Meeting Report

GO WHO : WORKING IN WHO

15 January 2018 , People's Republic of China GO WHO China: Working in WHO 15 January 2018 Beijing, People's Republic of China

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC

English only

MEETING REPORT

GO WHO CHINA: WORKING IN WHO

Convened by:

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC

Beijing, People’s Republic of China 15 January 2018

Not for sale

Printed and distributed by:

World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Manila, Philippines

February 2018

NOTE

The views expressed in this report are those of the participants of the Go WHO Workshops to Improve Geographical Representation of WHO Staff and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the conveners.

This report has been prepared by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific for Member States in the Region and for those who participated in the Go WHO Workshops to Improve Geographical Representation of WHO Staff in Beijing, People’s Republic of China on 15 January 2018.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 1 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 2 1.1 Background ...... 2 1.2 Workshop objectives ...... 2 1.3 Participants ...... 2 2. PROCEEDINGS ...... 3 2.2 Session 1: Getting to know WHO ...... 3 2.3 Session 2: Writing your résumé and written test ...... 3 2.4 Session 3: Competency-based interviews (theory and practice) ...... 3 2.5 Closing session ...... 4 2.6 Participant feedback ...... 4 3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 4 3.1 Conclusions ...... 4 3.2 Recommendations ...... 4 3.2 Recommendations for WHO ...... 4 ANNEXES ...... 6 Annex 1. Workshop programme Annex 2. Go WHO China: workshop announcement Annex 3. Participants list

KEYWORDS: Health personnel/Capacity building/Staff development/Regional health planning/China

SUMMARY

The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has developed the Go WHO programme, including Go WHO workshops, as part of the Organization’s response to the issue of underrepresentation of some Member States among WHO staff members. The first Go WHO workshop in China was held on 15 January 2018, co-hosted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China and . More than 200 participants attended and over 16 000 tuned in for the live stream via Weibo. The workshop was delivered in English as this is the primary language of communication in WHO offices in the Western Pacific Region. The workshop involved three key sessions: getting to know WHO, writing your résumé and the written test, and competency-based interviews (theory and practice). Through these sessions, participants were given insights on what WHO looks for in candidates and how to best prepare themselves in terms of building their skills and experience relevant to a career in global health. Participant feedback on the workshop was positive. Social media channels will be used to keep in contact with participants as well as share internship and other opportunities and news with participants.

The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific encourages the Government of the People’s Republic of China to consider the following: exploring options to coordinate with local initiatives to offer participants follow-up opportunities to develop their careers; establishing a more formal internship and volunteer arrangement with the Regional Office; and working with WHO and academic institutions to organize similar workshops in the future.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

WHO’s human resources policy includes the desirability of recruiting staff from as wide a geographical basis as possible. However, 32% of Member States continue to be either unrepresented or under-represented in the international professional staff category. Member States have urged the WHO Secretariat to put in more effort to address the issue of non/under-representation. There are four under-represented Member States in the Western Pacific Region: China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.

To respond to this issue, a half-day workshop known as “Go WHO” was initiated in Japan in 2016. Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare expressed appreciation of the workshop and the ministers of health of China and the Republic of Korea expressed their interest in similar workshops being convened in their countries.

Accordingly, WHO, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China and Peking University jointly convened the first Go WHO China workshop on 15 January 2018. The workshop programme is available in Annex 1.

The half-day workshop programme was developed jointly by the WHO Representative Office in China and the Country Support Unit and Regional Human Resources Management Unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. The programme was modelled on and incorporated lessons from workshops in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

1.2 Workshop objectives

The objectives of the workshop were:

1) to raise awareness of the work of WHO and encourage young people to pursue a career in global health; 2) to attract talent from under-represented countries with a large human resource gap; and 3) to coach young professionals in how to prepare should they wish to join WHO.

By the end of the workshop, participants were expected:

1) to be familiar with WHO’s core functions and role in international and global health; 2) to be familiar with WHO’s recruitment process and competency model; and 3) to understand how to respond to questions on the written test for WHO vacancies and in the competency-based interview using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) model.

1.3 Participants

Attention was paid to appropriate selection and recruitment of applicants and placement in facilitated groups based on each participant’s level of experience and area of expertise. The workshop was announced through social medial platforms (Weibo and WeChat) for a two-week period. The workshop announcement is in Annex 2.

Of more than 400 applicants, 200 were selected. A key requirement in selection was submission of a CV and letter of motivation in English. Of the participants selected, the majority were in their

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twenties, with only 33 being over 30 years old. On the day of the workshop, there were 190 participants, not including the secretariat team of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University and WHO. In attendance were 143 female (75%) and 47 male participants. Gender and geographical balance were also considered in the selection of the workshop facilitation team. Applicants from across China also participated, with 72 coming from Beijing. The participants list is in Annex 3.

A live stream of the workshop was hosted by WHO China on Weibo (available at: https://www.yizhibo.com/l/zayUkh0aY-PGgBa3.html). More than 16 000 people tuned in to the workshop and this number continued to rise as people watched the recording in the following days.

To stay in contact with participants after the workshop as well as share internship and consultancy opportunities and global health news, a Weibo group has been created.

2. PROCEEDINGS

2.1 Opening session

The workshop was opened by the Dean of the School of Public Health at Peking University, Professor Meng Qingyue, who delivered the welcoming remarks. The Division Director of International Cooperation of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Ms Lina, delivered the opening remarks. WHO Regional Emergency Director in the Western Pacific, Dr Li Ailan, then shared a presentation on “Working at WHO: how you can make a career of making a difference, an overview of WHO’s work and objectives”.

2.2 Session 1: Getting to know WHO

The first session focused on “Who is needed at WHO?”, specifically the experience required to work at the Organization, the average age of staff and average age of entry. It was noted that the average age of joining WHO in the Western Pacific Region is 42 years of age, indicating that staff members have gained considerable experience prior to joining the Organization.

WHO’s recruitment processes were then described, including a walk-through of registration for WHO’s recruitment system (http://www.who.int/careers/en/) where all vacancies are advertised.

2.3 Session 2: Writing your résumé and written test

The second session shared guidance on writing résumés and WHO’s written assessment and presentation. This included the importance of clear, correct and concise information, the preference in international organizations for direct communication styles, and the importance of non-discriminatory language.

2.4 Session 3: Competency-based interviews (theory and practice)

The final session described WHO’s global competency model. This included the mandatory and core competencies that staff are expected to display as well as those competencies that should be displayed specifically by managers and leaders. Following a brief overview, a live model interview was presented. Participants were then divided into 15 groups, each led by a WHO staff member, to practice responding to competency-based interviews.

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2.5 Closing session

The Officer-in-charge of the WHO Representative Office in China, Dr Fabio Scano, delivered the closing remarks to wrap up the workshop. This was followed by a short networking session.

2.6 Participant feedback

Participant feedback was collected via an online survey using SurveyMonkey. Of 32 respondents, 31 (97%) said they would recommend the Go WHO event to their friends. In their overall rating of the event, 43% said it was “excellent” and 47% said it was “good”. In general, the participants most appreciated the interactive components of the event such as the group work and interview training. In suggesting what could be improved about the event, they asked for more interactivity, group work and networking. These results can help improve the content of the Go WHO workshop and others in future, to shift the balance more towards kinaesthetic approaches rather than passive listening.

3. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 Conclusions

The workshop was well-attended and participant feedback indicates satisfaction with the sessions. The majority of participants were from the target audience: English-speaking Chinese nationals with health or administration experience at postgraduate or expert levels. Participants responded well to the workshop content, appreciating the information provided, asking questions on pertinent issues and actively engaging, particularly during the group-work session. Follow-up activities in China could include convening similar workshops, targeted workshops for staff of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and others, and ongoing interaction through social media. It is important that experts have sufficient competencies including technical skills and appropriate attitude to join WHO. In this regard, how candidates spend time after graduation until joining WHO is critically important.

3.2 Recommendations

1) The Government of China may consider exploring options to coordinate with local initiatives to offer participants follow-up opportunities to develop their careers. 2) The Government of China may consider establishing a more formal internship and volunteer arrangement with the Regional Office. 3) The Government of China may consider working with WHO and academic institutions to organize similar workshops in the future.

3.2 Recommendations for WHO

1) With workshops now held in China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Pacific (in Fiji), WHO may consider consolidating gains through competitive opportunities for Go WHO study tours, internship and fellowship programmes, in addition to refresher workshops. 2) WHO may consider reporting the results of the workshop to WHO headquarters as part of efforts to improve geographical balance in the composition of WHO Secretariat staff members.

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3) WHO may consider strengthening longer-term monitoring strategies to assess the workshop’s success, including requesting participants to identify in their Stellis profile that they have attended the workshop and “one-year later” follow-up/feedback surveys.

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ANNEXES

Annex 1. Workshop programme

Time Session 13:30 Registration 14:00 Professor Meng Qingyue, Dean of School of Public Health, Peking University – Welcoming remarks 14:10 Mrs Zhao Lina, Division Director of International Cooperation , National Health and Family Planning Commission – Opening remarks 14:20 Dr Li Ailan – Working at WHO: how you can make a career of making a difference, an overview of WHO’s work and objectives. 14:30 Group photo 14:45 Ms Nicole Sarkis – Course orientation 14:50 Getting to know WHO Mr Eric Tagnon & Dr Fabio Scano – Who is needed at WHO: examples of people working at WHO and what the Organization looks for in candidates, employment benefits and career development with the Organization Mr Tagnon – WHO’s recruitment process: from vacancy announcement to selection 15:10 Writing resume and written test: briefing and exercise Ms Ying Chen – guidance on resume: linking to the vacancy notice, key words and best practices Ms Nicole Sarkis – tips for the written test: the importance of timing, make your point first then rationalize, research the Office and team you‘re applying to, think about how the work of that team fits in with Organization-wide objectives and how they work for Member States Mrs Tuohong – reviewing a model test answer 15:40 Break 15:50 Competency-based interview: theory and practice Mr Tagnon – What to expect on the day of the interview, answering competency-based interview questions, providing examples, using the STAR model, displaying WHO competencies Model interview – with WHO staff member, Ms Ying Chen, to model a competency- based interview. Interview panel members: Dr Li, Dr Scano and Mr Tagnon Mrs Xie Zheng – Introduction to the group work session 16:30 Practice – group work: participants putting skills into practice: WHO staff members lead groups of 14 participants. Participants take turns answering competency-based interview questions read by the WHO staff member. A different peer in the group provides feedback on each answer. 17:30 Dr Fabio Scano – Summing up 17:40 Networking session

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Annex 2. Go WHO China: workshop announcement

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Annex 3. Participants list

Name Affiliation Chu Lei Health Human Resources Development Center Jia Bo National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) Jiang Xiaomei National Research Institution for Family Planning Lin Yun NHFPC Liu Yingjing NHFPC Shao Meng NHFPC She Zhiwen Department of International Cooperation of NHFPC Wang Chen NHFPC Wang Qianyun NHFPC Wang Xuefei NHFPC Xu Qiang NHFPC Yi Lina Health Human Resources Development Center Zhang Nan NHFPC Zhang Ti Department of International Cooperation of NHFPC Health Human Resources Development Center Zhou Jing Health Human Resources Development Center Zhou Xiaopeng Health Human Resources Development Center Chen Ffangfang China CDC Chen Hong China CDC Cheng Yang Fang Cyangyi Jiaotong University Huang Yangmu Peking University Health Science Center Jin Guanghui Capital Medical University Lin Jing Ningbo Women and Children Hospital Niu Hongfeng Bayer Pei Yingxin Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) Qi Shige China CDC She Yuanyuan The first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wang Beidi Cancer Hospital Yang Yong Zhejiang Provincial CDC, China Zhang Ying Tongrentang Chinese Medicine Institution Zhao Weili Chinese Medical Association Zhao Xia Beijing Fangshang District CDC Zhou Fangfei Peking University Health Science Center Song Li NHFPC Cao Xiaobin China CDC Duan Lei National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China CDC Duan Mengjuan China CDC Duan Wenyuan China CDC Han Jing Jian Center for Disease Control and Prevention Ji Saisai China CDC Jin Jianing National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China CDC Li Xiayun China CDC Li Zhen National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC Tang He National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC

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Wang Jinlong China CDC Wang Shuo National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC Xia Yinyin China CDC Yang Xi China CDC Yuan Zhao China CDC Yue Ruili National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China CDC China CDC Zhao Yanjie China CDC Deng Qinglong Dong Xuejie School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiaotong University Eze Peter Ogbonna University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Ge Jieyu Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences Huangyu Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University Juan Juan Peking University Health Science Center Liu Xinyuan Fudan University Sun Yuewen Duke Kunshan University Wang Fengyun Shanghai Jiaotong University Wu Jing Shanghai Jiaotong University Yang Yaqiong Capital Medical University Zhang Wanting Peking University Health Science Center Cai Jingyi Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Huang Huang Shanghai Jiaotong University Ji Yue Audit University Lin Yuxin (Evita) Peking University Health Science Center Liu Fangjing Peking University Health Science Center Liu Qi School of Public Health, Peking University Wang Ziyue PKU China Center for Health Development Studies Yang Renren Fudan University Yong Jiaxin China Medical University Zhang Pu Peking University Health Science Center/Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Zhou Jiaxin Fudan School of Public Health Zhu Bin Xi’an Jiangtong University Zou Yuntao Cui Bo Nanjing University He Yao School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiaotong University Huang Sha Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Liu Rong University of Washington Mahmoud Yousef Ibrahim Dalian Medical University Wang Zhicheng Peking University Yang Ying Duke Kunshan University Yen Zhiying Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhang Fan Nanjing University Zheng Jianxin School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhou Yiwen Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhu Yina Xi’an Jiangtong University Guo Yifei Beihang University

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Huang Hong Xi’an Jiangtong University Jia Yinuo Dalian University of Foreign Languages

Li Qiaosheng Peking University Liao Zian Xi’an Jiangtong University Liu Xiangjun Peking University Wang Siyue Peking University Health Science Center Wang Weijue Hangzhou Normal University Yang Hongge University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Yen Youyi Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhang Yuzheng Hongkong University Zhou Xinyu Fudan University Ding Rui Harvard School of Public Health Jia Jing University Li Pei Fudan School of Public Health Lin Yunxiao Shanghai Jiaotong University Liu Hongpeng Shanghai Jiaotong University Ma Xuemei Fudan University Wang Chen Peking University Yan Huiyuan China Medical University Yu Mengke Peking University Health Science Center Zhang Yichan Medical School of Nanjing University Zhang Yue Fudan University Zhou Mengxia Shanghai Jiaotong University Cong Lin China Medical University Jia Yuanqi Nanjing Agricultural University Li Xuhan Nanjing University Liang Zhu Peking Union Medical College Lu Shan Nanjing University Ma Yingying Xi’an Jiangtong University Wang Yuqi Peking University Health Science Center Xiong Shangzhi Duke Kunshan University Yan Rui Fudan University Zhan Kan Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Zhang Jinqiusha Healthcare International Zhejiang Zhou Mengxia Shanghai Jiaotong University Chen Dan Shanghai Medical College Fudan University Fan Xiaoyang Shanghai Jiaotong University

Gaomin Beijing Normal University Li Fenfen Fudan School of Public Health Nicholas Peoples Duke Kunshan University Tong Jingyu Duke Kunshan University Wang Fangqing China Medical University Wei Wanrui Shanghai Jiaotong University Xia Juan Fudan University Zhang Xiao Peking University Health Science Center Zhang Yuwei Xi‘an Jiangtong University Zhao Dan Fudan University

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Chen Wei School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University Gao Haidong Nanjing University He Shiying Fudan University Li Rui Xi’an Jiangtong University Mao Meng Shanghai Jiaotong University Shen Yang School of Public Health, Peking University William Pu Duke Kunshan University Xia Haisheng Shanghai Jiaotong University Xu Ningze Fudan University Ye Zhoufeng Fudan School of Public Health Zhang Guoting Peking University Health Science Center Zhao Ping Fudan University Chen Shaolu Healthcare International Zhejiang Gao Ceshu He Siyuan Fudan University Jiang Shan Xi’an Jiangtong University Li Jing Peking Union Medical College Pan Xuru Peking University Health Science Center Wang Weiyu Hangzhou Normal University Wu Bin Nanjing University Xu Yiming Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhang Huyang School of Public Health, Peking University Zhang Wenting Beijing Chaoyang District Health Supervision Institution Zhao Huitong Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Chen Shanquan Chinese Du Yifan University of International Business and Economics Gao Chenlin Shanghai Jiaotong University Hou Ruikai Healthcare International Zhejiang Kong Ziqing China Medical University Nie Juan Sun Yat-sen University Pan Ke University of Washington Wu Di China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment Xu Zijun Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhang Fangxing Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhao Hanqing PKU China Center for Health Development Studies Chen Jun Shanghai Jiaotong University Du Yuxian Texas A&M University Hu Wenqi Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Liu Zheming Shanghai Jiaotong University Sun Jianyue Healthcare International Zhejiang Wang Leqi Peking University Health Science Center Wei Jialiu Capital Medical University Wu Wenqian Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xu Luyang Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhang Manyao University of International Business and Economics

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Zhao Yanting Nanjing University Cheng Lianzhou NHFPC Li Jiang NHFPC Liu Zheyan NHFPC Wang Zhebin Peking University Health Science Center Zhang Aichao NHFPC Wang Qi Peking University Health Science Center

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