10 A secondment is a tripartite agreement to move an employee from one entity (i.e. government or non-State actor) to WHO for a fixed period while retaining his or her rights of employment in the entity (i.e. releasing organization). During this period, the person on secondment to WHO is subject to WHO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules except as otherwise expressly agreed by the parties.
20 The overall purpose of agreeing to the secondment of an individual to WHO is to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation between the other entity and WHO.
30 Any secondment must be in line with WHO’s programmatic priorities and require a high level of expertise. Secondments must respond to a technical need that cannot be met from within the Organization. Secondments are not for the purpose of training staff members for the other entity.
40 Secondments are normally for a period of six months up to two years and cannot be extended beyond a maximum period of five years, subject to paragraph 210 below. The maximum period of secondments from non-State actors cannot exceed two years including any extensions.
50 The terms of reference of any secondment must be determined by WHO in line with its programmatic priorities and comply with WHO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and related policies.
- All positions proposed for secondments must be cleared and classified by Department of Human Resources and Talent Management (HRT) before being shared with the prospective releasing entities.
- Secondments are usually at the P4 or P5 level.
60 Principles for secondment are as follows:
- Managerial positions or positions that involve the validation or approval of WHO’s norms and standards are excluded.
- Secondees should not have supervisory functions.
- Secondees may not work in positions that would give rise to any conflict of interest for either the individual, WHO or the releasing entity.
- Secondees may not serve as liaison to their releasing entities.
70 WHO standard secondment agreements must be used in all cases. Standard Agreements are available in the WHO eManual.
80 The releasing entity transfers funds to cover the costs of the secondment to WHO including 13% programme support costs. The secondee is paid by WHO. The secondee and eligible family members participate in WHO’s social security scheme under WHO’s Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.
90 The releasing entity continues to pay the secondee’s salary and benefits directly to the secondee. No funds are transferred to WHO. The social security coverage for the secondee and eligible family members must be as set out in the WHO standard direct-pay secondment agreement.
100 For direct-pay secondments to Geneva, special conditions agreed with the Swiss host government apply. Before engaging in any negotiation with a prospective releasing entity, the respective unit/department must consult the Team Lead of Specialized Mechanisms in the Talent Acquisition and Management unit, Department of Human Resources and Talent Management (HRT/TAM/TAS).
Funding of Secondments
110 All costs associated with the secondment must be covered by the releasing entity. Direct-pay secondments must be recorded as in-service income in the WHO programme budget.
120 Based on the approved and classified position description, the prospective releasing entity proposes, wherever possible, at least three qualified candidates to WHO. Consideration must be given to gender and geographical diversity by the releasing entity. The final choice of candidate rests with WHO.
130 Proposed secondees must:
- fulfil the minimum criteria of the relevant position;
- be an employee of the releasing entity (government or non-State actor) before the secondment; and
- be guaranteed a right of return to the releasing entity by the releasing entity.
Waiver of Selection
140 Secondments are subject to a waiver of competitive selection by the Director-General, upon request by the Director/Head of Office concerned providing justification for the proposed secondment.
150 The following documents must be attached to the request for a waiver of selection for the purpose of a secondment to WHO:
- CVs of all proposed candidates;
- approved and classified position description; and
- draft secondment agreement (standard).
160 All requests for secondment must be routed, through the respective Assistant Director-General and Director, HRT to the Director-General.
170 Prior to the conclusion of any secondment agreement, a declaration of interest must be completed and signed by any proposed secondee, irrespective of their grade, and no (actual or perceived) conflict of interest must have been identified for which adequate mitigation measures are not possible. The DOI must be cleared by Compliance and Risk Management and Ethics /Ethics Unit.
Conclusion of Secondment Agreement
180 When all conditions have been fulfilled and subject to the required clearances including a waiver of selection and DOI, secondment agreements may be signed by the parties. Secondment Agreements must be signed by the concerned ADG or Regional Director.
190 Secondments:
May not begin until:
- the secondee has been offered and accepted the corresponding letter of appointment as a WHO staff member, on secondment from the releasing organization subject to the terms and conditions contained in the secondment agreement; and
- the conditions of the appointment have been satisfactorily fulfilled; and
- WHO has set a date on which the secondee reports for duty with WHO.
200 In line with eManual provision
III.4.2.30 Secondees cannot be nationals of the country to which they are being assigned.
Additional provisions and conditions for Secondment Agreements with Non-State Actors
210 Secondments from non-State actors are governed by provisions of the Framework of engagement with non-State actors (FENSA) and the Criteria and principles for secondments from nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations and academic institutions (A70/53).
220 WHO does not accept secondments from private sector entities.
230 The proposed arrangement for a secondment must undergo a due diligence and risk assessment by CRE/DAN (Compliance and Risk Management and Ethics Office/ Due Diligence & Non-State Actors Unit).
240 The secondment will be published in:
- the register of non-State actors under the releasing entity’s entry; and
- the annual report on engagement with non-State actors, which will include the justification for the secondments.
