Openings 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

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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 to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, at the East and Southern Africa sub-regional level, the incumbent will work with member states and regional partners to support strengthening of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), a component of Emergency preparedness and response. The Technical officer IPC will provide technical support and guidance to the WCOs and MoH for mainstreaming infection prevention and control into health systems planning and strengthening IPC practice with special emphasis on readiness for response to public health emergencies.

Description Of Duties
In order to strengthen IPC implementation in the East and Southern Africa countries, the Technical Officer IPC will undertake the following duties:

• Provide technical guidance to countries to strengthen capacity and readiness in Infection Prevention and Control, with special attention to capacities necessary for prevention and monitoring of nosocomial transmission of infectious diseases, through establishment of strong IPC programmes and plans within the health sector.
• Support and monitor capacity building efforts in infection prevention and control in ESA by WHO, countries and partners, including ensuring appropriate approach and training materials are used for capacity building and mentoring of health workers at national and subnational level.
• Provide technical guidance to the incident management teams at EPR Hub - Nairobi, WCOs, and MoHs and the Regional Partners in the implementation and monitoring of IPC readiness and ensure harmonization and alignment of the different partner tools and contributions.
• Support co-chair the Infection Prevention and Control Sub-Working Group of the Health Partners Group and coordinate their technical guidance and support to countries in ESA countries in this area of work, including ensuring regular, efficient, and effective meetings of the Working Group as well as follow up on meeting action points.
• Share updated guidance on different aspects of infection prevention and control with countries and support the country adaptation process and implementation of the guidance as necessary.
• Continuously assess and monitor infection prevention and control capacities and implementation in member states with special focus on health worker protection and nosocomial infection; and provide guidance and support in filling the identified gaps to enhance readiness and ensure effective response.
• Collate and verify data on reported achievements/progress within the intervention area from multiple sources, and conduct analysis to determine trends, distribution patterns, and effectiveness.
• Keep track of the level of sub-regional and national capacities, using the WHO IPC tools, and ensure progressive improvements towards the requirements for effective emergency response. Prepare regular updates on sub-regional and national IPC preparedness for public health events.
• Participate in and provide technical guidance to the Regional Health Partners Group meeting to ensure that appropriate technical decisions are made and followed through to strengthen the implementation of infection prevention and control.
• Guide and mobilize regional partners to support implementation of the IPC interventions at national and sub-national levels in a sustainable manner, particularly in countries with low capacity and high levels of nosocomial infections among health care workers.
• Perform any other duties, as requested by the functional supervisor.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Essential: First level University degree in medicine or medical related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable

• Masters degree in medicine, epidemiology, infectious disease control or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Additional training in infection prevention and control in prevention and control of infectious disease epidemics and pandemics.

Experience

• Essential: At least five years related experience in implementation of public health interventions, control of communicable diseases, and outbreak investigation and response.
• Desirable: Experience working in infection prevention and control in developing countries. Previous experience working in collaboration with and coordination of multiple actors in emergency preparedness and response is desirable. Previous experience in case management and infection prevention and control particularly pertaining to control of infectious disease outbreaks ad pandemics is desirable.

Skills

• Sound knowledge and skills in infection prevention and control, partner coordination, capacity building, secondary data review and analysis, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven ability to multitask across various planning and implementation processes within a highly demanding environment
• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention to application of an all hazard approach in the context of the International Health Regulations
• Critical thinking and analysis skills

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results

Use Of Language Skills

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of another UN official language would be an asset

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PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response programme, at the regional and ESA sub-region level, the incumbent will act as the WHO Advisor for One Health and ensure that the One Health approach and principles are well-integrated into and implemented in emergency preparedness and response. The incumbent will also support the coordination and collaboration with the Tripartite (WHO, OIE, and FAO) agencies in advocacy and promotion of One Health and in the support to countries to adopt one health approach in emergency preparedness and response.

Description Of Duties

In order to support the implementation of emergency preparedness and response strategies and tools for disease/infection prevention, control and monitoring using the One Health principles, the Technical Officer will undertake the following duties:

• Advocate for and promote integration of one- health approach in emergency preparedness and response by all stakeholders at regional, sub-regional and country level.
• Strengthen Member States capacity in preparedness, management and control of infectious hazards including VHFs, through providing strategic guidance on the use of the One Health approach and principles. Information.
• Support Member States to establish and/or strengthen coordinated inter-linked surveillance and information sharing systems by promoting the One Health approach and its use in early warning systems.
• Develop/update risk assessment for zoonotic diseases and strategic prevention and control tools and support risk assessment in ESA countries using the standardized tools.
• Support countries to develop and/or review preparedness and response action plan(s) for highly pathogenic zoonotic diseases in line with the One Health Approach/ Agenda and policies.
• Monitor and evaluate of the implementation of the action plan(s) and provide appropriate recommendations and technical advices, accordingly.
• Support on the preparation of regular information products including progress reports on integration and application of One Health Approach and daily situation reports on the evolution of the zoonotic disease outbreaks, ongoing and planned activities.
• Coordinate and establish effective mechanism for collaboration and communication with related partners e.g. (OIE, FAO, UNEP, etc..), to implement One Health agenda, in preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases outbreaks.
• Contribute to field and laboratory investigations of zoonotic diseases and promote prevention and control strategies in animals, to prevent animal-human transmission.
• Perform any other assignments as delegated by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Essential: Advanced University degree in veterinary or human medicine, with a master’s degree in public health or Epidemiology.
• Desirable: Advanced training in One Health, Emergency preparedness and Response, and experience in zoonotic diseases epidemiology or public health related emergency management.

Experience

• Essential: Minimum of 7 years' experience in the area of epidemiology and/ or public health of infectious disease surveillance, outbreaks investigations and emergency responses. Relevant experience in WHO policy and operational procedures for emergency response, including; health emergency information, risk assessment and infectious hazard management and One Health Agenda.
• Desirable: Experience in implementation of public health surveillance and outbreak investigation and response, with special focus on zoonotic diseases and application of One Health principle, would be an added advantage. Experience working in an international organization and/ or in developing countries. Experience on assessment of public health events and simulation exercise.

Skills

Skills, proficiency and knowledge in operational planning, coordination, advocacy and broad technical knowledge in epidemiology and/or Public Health in the context of improving the health of populations and/or health security. Experience and ability to design, evaluate and monitor multi-partners work plans. Good writing skills and ability to draft, evaluate and edit technical reports and publications. Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and consultative skills.

Use Of Language Skills

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of French.