Technical Officer - Operational Readiness at World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and other emergencies, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme and within the Emergency Preparedness Programme (EMP), the Technical Officer – Operational Readiness will serve as the principal focal point on operational readiness matters for the East and Southern African countries. The incumbent will ensure that at-risk and affected countries by health emergencies have an optimal level of readiness in regard to the key functions of the WHO incident management system and the priority interventions. The incumbent will work with the AFRO and HQ to develop and use tools for operational readiness assessment at country level (national and sub-national levels) and set up a monitoring system for countries’ readiness for emergencies based on the country risk profiles, with roadmaps to fill the gaps. The incumbent will be involved in capacity building on member states to enhance operational readiness where necessary.

Description Of Duties

To enhance the level of operational readiness for effective management of public health emergencies, the incumbent will undertake the following duties:

• Support the effective implementation of WHO strategies for enhancing country operational readiness for public health emergencies in the East and Southern Africa Member States.
• Contribute to the development or updating of tools for country operational readiness assessment and for development of roadmaps for countries’ activities toward operational readiness for the identified high priority risks.
• Provide technical support to countries to enhance early warning/surveillance for timely detection and response to disease outbreaks and ongoing emergencies
• Support countries to assess risks and develop contingency plans for major public health threats and business continuity plans to address threats to the functionality of WCO offices during emergencies.
• Ensure all relevant guidelines, protocols, tools, and standard operating procedures for operational readiness at country level are updated in line with the latest WHO guidance, and actively promote and monitor their proper implementation through the relevant partners and stakeholders.
• Establish a baseline of operational readiness on the critical functions of the IMS (Leadership, partner coordination, information and planning, specific technical expertise, operations support and logistics, finance and administration) in countries at risk of public health and major humanitarian emergencies in the East and Southern Africa sub-region.
• Support countries in assessing operational readiness in implementing the Incident Management system in response to crises through simulation exercises and strengthening their readiness by addressing gaps identified
• To facilitate cross border engagement, cross border mechanisms and collaboration and communication between national authorities and partners in the ESA countries
• Provide analysis of public health risks, needs and capacities, and advise on priority interventions for effective operations for WHO and partners in the context of acute and protracted emergencies.
• Mobilize and coordinate the relevant partners to ensure collective and effective readiness under the critical functions of the IMS in the member states in East and Southern Africa
• Seek opportunities to expand and strengthen existing partnerships on operational readiness, especially through the development of new partnerships at the Hub level.
• Strengthen country level and sub-regional leadership, coordination and accountability for contingency planning, preparedness and response planning in the countries.
• Document lessons learnt at field level to enable countries improve their operational readiness for public health emergencies
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including surge to countries during emergencies or backstopping for other EPR colleagues in the Hub and at regional office as required.

Required Qualifications

Education

Essential: 

• An advanced University degree (Master’s level or above) in epidemiology, statistics, or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable: 

• Qualifications or studies in emergency management; Organizational Development and/or Change management in humanitarian context

Experience

Essential:

•  A minimum of 7 years' experience in alert and response to emergencies at the national and international levels and readiness assessment, complemented by sound experience with working and negotiating with different organizations in complex environments.

Desirable: 

• Experience in WHO and/or the UN System in the areas of outbreak response and/or humanitarian interventions.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of key critical functions of the WHO Emergency Response Framework.
• Demonstrated sound knowledge of the landscape and dynamics of health emergencies in the African region.
• Demonstrated sound understanding of the interests and dynamics of partners involved in the readiness and management of health emergencies in the African region.
• Capacity to conceptualize, organize and critically analyze situations and solve problems.
• Sound organizational and planning skills complemented by ability to multi-task and produce results under pressure within short deadlines.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Diplomacy, tact and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Producing results

Use Of Language Skills

• Excellent knowledge of English is essential.
• Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable