Technical Officer, Essential Immunization, Big Catch-Up Coordination at World Health Organization

Description Of Duties
The incumbent is assigned the following responsibilities which are performed according to the needs and agenda of the West & Central African sub-regions:

• Liaise with global, regional, and national stakeholders to ensure alignment of Big Catch-Up objectives with national immunization policies, strategies, and priorities.
• Coordinate the provision of guidance and technical support to countries in reviewing/updating, implementing, and monitoring vaccination policies and guidelines to catch up missed children expanding the vaccination age range from 0 – 23 months to 0 – 59 months
• Coordinate regularly with partners from UNICEF, Gavi, and other regional working group members to regularly track vaccine stock availability in the country, funds availability to cover operational costs, as well as the needed technical assistance to implement the Big Catch-Up activities
• Coordinate the sub-regional implementation of the Big Catch-Up, supporting member states to develop and implement tailored catch-up plans, based on regular review of performance
• Monitoring progress of Big Catch-Up activities while tracking key performance indicators (based on the global guidelines for monitoring Big Catch-Up) and conducting regular evaluations to assess the impact of the intervention against regularly programmed activitiesFacilitate and coordinate the Regional collaboration and concerted support for the implementation of tailored strategies to bridge immunization equity gaps, reach zero dose children and implement the Big CatchUp initiative.
• Review country monthly BCU progress reports and coordinate with sub-regional, regional, and global stakeholders to identify opportunities for knowledge-sharing
• Facilitate and contribute in the mobilization of technical assistance and resources for operational costs for the implementation of the the Big Catch-Up, in collaboration with Regional and HQ colleagues.
• Collaborate with Global IA2030 Working Groups, provide progress on the regional framework for the implementation of the IA2030 in WCA countries and coordinate partners support to close identified gaps.
• Perform any other activity as assigned by the IST WCA VPD Team Leads.

Required Qualifications
Education

• Essential: Medical degree with post-graduate degree/training in public health, health management, epidemiology or infectious or communicable diseases.
• Desirable: PhD in a relevant field.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of 7 years of practical national and international experience in managing and coordinating large-scale immunization programmes, new vaccine introductions, vaccine logistics management and related activities.
• Desirable: Experience in project management, analysis and development of capacity-building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Diverse work experience incorporating work with the United Nations, international non-governmental organizations, other UN or related agencies will be an advantage.
• Experience in coordinating a large-scale immunization program in a developmental context/low income setting

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge in the management of large scale and complex multi-country immunization programmes;
• Proven ability to think independently and strategically, plan, coordinate and implement strategies, activities, and capacity building together with monitoring and reporting on results, progress, and lessons learnt
• Excellent experience in working with national EPI programmes and integration with other Progammes, managing and coordinating the end-to-end implementation and dissemination of lessons learnt
• Demonstrated experience in the monitoring and evaluation of EPI programs providing technical support to East and Southern African countries
• Demonstrated ability to strengthen partnerships and resource mobilization;
• Proven writing and communication skills;

WHO Competencies

• Producing Results
• Communication
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French.
• Desirable: intermediate knowledge of French or English or any other UN official languages.