Technical Officer(Universal Immunization) P4

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNCTION
WHO's global vision for immunization and vaccines is to support all countries to deliver quality
immunization services as part of an integrated, people-centered platform of disease prevention that spans the human life-course. Within this, the objectives are to achieve the control, elimination or eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases as stated in the Global Vaccine Action Plan, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. The delivery of immunization services should happen in concert with other interventions and activities within the national health system.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION.
The post aims at strengthening national immunization programmes, including routine immunization, new vaccines introduction and supplementary immunization activities in accordance with established technical guidelines, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality attributable to vaccine preventable diseases.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme. Needs assessment and gap analysis

1. Management Capacity Strategic direction - national immunization policies and work plan-Promotes establishment of decision-making bodies at national level to facilitate consensus among national players and their external counterparts.
- Supports the development and implementation of strategies and activities within the cMYP and annual EPI plan for strengthening service delivery and surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases. Project/Programme management
- Supports the WHO Representative and EPI Team Leader in overall project coordination and resource management in all areas of the immunization programme, monitors programme indicators and analyses programmatic and surveillance data for use in programme management.
- Works closely with the national government to support their implementation and evaluation of immunization projects and to ensure a comprehensive approach to health interventions.
2. Technical Capacity Developing evidence-based policy recommendations and guidance:- Conducts analytical studies and implementation research as needed and collaboratively develops guidelines and recommends solutions to programme concerns.
- Encourages the national immunization programme to include regional and global immunization policies and strategies in the Country Cooperation Strategy, through nationally relevant evidence and discussions with the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)
- Solicits feedback from national technical experts on global and regional policies to strengthen recommendations made at global and regional level and ensure feasibility of implementation at national level. Monitoring and using data for analytics:
- Monitors and evaluates national immunization policies and programmes, supporting the national immunization programme to collect, collate, analyse and use high quality data for action.
- Supports the country to investigate opportunities for internal and external information sharing and strengthen the capacity of national authorities to build and sustain national health observatories ensuring immunization data is integrated within.
- Facilitates innovation by promoting new ideas and technologies (including ICT) to make data collection, analysis and use more effective and efficient. Support to strengthening routine immunization system:
- Provides technical support to improve routine immunization coverage and strengthen routine immunization systems, by designing appropriate regular routine vaccination services though fixed, outreach and mobile sites, and including period intensification of routine immunization, child health days and integrated child health intervention.
- Supports the management skills development of the national immunization Programme team through capacity building and training.
- Assists with the development of strategic comprehensive multi-year plans (cMYPs), as well as annual operational workplans, and supports the on-going monitoring of these plans.
- Supports the national government to develop Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) applications to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
- Develops and implements a strategy and plan of action to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system of the immunization Programme and to improve the immunization Programme at all levels. Support to establishing and strengthening surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases:
- Implements, monitors and evaluates regional networks for laboratory-based surveillance of disease preventable by new vaccines, including, bacterial meningitis, other invasive bacterial diseases (bacterial pneumonia and Sepsis) and rotavirus gastroenteritis surveillance.
- Reviews and provides technical support to strengthen vaccine preventable diseases surveillance data and indicators. Supports accelerated immunization initiative activities and the introduction of new vaccines:
- Reviews, updates and provides technical support and guidance on the implementation of accelerated immunization initiative (AII) activities within the annual EPI plan as well as establishes and implements a system to monitor aII indicators.
- Supports the national government to develop new vaccine applications to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
- Develops new vaccine introduction activities within cMYPs and annual EPI plans and necessary guidelines to ensure smooth introduction at national and sub-national levels. Specific tasks and deliverables
- Established basic EPI system at state and county level to have uniform data flow - Improve the completeness and timeliness of routine immunization data from facility to national level- Improve the existing DHIS to accommodate as many indicators as possible from routine EPI
- Support the states to develop facility level micro plan for routine immunization service delivery- Produce monthly and quarterly program report -Support the VDP Control room in relation to supplementary and routine immunization activities
-Improve the vaccine preventable disease surveillance system - Improvement Measles case-based surveillance system as one of the requirements for Measles elimination- Establish Rubella surveillance system for the preparation of Rubella vaccine introduction - Develop surveillance tools and operational guidelines for VPDs targeted for NUVs

- Work closely with the national laboratory for samples send from field office for their timely process Support other activities

- Depending on the country situation support other humanitarian activities in collaboration with other program units in the duty station.
- Perform other activities requested by the supervisor

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: University degree in Medicine or Public Health or related field, and Masters' Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology or other related field from an internationally recognized university
Desirable: Post graduate training in public health or epidemiology.
Experience:
Essential: - At least 7 years of relevant work experience at the national or international level in immunization programmes, vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and data management, including demonstrated experience in low-resource environments.- Demonstrated experience in working with development partners on the development, planning, implementation or monitoring and evaluation of immunization strategies and programmes.- Proven experience to work to deadlines and budgets, in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. Proven working experience in countries in conflict situation.

Desirable: Extensive training/experience in immunization, surveillance and data interpretation. Experience in resource mobilization and policy development.
Skills
1. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of principles, practices, methodology and techniques of immunization programmes
2. Excellent capacity in analysing vaccine-preventable diseases and EPI-related data, synthesizing information and presenting clear and concise conclusions to foster decision-making.
3. Excellent understanding of measles and rubella control and elimination strategy and introduction of new vaccines.
4. Familiarity with the UN system, including knowledge of WHO country, regional and global functions. Ability to work as a team member, and sensitivity to working in a multi-cultural environment.

WHO Competencies
1. Teamwork
2. Communicating in a credible and effective way
3. Producing results

Use of Language Skills
Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Specific skills required:
Proficiency in all MS Office applications, spreadsheets and data analysis. Proficiency in
epidemiology or statistical software packages would be an asset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
⦁ This Vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level in other locations within South Sudan.
⦁ Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
⦁ A written test may be used as a form of screening.
⦁ If your candidature is retained for 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.
⦁ 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's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https:// ⦁ www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
⦁ 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 to apply.
⦁ For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, Please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220./ul