme monitoring or government accountability mechanisms.

• Experience in tobacco control, food policy, physical activity, urban health, healthy settings or other NCD risk-factor interventions.

• Experience developing policy briefs, technical briefs, implementation reports or other knowledge products.

• Experience working with WHO, UN agencies, government or development partners.