Program Officer, Communicable & Non-Communicable Conditions

Job Title: Program Officer, Communicable & Non-Communicable Conditions

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: WHO

Assignment country: Angola

Expected start date: 02/10/2023

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

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Luanda

Details

Mission and objectives

Objective of WHO - "The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health." Mission - "Effective engagement with member states for advancing the global agenda; contributing to national health policies, strategies and plans; and for bringing country realities and perspectives to global policies and priorities."

Context

The Health Sector in Angola is undergoing rapid transformation, in line with the reforms the Government is institutionalizing, to improve health service delivery for the population in the country. The country has a wide network of facilities comprising over 3,164 public facilities providing essential services. These include 13 National Hospitals, 32 specialized Hospitals, 18 Provincial Hospitals, 166 municipal Hospitals, 10 non-profit private Hospitals, 105 Maternal and Child Centres, 640 Health Centres, and 2,180 health posts. The country is committed to moving towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As part of this, the implementation of interventions to address the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases is a priority area of focus. The WHO Angola office is called upon to support the country in this goal. Coupled with this is the current drive by WHO to open more opportunities for technically competent persons to have an opportunity to work with the organization, as part of its talent search and provision of opportunities to persons building careers in public health to enhance their international experiences. The WHO is therefore seeking a technically competent United Nations Volunteer to work as a Program Officer in addressing communicable and non-communicable conditions.

Task description

Under the guidance and overall supervision of the WHO Representative and working under the technical guidance of the UHC-Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases team lead, the person shall contribute to the work of WHO in accelerating the implementation of interventions addressing the communicable and non-communicable conditions in Angola. The incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities which are performed according to the needs and agenda: • Support to addressing vector-borne conditions including Malaria • Facilitation to the implementation of interventions relating to Tuberculosis, HIV & Hepatitis B • Address the high burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases • Implementing innovations to increase coverage of routine immunization services • Participate in activities to expand new and/or supplementary vaccination activities • Support the development of strategies for addressing non-Communicable conditions, including mental health, oral health, rehabilitation services • Put in place initiatives that address the four key metabolic/physiological changes (raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, raised blood glucose, and raised cholesterol), • Other duties as assigned by the WHO Representative Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs As an active WHO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to WHO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Support to the WHO Angola activities facilitating the scale-up of interventions addressing communicable and non-communicable conditions in the country. • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

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 the health sector at the service delivery, and/or management level • Experience with the compilation and analysis of health sector progress. • Proven ability to document health sector initiatives and activities. Considered as an asset: • Experience working at the sub-national level (district/province/state) • Relevant work experience in WHO, and other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. • Support to the health sector at the national and sub-national (district) levels in multiple countries • Experience working in Portuguese-speaking countries The incumbent should be able to demonstrate an understanding key strategic and operational priorities in responding to: • HIV, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis B • Neglected Tropical Diseases • Routine immunization services • Common non-communicable conditions including mental health Fluency in spoken and written English or French. A good working knowledge of Portuguese. Additional training and/or certifications in any of the communicable or non-communicable conditions an asset.

Area(s) of expertise

Health

Driving license

-

Languages

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

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Public Health, Health Services, or a related subject

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Knowing and managing self • Producing results • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self- reliance; and commitment towards WHO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Angola is classified as a “B“ Duty Station. This is a scale that assesses the difficulty of working and living conditions, with A being the least and E, the most difficult. Categories are arrived at through an assessment of the overall quality of life. In determining the degree of hardship, consideration is given to local conditions of safety and security, health care, housing, climate, isolation and level of amenities/conveniences of life. Note on novel coronavirus – COVID-19. The rapidly changing nature of novel coronavirus COVID-19 has placed significant and increasing restrictions on the freedom of movement of people across the globe, within countries and across borders. Such restrictions make it very difficult for international UN Volunteers to begin their assignments at their assigned duty station and UNV cannot guarantee assignments will proceed as normal. Candidates for international UN Volunteer assignments during this period may be exceptionally granted alternative working arrangements to work from their place of recruitment until restrictions are lifted. This is at the discretion of the host entity. Candidates proceeding to interview are recommended to discuss the likelihood of travel and possible alternative arrangements with the host entity. If selected, candidates should carefully consider the circumstances before accepting UNV’s offer.

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

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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