Junior Public Health Professional - Digital Health and AI Collaborative Network

WHO · India-New Delhi · Deadline: 20 Oct 2026

Schedule: Full-time · Duration: 24 months

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

Objective of the WHO Programme/Department:

The overall objective of the Digital Health Technical Unit in Department of HSD is to support the Member States to improve health for everyone, everywhere by accelerating the development and adoption of appropriate, accessible, affordable, scalable and sustainable person centric digital health solutions to prevent, detect and respond to epidemics and pandemics, developing infrastructure and applications that enable countries to use health data to promote health and well-being, and to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. WHO-SEARO is harnessing the power of digital technologies and health innovation to accelerate global attainment of health and the well-being. Translating latest data, research, and evidence into action: this means promoting standards for interoperability and data sharing and supporting implementation of digital solutions that contribute to informed decision making. Enhancing knowledge through scientific communities of practice: enabled by new technologies and no longer limited by the need for physical meetings or hard copy peer review journals, WHO brings together top expert voices around topics of clinical and public health significance. Systematically assessing and linking country needs with supply of innovations. WHO-SEARO takes a proactive, systematic approach to identify, promote, co-develop, and scale innovations that are based on country needs of the South East Asia Region. Also, to recognize the successful digital health initiatives and the urgent need to address the major impediments faced by least-developed countries of the region through implementing digital health technologies, to promote the appropriate use of digital technologies for health and to strengthen health systems by introducing digital technologies.

Objective of JPP:

The JPP will be situated within the SEA-DAC Secretariat at WHO-SEARO and will support the Secretariat in strengthening Member State engagement, technical cooperation, regional collaboration and strategic partnerships for the operationalization of the South-East Asia Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Collaborative Network (SEA-DAC).

The JPP will facilitate sustained engagement with Member States, national focal points, WHO Country Offices, technical and development partners, academia, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to identify country priorities, connect needs with appropriate expertise and resources, and develop collaborative initiatives. The JPP will provide and coordinate technical support to Member States on priority areas of digital health and AI, while facilitating peer-to-peer exchange, regional convenings, capacity building, knowledge sharing and partnership development.

As part of the SEA-DAC Secretariat, the JPP will also support implementation and monitoring of the SEA-DAC workplan, coordination with the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) and other regional and global mechanisms, and translation of Member State priorities into technical assistance, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and concrete country-led activities across the Region.

Terms of reference

Under the overall guidance of the Director, Department of Health Systems Development (HSD) and direct supervision of the Regional Adviser, Digital Health, the JPP will be situated within the WHO-SEARO SEA-DAC Secretariat and will serve as a core technical and coordination resource supporting the day-to-day functioning and operationalization of SEA-DAC.

The JPP will provide support in the following areas:

  • SEA-DAC Secretariat and workplan implementation: Support the day-to-day functioning of the Secretariat and implementation of the SEA-DAC workplan, including planning and coordination of activities, preparation of meetings and technical discussions, documentation of decisions and systematic follow-up on agreed actions.

  • Member State engagement: Maintain regular engagement with SEA-DAC national focal points, Ministries of Health and WHO Country Offices to identify country priorities, requests for support, implementation needs and opportunities for regional cooperation.

  • Technical support and cooperation: Provide and coordinate technical assistance to Member States on priority areas of digital health and AI, including digital health & AI strategies, interoperability and standards, digital public infrastructure for health, capacity building and responsible AI, based on identified country needs.

  • Partnership development and coordination: Engage technical and development partners, academia, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and align available expertise, resources and support with Member State and SEA-DAC priorities.

  • Resource mobilization: Identify opportunities for technical and financial collaboration and contribute to proposals, concept notes and partnership documentation to help mobilize resources for SEA-DAC priorities and country-led activities.

  • Regional collaboration and peer learning: Facilitate regional convenings, technical working groups, communities of practice, country-to-country cooperation, capacity-building activities and other mechanisms for sharing knowledge, expertise and implementation experience across Member States.

  • Technical and knowledge products: Contribute to the development and review of technical guidance, implementation resources, policy documents, reports, briefs, case studies and other knowledge products arising from SEA-DAC priorities and activities.

  • Monitoring and reporting: Maintain systematic documentation of Member State priorities, requests, technical assistance, partnerships and implementation progress, and support monitoring and reporting against the SEA-DAC workplan and agreed results.

  • GIDH and global coordination: Support SEA-DAC's role as the regional implementation arm of the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) by facilitating coordination with GIDH, relevant WHO programmes, Regional and Country Offices, and other regional and global mechanisms.

  • Communication and visibility: Support documentation and dissemination of SEA-DAC activities, Member State experiences, results and opportunities for collaboration, in coordination with Member States and relevant WHO teams.

  • Undertake other related responsibilities assigned by the Regional Adviser, Digital Health, in support of the SEA-DAC Secretariat and WHO-SEARO's regional digital health and AI priorities.

Education:

Essential: Bachelors in digital health, law, data science, public health, social sciences, social work, or another related field.

Desirable: Masters/Doctorate degree in computer science, international development, social work, public health or any related field.

Experience

Essential:

  • Minimum one year of relevant professional experience in digital health, artificial intelligence for health, health systems, or related areas.

  • Demonstrated experience working on digital health and/or AI initiatives across multiple countries, including experience with countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region.

  • At least one year of experience in strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and coordination, involving governments, multilateral organizations, development partners, academia, civil society and/or technology partners.

  • Demonstrated experience supporting multi-stakeholder and country-level initiatives, including technical consultations, regional or national convenings, partnership development, and coordination of digital health or AI programmes.

Desirable:

  • Experience working with WHO, UN agencies or other international/multilateral organizations.

  • Experience engaging with Ministries of Health and other government institutions on digital health and AI initiatives.

  • Knowledge of any/multiple SEA Regional languages is an asset

Age:Below 35 years

Vacancy Notice is only available for nationals of SEAR Member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste)

Skills required for the assignment:

Minimum:

· Proficiency in spoken and written English;

· Computer proficiency with standard software applications;

· Knowledge of digital health and AI, strategy development, partnerships, planning, multi-stakeholder consultations

· Ability to think strategically, work under tight deadlines on a result-oriented basis, and develop innovative approaches and solutions.

WHO competencies required for the assignment:

1. Teamwork

2. Communication

3. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

4. Producing results

5. Ensuring the effective use of resources

Remuneration: US$ 63000 per annum

Ad Additional Information:

  • Please note applications should be submitted through WHO online recruitment portal. Please visit https://www.who.int/careers/apply-for-a-position to complete an online profile and to apply for this vacancy.

  • In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
  • The purpose of this vacancy notice is to invite qualified national professionals from of countries of South-East Asia Region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Timor-Leste).
  • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

  • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

  • The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

  • Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

  • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.

  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

  • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

  • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates .

Apply on the WHO website

New UN jobs every morning on Telegram: @unjobshub

All open positions at WHO