The WHO Foundation (WHOF), launched in May 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, was created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO. Its mission is to mobilize greater private capital and partnership to advance the mission of the World Health Organization (WHO), enabling catalytic impact on the people whose lives rely on WHO’s work and facilitating innovation to maximize the impact of the resources we invest.
WHO plays a singular role in leading the global health ecosystem, acting as a first-responder to health crises — including the current conflict in Ukraine and on behalf of the 15+ million people in urgent need of aid in Horn of Africa; producing technical guidelines and tools to prevent and treat disease; and acting as a country-level convener with an unparalleled level of trust. The crises of the 21st century, including COVID-19, have made clear both the inequity of access to effective and affordable healthcare and the indispensable role of WHO. Yet WHO lacks sufficient resources to fulfill its mandate. And, beyond funding, its vision cannot be achieved by the public sector alone. WHOF was therefore created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO to marshal new resources from philanthropists, foundations, businesses, and individuals to support its mission: promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, while protecting the neutrality and independence of WHO as the world’s leading health authority. WHOF is a nexus for unique opportunities in global health, facilitating game-changing opportunities between the private sector and WHO. We focus on mobilizing grant income, shared value partnerships, and investment to power WHO’s work. The WHOF Global Catalyst Program was developed to engage diverse sets of participants who will collaborate with the Impact Investment team in developing initiatives aligned with the Foundation’s impact investing strategy. It also offers Global Catalysts the opportunity to gain first-hand insights into impact investing mechanisms and innovative funding approaches that mobilize diverse forms of capital for global health outcomes.
KEY WHOF CONTACT
The Global Impact Investment Catalysts (“Catalysts’’) will report directly to The Chief Impact Investment Officer of the WHO Foundation and will collaborate closely with the Impact Investment team.
ACCOUNTABILITIES & FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy Development and Execution
Contribute to key work streams within the Foundation’s impact investment strategy, working directly with the Impact Investment team and collaborating closely with other Foundation teams and stakeholders to assess gaps, identify opportunities, and develop actionable approaches for advancing the Foundation’s impact investment goals and objectives.
Impact Investing Initiatives & Projects
Conduct research and identify potential partners and funders for new and existing initiatives.
Develop market research and insights to identify investable opportunities in priority areas, focusing on women’s health, mental health, and innovative health financing models.
Coordinate cross-functional tasks and project updates across multiple workstreams for various funding initiatives within these priority areas:
Financing for women’s health services and delivery
Mental health investment opportunities
Public-private sector financing collaboration to drive health outcomes
Impact measurement and management for healthcare investments
Ideation
Support fundraising activities to drive key milestones and initiatives of the Foundation’s impact investment practice
Research, recommend, and collaborate on potential impact investing opportunities and partnerships.
PROFILE
Top-ranked individuals currently enrolled in a graduate school program (full time or part time studies), i.e. masters of business administration or masters in finance, economics, international development. Candidates in other related graduate programs are encouraged to apply.
A minimum of 5+ years of progressively responsible experience
Has expertise and experience in any of the following areas: direct and/or fund investing, development finance, corporate finance, strategy, consulting
Core experience in any of the following areas preferred: Women’s health investing, mental health, gender-lens investing, blended financing, public-private partnerships
A dynamic, resilient, determined individual and a self-starter with strong leadership skills and aptitude for working with autonomy and entrepreneurship, both individually and as part of a complex team effort.
Comfort with and/or experience of operating in a lean, start-up environment.
Demonstrated project management skills, ideally including executing complex projects and initiatives.
WHY PARTICIPATE IN THE CATALYST PROGRAM
Rewarding work in a dynamic and innovative non-profit environment with appealing growth and learning opportunities
Insights into the implementation of impact investing principles to promote global health equity
Exposure to diverse engagements with global private sector, public sector, and philanthropic stakeholders aligned with the mission of health for all
A collaborative workplace within a truly global team
An agile, fast-moving and flexible environment with an open culture fostering and endorsing individual ownership
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Type of contract: 6 months paid fellowship program
Location: Remote
Working rate: 100% if during school breaks and between 10 to 20 hours a week during the school year
Application deadline: October 11, 2024
Estimated start date: November 18, 2024
This is a rolling process; applications will be reviewed as they arrive. The WHO Foundation puts equity at the center of all its work and is committed to building, fostering, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employment and advancement opportunities are based upon individual qualifications, regardless of gender, color, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, nationality, cultural & religious background, beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and marital status. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.