Health Emergency Support Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Themission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to helpcountries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for,detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.The WHO country office works with the National Authorities toachieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based onequity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions areengrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectivesof promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressinghealth emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal HealthCoverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providingGlobal Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii)setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options;(v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessinghealth trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO RegionalOffice for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHOactivities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work2020-2025 -“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a visionof how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries inmeeting citizens' expectations about health. WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable,and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective thatachieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is donethrough facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreementwith the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Officemaintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between thecountry and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all nationaland international partners in the country, provision of direct technicalexpertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation,and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Theincumbent will assist in the coordination of WHO programmes on epidemic and emergency preparednessand response and ensure the provision of technical assistance to the healthauthoritiesand other relevant stakeholders so as to strengthen national preparedness,response, and core capacitiesunder InternationalHealth Regulation(IHR 2005), for emerging infectiousdiseases. This will contribute to the mission of WHO Health Emergencies (WHE),which is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, preparefor, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHOprovides guidance and technical support in organizing the humanitarian healthresponse following multi-hazardemergencies and in revitalizing the capacity of the health sector to rebuildand recover from multi-hazardemergencies in an appropriate and sustainable manner. Key duties: The incumbent will perform all or part of thefollowing, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of theoffice: Work in coordination with all technical focalpoints at regional and headquarters levels, under the guidance of the head ofthe WHO country office.Provide technical assistance to nationalauthorities and to the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) programme, at the countrylevel, to enhance the national capability in preparedness and response toemerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, and health emergencies from allhazards.Technically support the concerted approach of WHOin the areas of Emergency Risk Management, Country Preparedness andInternational Health Regulations, Risk & Situation Assessments, and InfectiousHazards Management.Utilize national insights to collaborate with andsupport relevant ministries and other stakeholders to undertake gap analyses inrelevant areas of work for emergency preparedness and management and support the development/revision of national strategiesand a national multi-hazard, health emergency preparedness and response plan.Technically support the preparation of anational risk profile, assessing and mapping existing and emerging nationalhealth risks as well as populations vulnerable to, or affected by, prioritizedrisks, their coping capacities and health needs.Contribute to the coordination of theidentification of resource needs and funding gaps for health sector riskreduction, preparedness and response for vulnerable / affected populations,advocating with and mobilizing required resources from partners and donors.Support the assessment of capacities andnational, competency development systems, and the planning and implementationof appropriate measures and training for strengthening core capacities underInternational Health Regulations (2005) including to manage identified risks;effectively monitor and evaluate processes, outcomes and the impact of responseand recovery interventions.Support the national health authorities andpartners in the establishment or strengthening of emergency health care systemsto ensure the provision of a range of critical emergency health care services.Contribute to the knowledge capture frompolicy, strategic and field interventions, and ensure its dissemination.Represent WHO in inter-agency meetings andexternal forums related to WHO epidemics and emergency preparedness and response.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor's) in a relevantfield (such as medicine, epidemiology or public health).
Desirable: Training in applied epidemiology.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years of work experience relevantto the position (in public health, preferably in epidemic or emergency preparedness and responseactivities in a developing country), at the national level. Experience inworking partnerships for health policy and strategic and operationalinterventions in emergency preparedness, response, or recovery especially in adeveloping country setting.
Desirable: Experience in activities to strengthen countrycapacities and response to healthemergencies and disasters. Knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and/orexperience with United Nationsfunds and programmes.

Skills

The principles and programmes of epidemic andemergency preparedness and responseKnowledge of International Health Regulations (IHR)Knowledge and skills to contribute to healthpolicy, strategic and operational interventions in emergency preparedness,response and recovery with a range of actors.Planning, monitoring, and evaluating healthsystems.Excellent oral and writing skills, including forreports, oral presentations, and technical documents. Proficiency in computers and office softwarepackages, handling of web-based management systems, enterprise resourceplanning (ERP) systems and Cloud Management Enterprise System such as Workday. Ability toidentify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do thesame.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Local Language.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French,Russian,Germa.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at BGN 68,691 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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

• 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.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

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