Event Based Surveillance and Risk Assessment (Technical Officer)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Programme Area is responsible for identifying new public health events, assessing risks to public health, conducting epidemiological surveillance and field investigations, monitoring public health interventions, and communicating public health information to technical partners. 

Working with designated epidemiologists assigned to the area of work, the incumbent conducts epidemic intelligence activities, provides technical support in the areas of epidemiology, detection, verification and risk assessment of health in emergencies. The incumbent will be expected to deliver the following outputs\: i) rapid risk assessments (RRA) of acute public health events; ii) updated Event Management System; iii) timeline of events maintained up-to-date and analysed; iv) support the development of the re-modelled rSIS, and v) scientific articles and reports on best practices and lessons learned on event detection and response.

The incumbent may be deployed to emergencies when required.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

 Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to needs\:

Contribute to all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to event-based surveillance; indicator-based surveillance; verification and risk assessment, monitoring, and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern;

Develop and/or maintain a database of historical events reported in the region to ease access, retrieval and analysis of data and information required for evidence-driven risk assessment;

 Support the development of rSIS by contributing to the definition of technical requirements and testing of surveillance, outbreak and other modules.

Develop and/or update the standard operating procedures and tools for epidemic intelligence related activities; perform analyses to assist in the formulation of briefing documents and materials; situation analyses; and convening multi-disciplinary risk assessments, as appropriate.

Participate in activities including but not limited to supporting the further development and maintenance of the WHO Event Management system (EMS) and Event Information System (EIS) and other event-based surveillance systems; supporting the development and future implementation of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) platform; monitoring and evaluation of performance and results of epidemic intelligence activities.

Develop or contribute to the development of critical information products including but not limited to RRA outputs; reports on best practices and lessons learned on the implementation of event based surveillance and indicator based surveillance in the region; and scientific articles.

Contribute to development of training materials and capacity building in the areas of early detection and response to acute public health events.

Partake in emergency epidemiological field missions as required.

Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: Degree in epidemiology, public health, international health

Desirable\: Degree or diploma in medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, midwifery, nursing, medical biology or a related discipline.

Advanced degree in epidemiology, public health, international health, complemented by degree or diploma in medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, midwifery, nursing, medical biology or a related discipline.

In-service training in field epidemiology such as Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory).

Experience

Essential\: At least 2 years’ experience with successful track record in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events; epidemic intelligence at the national and/or international levels plus demonstrated field experience in the context of large epidemics or public health at the national and international levels.  

Desirable\: Field experience in epidemiology, surveillance and/or control of acute public health events experience in resource limited countries; experience of working with event-based surveillance and risk assessment; experience in responding to complex humanitarian crises

Knowledge of WHO processes of verification, alert and response operations.

Skills

Experience in surveillance, field epidemiology, emerging diseases and outbreak response in an international context. Ability to interact in a multi-disciplinarily and cross-cutting environment involving technical, cultural and political elements. Sound analytical and organizational skills. Willingness to deploy at short notice in support of international emergency health interventions. Excellent presentation and communication skills, with emphasis on writing skills. Proven ability to work and produce results under pressure in critical situations. Tact, diplomacy and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

1. Moving forward in a changing environment

2. Fostering integration and teamwork

3. Respecting and promoting individual differences

4. Producing results

5. Communicating in a clear and credible way

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: English expert level required, French working level required OR French expert level required, English working level required

Desirable\:

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. 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.

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

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

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

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.