Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) seeks to engage qualified and experienced investigators to assist IOS with preliminary review assessments and/or investigations. The aim is to maintain a roster of consultants that IOS can call upon when needed.

Background  

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) is responsible for conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct, such as fraud, corruption, retaliation on whistleblowers, workplace harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, abuse of authority, and violations of WHO regulations, rules and other legal norms, that involve WHO staff, affiliates and other external contracted parties, such as vendors.  Investigations are conducted in accordance with applicable professional standards, WHO regulations, codes and procedures, and ILOAT jurisprudence.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Manage assigned caseload autonomously, effectively and efficiently in line with IOS standard operating procedures and under supervision of Team Lead, including:
  • Activity 1.1: Regular and appropriate use and updating of IOS’ case management system pursuant to standard operating procedures; and;
  • Activity 1.2: Reasonable, effective and efficient use of investigation resources in carrying out and reaching an outcome in the investigation.
• Deliverable 2: Plan and conduct timely, fair, objective, independent, impartial and confidential reactive or proactive preliminary assessments and/or investigations in line with IOS standard operating procedures and WHO legal norms, including:
  • Activity 2.1: Collect, handle, analyze and record in-house or external information (open-source, forensic, documentary, other) sourced as part of a report of concern (complaint) or during the investigation according to the generally accepted best practices;
  • Activity 2.2: Conduct efficient and effective interviews of investigation participants underpinned by acceptably recognized interviewing and communication skills, recordings, and where required interpretations;
  • Activity 2.3: Draft high quality preliminary review assessments, memoranda, investigation work plans, investigation reports and/or other investigative work products.
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• Deliverable 3: Advise IOS on systemic, corporate and/or lessons learned issues arising from investigations and make recommendations through appropriate work products.
• Deliverable 4: Undertakes missions to WHO offices worldwide, including areas with hazardous working conditions, when required.
• Deliverable 5: When required, liaise with IOS internal and external stakeholders (e.g. IOS Audit, Office of Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics (CRE), and others).
• Deliverable 6: Conduct IOS outreach activities to raise awareness about IOS investigation’s mandate and process and expected compliance with WHO policies.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced-university degree in law, accounting, public administration, anti-corruption, psychology, policing or a related area.

Desirable

• Certifications in fraud examination procurement and/or investigative interviewing are an asset.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 10 years of relevant experience in criminal, forensic and/or administrative investigations into financial, abusive and sexual misconducts that may include experience in national public sector departments or agencies, in private sector firms and/or International Organizations.
• Proven track record in planning and performing investigations.

Desirable: 

• Experience within the UN, other humanitarian organizations and/or Multilateral Development Bank system.

Skills: 

Essential:

• Knowledge of procedural fairness, evidence and administrative investigation principles.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated report-writing skills.
• Maturity of judgment, tact, integrity, and discretion.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people from different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Advanced skills in the use of the Microsoft Office suite.
• Proactive, and sound judgement in mitigating risk and problem-solving.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of civil service and/or UN environment an asset.

Languages required:

Essential:  

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable

• Intermediate knowledge of other UN Languages (Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian and/or Chinese).

Location 

Off site: Home-based.

Travel 

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C - USD 500 - 625 per day or USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract: 

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• 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.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
• WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• 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.
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For roster VNs:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.