Special Services Agreement (SSA), National Coordinator-Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit (GMMHS) Rwanda, NOC WHO - World Health Organization: (Deadline 26 Aug 2026)
1. Area of expertise
SSA National Coordinator - Support of 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit Rwanda, NOC
2. Purpose of this SSA
The purpose of this assignment is to provide dedicated national-level support for the preparation, organization, delivery, and immediate follow-up of the 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in Rwanda.
The SSA will support the overall organization and coordination process by helping to maintain planning tools, follow up on agreed actions, support meetings, consolidate information, facilitate communication among designated focal points, and assist with practical preparations as requested.
This is a coordination and implementation-support function. The SSA will not act as a decision-maker and will not assume institutional responsibility for functions that remain under the authority of WHO, the Government of Rwanda, the Ministry of Health, or other designated focal points, including formal approvals, procurement decisions, official invitations, protocol decisions, technical content clearance, communications clearance, and contractual commitments.
3. Background
The Government of Rwanda, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), will host the 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in March 2027. The Summit will bring together Ministers of Health, senior government officials, international organizations, technical experts, civil society representatives, academia, professional associations, and people with lived experience of mental health conditions.
Preparation and delivery of the Summit will require coordination among national and international actors. The exact division of responsibilities among the Government of Rwanda, Ministry of Health, WHO, committees, partners, service providers, and other stakeholders will be confirmed through the relevant coordination mechanisms and may evolve during the planning process.
To support this process, WHO will recruit a Special Service Agreement (SSA) to provide flexible coordination of the 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in March 2027. The role is intended to strengthen day-to-day follow-up, information flow, documentation, and practical implementation support, under the guidance of the designated focal points.
4. Summary of Assigned Duties
Reporting to the Diseases Prevention and Control cluster Team Leader, under general guidance of the WR, and in close coordination with the regional office, and WHO/HQ and within the delegated authority the officer will provide dedicated national-level support for the preparation, organization, delivery, and immediate follow-up of the 7th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in Rwanda. Under the overall guidance of WHO Representative Rwanda, and the direct supervision of the WHO UCN Team Lead, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:
• Inception note and initial workplan within the first month of the assignment.
• Updated rolling workplan, action tracker, contact list, issue/risk log, and pending decision list.
• Brief monthly activity reports summarizing work completed, progress, key issues, risks, decisions required, and priorities for the following month.
• Meeting agendas, notes, and action points for coordination meetings supported by the consultant.
• Consolidated coordination trackers for stakeholders, participants, speakers, logistics, and other areas as required.
• Periodic readiness updates for the supervisor and relevant coordination meetings.
• On-site coordination notes and issue logs during the Summit.
• Final handover package and brief operational lessons note after the Summit.
5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Education
Essential: University degree in public health, international relations, event management, project management, social sciences, health systems, mental health, development studies, business administration, or another relevant field.
Desirable: Advanced degree in public health, global health, mental health, project management, international development, or a related discipline.
Experience
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in project coordination, conference organization, public health programme support, government liaison, international event coordination, or related areas.
• Experience developing workplans, trackers, meeting notes, reports, logistics checklists, and operational tools.
• Experience working with national government institutions in Rwanda.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder processes involving government, UN agencies, international partners, technical experts, or civil society would be an asset.
• Experience supporting high-level meetings, conferences, workshops, or official events would be an asset.
• Familiarity with health, mental health, public health, or development-related processes would be an asset.
Skills and competencies
• Strong coordination, organization, and project management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, including ability to work with government officials, UN staff, technical experts, service providers, and partners.
• Ability to anticipate problems, propose practical solutions, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Ability to work under pressure, including during the immediate pre-event and event period.
• Strong documentation, reporting, and information management skills.
• Good judgment, discretion, and respect for confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and online collaboration tools.
Other Skills(e.g.IT)
Proficiency in all MS Office software applications.
Good communication skills, both oral and written ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings
Languages
Essential: Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable: Working knowledge of French. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda would be an advantage.
6. Location
The duty station of the SSA will be based in Kigali, Rwanda at WHO country offices.
7. Travel
N/A
8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
Monthly salary will be on Grade NOC and 30 days of annual leave per year.
Expected duration of contract : 10 months
9. Please add the name of the following
a. Hiring Manager: Dr Jules MUGABO SEMAHORE
b. Collaborators : Mr Mwemtsi Yusuph; Dr Jules MUGABO SEMAHORE; Dr MUHAYIMPUNDU RIBAKARE; Ms BULUNDWE Kyembe
c. Admin focal point: Mr Yusuph MWEMTSI; Mrs Emerthe KAMAGAJU
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.
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• 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.
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• SSA shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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• 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 SSAs hired for HQ, Switzerland vacancies
• SSAs working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
For roster vacancy announcements:
The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the advertised roster. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments; however, contracting of rostered candidates is not guaranteed.
