10 This section sets out the administrative policies and procedures required to implement the provisions of Article 35 of the WHO Constitution, Articles
I and
IV of the Staff Regulations and
Section 4 of the Staff Rules relating to appointments. It sets out the types of appointments given to staff and the general conditions attached to the granting of such appointments.
20 This section should be read in conjunction with III.4, Recruitment and appointment, Appointment procedures.
30 WHO has three (3) types of staff appointments, as follows:
Type of appointment |
New Staff Rules |
Continuing appointment |
Staff Rule
420.2 |
Fixed-term appointment |
Staff Rule
420.3 |
Temporary appointment |
Staff Rule
420.4 |
40 The provisions applicable for granting staff members a continuing appointment became obsolete on 1 January 2019 pursuant to Staff Rule 420, see
III.5.13.
50 In accordance with the provisions of Staff Regulation 4.5, staff members who hold appointments at the level of Deputy Director-General, Assistant Director-General or Regional Director, are appointed on a fixed-term appointment, for a period not to exceed five years. If they should hold a continuing appointment at the time of their promotion, the appointment must be converted to a fixed-term appointment, for a period not to exceed five years, subject to renewal.
60 Ongoing service on a continuing appointment is subject to such factors as continuing need for the function, availability of funding, and satisfactory performance and conduct.
70 A continuing appointment may be terminated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Staff Rules.
80 The terms of employment of staff on continuing appointments are set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules and related policies and procedures.
90 A fixed-term appointment issued under Staff Rule 420.3 is a time-limited appointment of an initial period of one (1) year or two (2) years.
100 Staff members, including staff members seconded to the Organization, employed for the performance of functions identified in approved HR Action Plans as being of a longer term nature, will be appointed initially on fixed-term appointments.
110 A fixed-term appointment will be subject to a period of probation, which will be of at least one (1) year and which may be extended for up to two (2) years, when necessary, for adequate evaluation of the staff member's performance, conduct and suitability to international civil service.
120 No reclassification exercise will be undertaken during the first two years following a selection to a fixed-term appointment.
130 Fixed-term appointments may be extended for periods of up to two (2) years subject to the conditions in III.5.12.
140 In the absence of any written offer and acceptance of extension, fixed-term appointments will expire on the completion of the agreed period of service.
150 When it is decided not to offer an extension of appointment to a staff member holding a fixed-term appointment, the staff member will be given notice of this decision no less than three (3) months before the expiry date of the appointment. Staff members holding fixed-term appointments who do not wish to be considered for extension, will also provide the appropriate notice of their intention (Staff Rule 1040).
160 A fixed-term appointment may be terminated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Staff Rules.
170 The terms of employment of staff on fixed-term appointments are set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules and related policies and procedures.
180 A temporary appointment under Staff Rule
420.4 is a time-limited appointment of up to two (2) years. If the temporary appointment is of less than two (2) years, it may be extended, provided that the total duration of uninterrupted service under consecutive temporary appointments does not exceed two (2) years.
190 Staff members employed for the performance of temporary functions as identified in the approved HR Action Plans, will be initially appointed on temporary appointments.
200 A staff member who has completed the maximum period of uninterrupted service on one (1) or more temporary appointments may not be re-employed by the Organization unless more than thirty (30) calendar days have elapsed since separation from service.
210 A break in service of thirty (30) calendar days or less does not interrupt the count towards the maximum duration of service on temporary appointments.
220 Breaks in service of more than thirty (30) calendar days will automatically terminate the count towards the maximum duration on temporary appointments. The maximum duration of service will start anew as from the effective date of a new appointment.
230 Extensions/renewal of temporary appointments either in the same or another temporary function will be subject to such factors as continuing need for the function, availability of funding, satisfactory performance and conduct.
240 In the absence of any offer and acceptance of extension, temporary appointments will expire on the completion of the agreed period of service.
250 When it is decided not to offer an extension of appointment to a staff member holding a temporary appointment, the staff member will be given notice of this decision no less than one (1) month before the expiry date of the appointment. Such notice will not be required in the case of a staff member holding a temporary appointment who has reached the maximum duration of uninterrupted service under consecutive temporary appointments (Staff Rule
1040).
260 Temporary appointments may be terminated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Staff Rules.
270 The terms of employment of staff on temporary appointments are set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules and related policies and procedures.
280 Staff members holding temporary appointments may apply and be selected for fixed-term positions. Upon selection for a fixed-term position, the staff member will be issued a fixed-term appointment.
290 Provision is made in the Staff Rules for temporary appointments of 60 days or less. The terms of employment applying to such staff members may be found in the
relevant policy and procedures.
