Thursday, August 17, 2023

Associate Health and Nutrition Officer

Job Title: Associate Health and Nutrition Officer

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: UNHCR

Assignment country: Chad

Expected start date: 24/08/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Goz Beida

Details

Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org)

Context

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). As of the end of Avril 2023, Chad hosts a large number of people in a situation of displacement including 607,269 refugees and asylum seekers, 381,289 internally displaced persons 100551 returnees. UNHCR and partners are supporting the ministry of health in providing primary healthcare services in the refugee’s camps. A referral system is in place to ensure access to secondary and tertiary health care. The leading causes of morbidities are malaria and respiratory tract infections, there is a growing number of non-communicable diseases cases among the refugees and asylum seekers and there is a threat of outbreaks such as measles, cholera, yellow fever, and meningitis. Goz-Beida Sub-office is hosting 74386 refugees in three camps and ADES is UNHCR health partner and there are four others operational health partners supporting the emergency response at the point of entries and in Zabout, the new refugee camp. The incumbent will coordinate health and nutrition intervertions in Goz-Beida sub-office with strong emphasis on emergency reponse, integrated disease surveillance, health programs monitoring and integration of refugees into the national plans. The incumbent will work with the Public Health team to ensure to meet minimum UNHCR and international public health standards. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Head of Field Office), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Accountability: • Take the lead in the assessment and analysis of the health needs of persons of concern by implementing methods like: participatory assessments such as the Age, Gender and Di-versity (AGD) perspective or joint assessment missions; as well as utilizing objective tools like the multi-indicator nutrition, health and WASH survey; health indicators from the Health Information System and Balanced Scorecard approach; and health facility assessments to serve as the basis for planning to effectively address health issues of public health im-portance, based on the principles of Public Health and Primary Health Care. • Ensure that public health programme interventions are reflected in implementing partner agreements in a timely manner; regularly monitor and report on compliance with estab-lished guidelines and procedures. • Pursue collaborative, consultative partnerships in order to ensure quality health planning and sustainable service provision for refugees in all camps. Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results): • Take the lead in monitoring and evaluating health programme implementation in the field (with the support of Nutrition Field Officer and Health Associate), in accordance to work plans co-developed with implementing partners. • Oversee the implementation of the Health Information System from training of health work-ers on data collection, examination of quality of data collected, and providing supervisory support and guidance to IP coordinators. • In collaboration with partners and local authorities, ensure adequate preparedness, early detection and effective response to disease outbreaks. • Ensure all primary health programmes are implemented by IP health workers according to national guidelines by health implementing partners in each refugee health facility – and ensure that mental health care and reproductive health / HIV interventions, are well inte-grated into the PHC services at camp level. • Oversee and regulate medical referral activities from the secondary to tertiary level, and ensure that submissions for Resettlement on the Medical Needs fully satisfy the current cri-teria. • Establish an efficient drug management system that encompasses assessment of essen-tial medicine needs for the refugee operation based on drug consumption, procurement, storage, distribution, and rational utilization at the camp health facilities. • Assess training needs of Governmental Organisations (GO) and NGO implementing part-ner staff; ensure that health staff undergo capacity development activities relevant to their posts; and that training activities are well-coordinated and implemented according to agreed work plan timeframes. • Implement capacity development interventions with refugee / host community volunteers utilizing participatory approaches. • Support UNHCR Nutritionist in the conduct of the annual nutrition survey and monitor im-plementation of the nutrition programme, particularly within the in-patient stabilization cen-ters. • Supervise implementation of interventions for malaria prevention and control according to GFATM-UNDP Scaling Up Malaria Interventions project and ensure timely reporting. • Advocate with government line ministries for the transfer of operational responsibility of the health sector from the NGOs to the line ministry (MOH). • Collaborate with UNHCR / MOH / Implementing Partners (IP) engineers on the implemen-tation of projects for upgrading of health infrastructure in the camps or host community are-as. • Cooperate with colleagues in the Basic Services / Livelihoods Section on increasing com-munity involvement in health promotion; community mobilization in preparation for the transfer of basic services to the line ministry; and cost-sharing schemes to be adopted in the camps. • Participate in the evaluation of possible health financing schemes to ensure sustainability of health services in the camps. • Lead the process of ensuring the sustainability of health services through the transfer of health facilities to Ministries of Health. Authority: • Ensure compliance to the updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Medical Re-ferral of Persons of Concern (PoCs). • Institute Drug Management Standard Operating Procedures. • Represent the refugee health sector in coordination meetings and liaise with implementing partners, UN agencies, NGOs, and the Ministry of Health to coordinate health activities in the refugee camps. • Prepare input for information, communication and advocacy on the health and nutrition sit-uation of populations of concern to UNHCR among partners, donors, other agencies and the government; and provide information for funding submissions, appeals or reports.

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in public health nutrition; previous working experience in refugee settings and/or international ex-perience; demonstrated experience in managing health and nutrition programmes; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF) and Ministry of Health is an advantage; prior experience in conducting nutrition surveys and familiarity with SMART/SENS is an advantage. Working knowledge of Word, Excel and basic data analysis skills (e.g. Stata, EpiInfo, SPSS) required.

Area(s) of expertise

Health

Driving license

-

Languages

French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Health Science and/or nutrition and post graduate degree in Public Health or Public Health Nutrition (MPH preferable)

Competencies and values

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to ap-ply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take owner-ship; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under es-tablished procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, im-partiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confiden-tially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work envi-ronment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priori-ties and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Chad is a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environ-ment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, in-volving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. Candidates applying to positions in Chad should be prepared to work under challenging condi-tions and be able to manage stressful situations. All the duty stations in Chad are classified E, except N’Djamena which is at D. In terms of working and living conditions, Goz Beida is a small town that has only very basic infrastructure with very limited leisure and recreational facilities. There are no banking facilities in Goz Beida. The nearest bank facility is in Abeche where ATMs are also operational. Malaria is prevalent and all staff need to be vigilant by taking the relevant measures. Goz Beida is an E non-family location. There are also very limited health facilities available locally. Finding good accommodations in Goz Beida remains a challenge. Therefore, UNHCR man-aged guest houses provide and facilitate accommodation to UNHCR staff. All communications within the office and with external partners such as Government and hu-manitarian agencies are conducted in French. Fluent French (both written and spoken) is es-sential for this position. However, working knowledge of English, especially written, is also re-quired as reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English. While security in Goz Beida is, at present, stable, due to criminality staff are discouraged from walking in the streets, staying out late at night and visiting public places alone. Physical integri-ty of UNHCR staff. UNHCR staff are always reminded the need to strictly respect all norms of security. R&R circle is every 8 weeks. There are specific security measures to be taken into consideration. Aside from the mandatory security briefing provided to the staff upon arrival in N’Djamena with specific location infor-mation and requirements: - All UN personnel must complete their BSAFE training online - Per the classification of roads, all road movements between cities should be accompa-nied by an armed escort in the SRM East zone. These movements are conditioned by a granted security clearance through TRIP - Unless exceptionally allowed all road movements between cities must be started after 6 a.m. and completed by 6 p.m. - All movements of UNSMS vehicles in Abeche are allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m, while all movements of UNSMS vehicles in Farchana, Goz Beida, Iriba, Amdjarass and Guéréda are allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds

Apply Now

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Popular Posts