Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Multisectoral Action Expert

Host entity: WHO

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Public health, immunisation, Project management, programme development, strategy

Application deadline: 10/09/2026

Mission and objectives

WHO, as the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system, adheres to the UN values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The values of the WHO workforce furthermore reflect the principles of human rights, universality and equity established in WHO’s Constitution as well as the ethical standards of the Organization.

These values are inspired by the WHO vision of a world in which all peoples attain the highest possible level of health, and our mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable, with measurable impact for people at country level. We are individually and collectively committed to put these values into practice.

Assignment 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.

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.

Competencies and values

• Teamwork: Works effectively with WHO technical teams, government focal points and partners across sectors.
• Communication: Communicates clearly with senior government officials, focal points and technical stakeholders.
• Stakeholder engagement: Builds and maintains effective working relationships across Ministries, Divisions and institutions.
• Planning and organizing: Manages multiple commitments, meetings, deadlines and follow-up actions.
• Results orientation: Proactively follows through on agreed actions and implementation milestones.
• Analytical thinking: Identifies implementation gaps, cross-sectoral opportunities and emerging issues.
• Problem-solving: Supports practical solutions to coordination and implementation bottlenecks.
• Adaptability: Works effectively across different sectors, institutions and policy environments.
• Technical expertise: Applies relevant NCD, public health and policy knowledge to support multisectoral action.

Living conditions

Dhaka is a rapidly growing megacity and the political, economic, and cultural center of Bangladesh. Home to around 37 million people, it is the second most populated and among the most densely populated cities globally. The city faces significant urban challenges, including traffic congestion, high population density, and limited public service capacity. Volunteers should expect an intense, vibrant, and dynamic urban environment undergoing rapid urbanization, with ongoing strains on water supply, waste management, and transportation systems. Only about two thirds of the city has piped water access, and traffic congestion is considered very high, making daily commuting time consuming. The climate is tropical, characterized by heat and humidity throughout most of the year, including a rainy monsoon season from June to October. Occasional flooding and waterlogging may occur during heavy rainfall.

The UN Volunteer will be based in Dhaka full-time, and be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. Accommodation options for international UN personnel are available in pre-approved neighborhoods, including Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, among others, for security purposes. Healthcare facilities range in quality, with most reliable services concentrated in private hospitals in Dhaka.

Culturally, Bangladesh is conservative and deeply influenced by Islamic norms. Volunteers should be mindful of local customs, including modest dress and behavior – particularly for women. Social interactions place strong emphasis on respect, hierarchy, and community values. While Dhaka offers a rich cultural experience, historical sites, and a welcoming community, the environment can be challenging. Volunteers should be prepared for periods of physical discomfort, occasional environmental hazards, and the need for adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and resilience.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at
https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.