Surveillance Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is a five year project which was launched by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in May 2016 to provide national NTD programmes with technical and fundraising support to help them accelerate the control and elimination of the five Neglected Tropical Diseases amenable to Preventive Chemotherapy (PC-NTDs) with the greatest burden on the continent, namely Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil Transmitted Helminths and Trachoma, which collectively affect hundreds of millions of people.ESPEN will contribute to ensuring that national NTD programmes have the data, expertise and financial resources they need to accelerate the fight against these diseases by coordinating Partners and providing technical support. ESPEN was established following the closure of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which during its 20-year mandate made a major contribution to the reduction in onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Africa. ESPEN will maintain the gains made over the past two decades by integrating this approach across the five PC-NTDs.The goal of ESPEN is to accelerate the reduction of the burden of disease for the five PC-NTDs by 2020 through the control and elimination of targeted NTDs. It will be achieved through the following 4 objectives\:1. Scaling up treatments towards the achievement of 100% geographical coverage.2. Scaling down\: stopping treatments once transmission has been interrupted or control achieved.3. Strengthening information systems for evidence-based actions.4. Improving the effective use of donated medicines through enhanced supply chain management.In addition, two supplementary objectives have been defined\: i) effective partnerships and coordination and, ii) resource mobilization.ESPEN is fully committed with an evidence-based decision-making approach, so that monitoring of control interventions, and decisions on treatment needs rely on the data available. For this, ESPEN established the NTD Data Portal in April 2017. This is an electronic platform designed to enable health ministries and stakeholders to share and exchange subnational programme data, in support of the NTD control and elimination goals. Doing this, ESPEN will be developing the largest repository of epidemiological and treatment data for the PC-NTDs available for the African region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the ESPEN team leader, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:a) Coordinate the activities related to the development of the NTD data repository and safeguard the quality of the data coming into the system. b) Elaboration of an Annual Data Management Plan that considers all aspects of data management\: generation of metadata, data compilation, data preservation and analysis.c) Safeguard the quality of the data received periodically from country NTD control programmes through the standardized channels set by WHO (i.e. Joint Application Package).d) Develop automated procedures for cross-checking, validating and cleaning up the data received from MoH NTD control programmes and uploaded to the ESPEN NTD repository.e) Forecast implementation units in need of impact assessment surveys by disease.f) Elaborate country annual reports of MDA progress with the data entered into the ESPEN database, and also informing country performance on the basis of quality of reported data and compliance of their control strategic plans.g) Coordinate and follow up with partners those activities related to the development and improvement of ESPEN data management systems.h) Contribute to the preparation of training materials intended to improve the data management, from data collection to data analysis, and data flow within national NTD control programmes. i) Provide and support training of national and local health personnel, particularly NTD programme and data managers, to enhance their skills on data management.j) Conduct supportive supervision of MoH NTD control programmes on areas related to data management and provide on-the-go training as required. k) Assist MoH NTD programme teams to identify opportunities for operational research.l) Provide scientific and analytic support to those MoH NTD control programmes that want to make of the public domain their progress towards the control and elimination of NTDs. m) Advise ESPEN team leader and health officers in ongoing cutting-edge operational researches that may be considered to improve guidelines on control and surveillance of NTDs.n) The officer will also participate in efforts to capture key lessons learned and prepare presentations and publications for dissemination to general and technical audiences.o) Performed other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: A university degree in health-related profession and a master's degree in parasitology, tropical medicine, infectious diseases, entomology or epidemiology from a recognized university.
Desirable\: Postgraduate training in Data Analysis or related field will be an asset. A Ph.D. in Epidemiology or related areas with training and specialization in parasitology and public health.

Experience

Essential\: At least 7 years' experience in carrying out critical analysis of data for decision-making and in the development and dissemination of information products of which at least three years at the international level. Experience of working in data system development and data analysis in a national and/or international industry, non-governmental organization or academic institution. Strong knowledge of and experience with data management and analytical computer programmes. Experience of developing teaching materials in areas related to data information systems and data management.
Desirable\: Experience in public health project development and implementation at the national and international level. Experience in WHO, the UN System, international organizations. Experience in working with routine health information system in LMIC setting

Skills

--> Excellent management, interpersonal, teamwork, communication and negotiation skills --> Excellent analytical skills. --> Thorough knowledge of scientific principles and methods, and of modern and effective tools and administrative procedures for the preventions, management, control and elimination of NTDs.--> Technical competence and leadership qualities on the principles and application of standard practices, methods and techniques in the field of communicable diseases.--> Technical competence --> Ability to build strong working relationships to enable effective management of partnerships.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Expert knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

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 72,637 (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 3244 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.

• 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.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• 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.