Public Health Off

Public Health Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Direct supervision and guidance is normally received from the Senior Programme Officer and overall supervision from the Head of Office.  Close functional linkages and technical guidance are established with the Senior Regional Public Health/HIV Officer. 

In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugee and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of health services, the incumbent will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally. 

The incumbent of the position oversees and supervises the Public Health programmes in the operations under Area of Responsibility (A.R.) and provide strong technical guidance to partners, monitor and evaluate the programme and ensure and lead monthly health coordination meetings. The incumbent demonstrates strong representational, networking and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders such as the Government counterparts, UN Agencies and Embassies.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- A viable standard Health Information System in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.
- Joint Assemment Mission (JAM), nutritional survey and other assessments are adequately conducted and implemented.
- Monthly health coordination meetings are conducted with all relevant partners.

Responsibility

- Support the prioritization of the Primary Health Care strategy focusing on preventive and basic curative health, including mental health, reproductive health, HIV and nutritional components.
- Support in the programming exercise to draw proposals and budgets related to public health, HIV, and nutrition.
- Provide technical assistance to UNHCR sub/field offices and implementing partners in development, integration and mainstreaming of appropriate and cost-effective public health programmes.
- Work in a multi-sectoral and co-ordinated approach in co-operation with governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners.
- Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority health issues and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met. 
- Promote basic health education for populations of concern and train refugee health workers (e.g. community health workers, peer educators, counselors, etc.).
- Work towards strenghtening local structures and capacities; ensure strong linkages among health, nutrition, food security and HIV with protection and human rigths.
- Improve coordination among partners and participate in capacity building efforts.
- Use community-based approaches, including clear involvement of refugees in the public health and nutritional programmes.
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for access to refugees, returnees and other persons of concern to local health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV/AIDS services and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies related to health, RH and HIV.
- Promote information sharing on all aspects related to refugee health and HIV/AIDS.
- Ensure regular update and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant government, UN and NGO counterparts and donor communities.

Authority

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- A clinical background (nurse or MD) with postgraduate training in Public Health.
- Minimum 7 years of previous job experience relevant to the function and in national/multinational organizations.
- Knowledge of public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies.
- Very good communication and computer skills.
- Excellent knowledge of the English language and UN working language of duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Experience, advanced training, balance and combined knowledge in different subjects: e.g. public health, reproductive health.
- Experience in UNHCR Field Operations (Emergencies). C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in courteous and service-oriented manner in demanding working condition that often has short deadlines,
Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Public Health is essential,
A proven experience in leadership, coordination and consolidation of Public Health requirements and rationale allocation of resources among partners is essential to this position,
Working experience and knowledge of the region will be an added value,
Ability towards analytical and creative thinking for rapid solutions,
Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to deal with persons of various cultural and educational backgrounds,
High ethical and professional standards,
Team player with service oriented attitudes,
Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulating options concisely, conveying maximum information, making and defending recommendations

Technical proficiency, fast and accurate analysis, excellent communication skills, diplomacy and the ability to build effective partnerships are essential attributes for this post. Nearly 20,000 South Sudanese refugees are reported to have fled across the border into
Sudan between 29 April and 6 May, arriving in White Nile and South Kordofan. This
latest influx follows intense fighting near Kodok and Tonga in Upper Nile state of South
Sudan and deteriorating humanitarian situations due to rising needs and security concerns
in areas where displaced civilians have gathered in Aburoc and the Protection of Civilian
(PoC) site in Malakal . The majority of newly arrived refugees are women and children. While the upcoming rainy season will limit civilian movements, reports from humanitarian actors in South Sudan indicate that between 35,000 and 50,000 people have been displaced in the affected areas and could try to flee to Sudan before the rainy season.
With an on-going influx of South Sudanese refugees, which has reached over 400,000 by 30 April 2017, the Public Health sector is one of the main areas of the emergency response. Having received over 100,000 South Sudanese refugees just between 1 January and 30 April 2017, UNHCR and its partners have revised the 2017 planning figure for new arrivals from 60,000 to 180,000 bringing the total South Sudanese refugees in Sudan to 477,000 by 31 December 2017.
The incumbent of the position will be required to provide appropriate and timely response to the ever increasing demand for coordination and implementation of programmes under the UNHCR Public Health and Nutrition services to the South Sudanese refugees in the White Nile, West and South Kordofan as well as East and South Darfur. The incumbent shall ensure the creation of a country wide refugee public health strategy, as well as ensuring that UNHCR health and nutrition programs meet minimum UNHCR and international standards, to minimize avoidable mortality and morbidity among populations of concern. The incumbent will assist, guide and advise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation of Health/Nutrition related projects and activities in the country as well as promoting capacity- building of local partners including the relevant institutions of the country and the Implementing Partners.
The incumbent is also expected to coordinate the emergency humanitarian response under the leadership and coordination of UNHCR and the Government of Sudan through the mechanism established under the Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF).
While the position will be based in Khartoum, the incumbent will be responsible for providing technical guidance and support on public health related matters throughout the Country Khartoum is classified as `C¿ family duty station with Level II security. Khartoum features a desert climate (at times very hot and dusty), with only the months of July and August seeing significant precipitation.  Its average annual temperature is about 37.1 °C (99 °F). Particularly, staff with allergy may be affected by the dust. Medical and leisure facilities are limited.  It is possible to find decent houses and apartments with stable water and electricity supply. There are two international schools in Khartoum preferred by UN community which meet the language, cultural, curricula requirements. Security Level 2 pertains in Khartoum state.
Staff sensitivity to Sudanese dress code is very important.
Assigned staff needs to have completed the BSIF; BSIF2: ASIF modules and produce copies of certification.
Driving in Khartoum poses the greatest threat to staff safety and staff should avoid the use of Tuk-Tuk taxies.
Criminality is low in Khartoum but expat accommodation is being targeted. Accordingly international staff must ensure that their accommodation is MORSS compliant and guarded.
The prevailing economic state of Sudan may lead to civil unrest and violent demonstrations as occurred in September 2013.
Election results are expected near the end of April and may spark demonstrations throughout Sudan. Excellent knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is essential.
Knowledge of the local language (Arabic) is a plus
Some nationalities may face delay to get visa for Sudan

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Addendum 2 to the March 2017 Compendium is Wednesday 31 May 2017 (midnight Geneva time).