Public Health Officer

Job Title: Public Health Officer 

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Grade: P4

Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 Years

Closing Date: Aug 23, 2023, 12:59:00 AM

Primary Location: Sierra Leone-Freetown

Organization Unit: AF_SLE Sierra Leone

Schedule: Full-time  

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

As part of the agenda to end diseases in the WHO African region, the disease The UHC/CND cluster in the WHO Sierra Leone country office is guided by the regional strategic agenda:“disease burden reduction through using analytics to inform tailored interventions and guide disease control investments”. Objectives pursued by UHC/CNDare to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and(iv) facilitate country support - Technical assistance in deployment of WHO technical products and institutional capacity building including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities - towards improved program governance, improved interventions coverage and improved interventions quality. UHC/CND investments towards these objectives are developed and delivered as guided by two guiding principles: Comprehensive, whole of societyapproaches involving: (a) coherent implementation of triple response - technical response:implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting interventionsmixes and deploying medical commodities;health systems response:building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping andstratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressingsocio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizingnon-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-healthsectors; and (c) community involvement intargeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases,health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. People-centered, integrated approachesinvolving: (a) integrated guidance ondisease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away fromstand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b)integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening thecapacityof appropriate health services delivery platforms -deploying appropriate technologies and analytics to guide: stratification ofrisks and impact of diseases across population groups, development anddeployment of comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for eachhealth service delivery platform, and monitoring population access, coverageand impact to leave no one behind.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent is expected to contribute towards Leadership on coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization for disease control, elimination and eradication through:Effective coordination of communicableand non-communicable diseases programmes (EPI, Malaria, TB, Hepatitis,HIV/AIFDS, NTDs, etc.)Facilitating development, review,update, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national strategic plansfor priority diseases in the country; Facilitating effective partnerships,planning, proposal development and national resource mobilization efforts that promote delivery of disease control, elimination and eradication services; Strengthening mechanisms forcollaboration and capacity building of national public health institutes.Supporting capacity building andmentoring of staff in the clusterAdoption and adaptation and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of disease control, elimination and eradication technical products, services, and tools through;Facilitating development, review, update and monitor use of tools and guidelines in line with WHO global and regional policy guidelines, norms, standards and tools; Supporting integration of diseases control, elimination and eradication initiatives into national health sector policies, strategies, plans and primary health service packages to promote universal coverage of the three diseasesFacilitating implementation of CND programme activities in the community in coordination and collaboration with the MOHS, achieving results such as: Close follow up with the Ministry of health and other partners on the proper and timely implementation of the programme activities, including the administrative procedures; visiting the communities and sites where target population are residing and reporting on the findings; attending field health coordination meetings; and preparation of regular sit-reps on health condition of target populations.Supporting health emergency preparedness and response including: providing technical assistance in preparedness, response and recovery to emergencies and disasters with focus on refugees' crisis; providing facilitation to the team in the implementation of the activities planned for Crisis Response; and ensuring continuity of essential services during emergencies, recovery and beyond.Generation of analytics-driven strategic information for disease control, elimination and eradication agenda setting and interventions through; Facilitating generation of evidence for improving the impact of interventions of disease control, elimination and eradication including investments in surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, operational research and documentation of best practices. Ensuring collection and compilation of data on various target populations, including analysis and interpretation ofdata; Facilitating management of information systems and timely dissemination of WHO updated information (e.g. reports and website) on a regular and prompt basis;Coordinating design and maintenance of databases of indicators relating to public health activities in the country office; Facilitating development of a research agenda for ending diseases in the country;Other related tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Postgraduate degree in epidemiology, public health or communicable disease control.
Desirable: Post graduate training or qualification in public health and/or training in strategic planning.

Experience

Essential: At least 7years of experience in communicable diseases control, elimination and/oreradication at national or subnational level in developing countries. Practical experience in programme review and strategic plan development.
Desirable: At least 5years international experience in working with UN and/or international NGOs,bilateral and multilateral agencies; Familiarity with the Policies &Procedures of global health initiatives like Global Fund, GAVI and other multilateral and bilateral disease initiatives; Planning and programme management;Humanitarian settings experience

Skills

Extensive knowledge and experience in disease control, elimination and/or eradication; prevention and control programme management and implementation at country level; knowledgeand working in humanitarian settings; Knowledge of health systems management and strategic planning at national level; Ability to develop and facilitate the development of disease management guidelines and effectively monitor progressin use of guidelines. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to cooperate and negotiate with technical and funding agencies, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff. Excellent communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to write strategically and speak clearly.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3293 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion)are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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