Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Risk Factors Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization established in 1948. The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions: 1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed; 2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge; 3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them; 4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies 5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way; 6. Monitor health status and assess health trends.

Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region has embarked on a new Global Programme of Work (GPW13) and a new Programme Budget. Through these two strategic documents, the region aims to deliver public health outcomes through an integrated results-based structure. The new focus of our work will be at the country level where we aim to reach the triple billion goal of 1 billion more people covered, 1 billion more protected and 1 billion more healthier populations. In this regard, the UN Volunteers can work at the Regional Office based in the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville or in any of our 47 country offices. The areas of work that can be covered is non-communicable diseases risk factors. Globally, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are leading causes of death, killing more people than all other causes of death combined. In contrast to the popular assumption that NCDs occurs mostly in developed countries, available evidence shows that 80% of NCDs deaths occur in low- and middle income countries and NCDs are the most frequent cause of death in most of these countries. Most NCDs are the result of four particular behaviours (tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and the harmful use of alcohol).

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Head of the WHO Country Office or the Director, Technical Cluster in the Regional Office, the UN Volunteer will serve as the focal person for NCDs and will perform the following duties:  Support the Ministry of Health to develop and implement comprehensive and integrated policies and strategies for the management of the main chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors;  Provide technical support for the development of guidelines to promote use of community based approaches, affordable strategies and technologies for the delivery of quality care services including primary, secondary and tertiary prevention;  Provide technical assistance to the country for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors integrated into national health policies and strategies, and, beyond the health sector;  Support the country capacity building and provide technical assistance and advice to the Ministry of Health and its partners to develop, implement and evaluate strategies and action plans for the prevention and control of NCDs in line with the NCDs Global Action Plan 2013-2030;  Forge partnerships and networks to enhance multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration to address NCDs and their risk factors in the country;  Contribute to resource mobilization for WCO technical support to the country using existing mechanisms at country level;  Support data collection, research and information dissemination and use for policy and programme development, advocacy and awareness-raising on NCDs and their risk factors;  Work closely with the national authorities and other partners, and liaise with WHO technical staff in the Regional Office;  Prepare technical and administrative reports and presentations as required;  Perform any other tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take 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 reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application-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.