Senior Public Health Associate

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 35 years old. Applicants must nationals of or legal residents in the country of assignment.

Description of task

The Senior Public Health Associate plays an important role in coordination, planning, and monitoring of public health programmes and responses including supporting the collection and use of health and nutrition-related data, design of public health programmes, capacity building of UNHCR personnel and partners, advocacy, information and communication on public health-related issues.

The incumbent should ensure public health strategies address known gaps in health and nutrition programming based on a country-specific needs assessment and in line with UNHCR’s Public Health Strategy, with particular attention to neonatal and maternal health care, TB, HIV and viral hepatitis, non-communicable diseases including mental health, medical referral and access to essential surgical care, palliative care, health services for LGBTI individuals and programming for persons with disabilities.

The incumbent:

• Together with the partners, will monitor adequate access to quality services to the POC, and particularly to COVID-19 healthcare.
• Together with partners and Public Information Unit, will monitor and reinforce information and communication to POC with regards access to health services in general and to services they are entitled in particular.
• Participate and provide technical advice in the Group of management of support to critical cases.
• Support the operations engagement in the public health related aspects of contributions of major donors to refugee and migrant responses, including the World Bank; this includes taking part in assessments, design of projects, monitoring and evaluation.
• Contribute to development and implementation of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Public Health and adaptation at country level with support from Senior Regional PH Officer/ PHS at HQ.
• Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, asylum seekers and other persons of concern access to local public health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV, MHPSS and nutrition services (including food assistance where relevant) and lobby for inclusion of refugees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies and plans related to health, RH and HIV as well as major donor programmes such as the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
• Provide guidance and make recommendations on the overall strategy and focus of Public Health and Nutrition programmes including ensuring public health strategic approaches are developed in a multi-sectoral and coordinated manner in co-operation with government, UN agencies, and NGOs and other humanitarian and development partners with due consideration to the approaches outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees and in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG3.
• Ensure follow up and support to access to health services for LGBTI individuals, health and protection services for persons selling sex access to testing, and support testing and treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIV), and programming for persons with disabilities including access to assistive technologies and appropriate associated services.

Coordination, Leadership and Partnership

• In absence of a more senior Public Health staff member, co-ordinate Public Health, reproductive health (Including HIV), nutrition and MHSSP activities in support of the government’s responses and in conjunction with other UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners, including development actors to ensure delivery of public health and nutrition services to beneficiaries (Persons of Concern (PoCs) and host community) meet UNHCR and /or nationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
• Support operations to define the level and scope of UNHCR’s involvement in public health and nutrition responses in terms of overall and operational objectives during emergency situations and beyond.

• In line with the Global Compact on Refugees the incumbent will work with governments, humanitarian and development partners to ensure a whole-of-government (i.e. relevant national and local authorities for health and nutrition response) multi-stakeholder approach and planning to harness the comparative advantages of different actors to meet the health needs of POCs.
• Represent UNHCR in Health Coordination and other meetings including intersectoral groups such as Technical Working Groups for MHPSS and nutrition
• Engage in relevant partnership fora, including in line with UNHCR’s role as a UNAIDS co-sponsor of the Joint Programme on AIDS and co-lead with WFP of the Division of Labour area of HIV in Humanitarian Settings.
• Ensure regular updates and share information within UNHCR as well as with the government, UN and NGO partners and donor communities on the health status and needs of the refugee including in support of UNHCR’s role in advocacy for the wellbeing and rights of refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Support robust and timely emergency responses to new refugee influxes or outbreaks or other situations in line with the Public Health Emergency Toolkit and UNHCR’s Emergency Handbook and the SPHERE Handbook.

Strategic planning and development

• Contribute to development and implementation of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Public Health and adaptation at country or regional level with support from more senior Public Health staff.
• Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, returnees and other persons of concern access to local public health, reproductive health (including HIV), nutrition (including food assistance where relevant) and MHPSS and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies and plans related to health, RH and HIV as well as major donor programmes such as the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
• Ensure public health strategies address known gaps in health and nutrition programming based on country-specific needs assessments with due consideration to neonatal and maternal health care, TB and viral hepatitis, palliative care, health services for LGBTI individuals, health and protection services for persons selling sex and programming for persons with disabilities including access to assistive technologies and appropriate associated services.
• Work with stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, Ministries of Health and academic institutions in the development of public health response plans associated with refugee movements (including in repatriation programmes).
• Maintain and update contingency plans for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movements.

Ensure technical integrity of operations and support to risk mitigation

• Disseminate standard practices on public health, MHPSS, nutrition, HIV and reproductive health among partners.
• Support the prioritization of primary health care (including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care)
• Ensure, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that health care services provided to persons of concern (PoCs) are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies.
• Establish and/or adapt UNHCR internal operating procedures to ensure they are in line with UNHCR and/or international standards and improve efficiency of programme activities; this includes - but is not limited to - referral health care, medicines and medical supplies procurement and management, medical resettlement and resettlement of persons with health needs, cash-based assistance for health care coverage and referral between units and inter-sectoral collaboration.
• Monitor and support compliance with, and integrity of, all Public Health standard operating procedures in conjunction with Project Control and Programme staff and in line with delegated authorities

Support to needs, assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health and nutrition programmes

• 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.
• Support linkages of public health to WASH programmes throughout all stages of the programme cycle including in outbreak preparedness and response, emergency responses to refugee influxes, WASH in health facilities, and menstrual hygiene management.
• Support intersector collaboration throughout all stages of programme cycle between public health and nutrition with WASH, education, environment, shelter, and protection in order to promote synergies and maximise impact.
• Ensure consultation with communities seeking the diverse views of men, women, girl and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and LGBTI in assessing needs, designing, implementing and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR’s policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming.
• Ensure implementation of the UNHCR Health Information System and other relevant data collection tools including the balanced scorecard, maternal and neonatal death audits, Health Access and Utilisation Survey and other corporate tools where relevant; support the analysis, interpretation and use of public health data.
• Advocate for the inclusion of refugees and other PoCs in national surveys
• Support national health systems to disaggregate data by refugee and nationals in key areas based on country specific needs in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of public health and nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators, to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner.

• Support the planning, implementation, analysis, dissemination and use of nutritional surveys (Standardized Expanded Nutrition Surveys, SENS),
• In line with policies for Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) ensure PoCs have access to feedback and accountability mechanisms relating to public health and nutrition services including the collection and analysis of data on the satisfaction of PoCs with regards to public health and nutrition services.
• Prepare regular sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports as required by the office at country level.
• Ensure adequate reporting, timely updates and briefings to donors and management.

Capacity Strengthening

• Support capacity strengthening of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address public health, nutrition, reproductive health, HIV, MHPSS programming in a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral way.
• Share with local and international partners relevant guidelines and information materials on programming relating to refugee public health and nutrition activates.
• Undertake and/or support capacity building needs assessments of UNHCR staff and partners and develop approaches to address capacity gaps including identifying internal and external training opportunities.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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 self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

Qualifications/Requirements Required degree level: Bachelor degree or equivalent Education - Additional Comments:

• Type of Degree: Medical doctor (MD).
• Desirable Master degree.
• Years of work experience: A minimum 7 years of experience as Medical doctor (MD). A minimum 2 years of experience in public health; previous working experience, preferably in refugee settings and/or international experience, is an asset; experience with AIDS/HIV programmes is an added advantage; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies and Ministry of Health is a plus; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in Public Health volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Required experience: 84 Months Experience remark:

• A minimum 7 years of experience as Medical doctor (MD).
• A minimum 2 years of experience in public health; previous working experience, preferably in refugee settings and/or international experience, is an asset; experience with AIDS/HIV programmes is an added advantage; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies and Ministry of Health is a plus; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

Language skills:

• Spanish(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• English(Mandatory), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise: General human medicine (with clinical experience), Public health, HIV/AIDS support Area of expertise details:

• A minimum 7 years of experience as Medical doctor (MD).
• A minimum 2 years of experience in public health; previous working experience, preferably in refugee settings and/or international experience, is an asset; experience with AIDS/HIV programmes is an added advantage; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies and Ministry of Health is a plus; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

Driving license: No Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

You can only apply if you have created your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup

Watch this video for the specific steps you must follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT5uJ_FolWU

If you are already registered in UNV's Talent Pool, make sure your profile is up to date before applying.

Application deadline: 14-May-2020 at 23:59hrs, Germany time zone

This is a national UN Volunteer assignment, therefore only Peruvian nationals and legal residents in Peru with a valid residency permit, the status of refugee or with the status of being stateless are eligible to apply.
Please remember to indicate in your UNV profile that you are interested in serving as a national volunteer.

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