Technical Officer (Disaster Risk Reduction)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of WHO Member States to manage health emergency risks, 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.

WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. WHE is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The objectives of the programme area, Country Health Emergency Preparedness & IHR (CPI), includes the following: to monitor and evaluate country preparedness for health and humanitarian emergencies, to develop country capacity-building plan for countries with critical capacities and to act as the Secretariat of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). The CPI prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low-capacity countries.

The intersectoral nature of emergency preparedness entails for CPI a large partnership with other international organizations and the consideration of several global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals related to health, emergencies and disasters, IHR (2005), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the WHO Thirteenth Global Programme of Work, the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, the Performance of Veterinary Services, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region, the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), the European Health Policy and the regional strategies for disaster risk management. CPI coordinates its activities with international and national initiatives such as the Global Health Security Agenda and Universal Health Coverage 2030.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities:

1. Serve as the risk reduction programme focal point within the Division with responsibility for the overall planning, development, implementation and assessment of a comprehensive and effective programme using a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach;

2. Undertake the implementation of regional priorities for promoting and strengthening risk reduction, prevention, emergency preparedness and humanitarian action in emergencies;

3. Advise, plan, develop, coordinate and support the implementation of activities to strengthen capacities at subnational, national and regional level for risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response taking an all hazards, multisectoral, whole-of-society approach;

4. Plan and develop training programmes to strengthen human resource capacity of the WHO Member States based on IHR core capacities and APSED;

5. Provide technical guidance and support to countries to facilitate developing plans, managerial systems and coordination mechanism for emergencies;

6. Assist in the mobilization of resources through liaising with donors, participating in technical dialogue meetings with the technical teams of different donor agencies, UN agencies, international cooperation agencies and others responsible for managing complex emergencies;

7. Collaborate with other technical and administrative areas of the Organization to support planning, monitoring, budgeting and reporting on activities, ensuring timely submission of reports;

8. Collaborate with key partners within and outside the Region to improve approaches and methods on disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response and translate best practice into actionable plans;

9. Lead the revision, development and implementation of an updated five-year regional DRR strategic framework, including promotion and implementation of safe, green and smart hospitals in the Region;

10. Participate, as required, in the Regional Office's IHR on-call duty roster;

11. Participate in the implementation of the Organization's response activities during disasters and public health emergencies being available for immediate deployment when required;

12. Identify and support catalytic areas where disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation measures can be integrated and can add value to ongoing or planned interventions;

13. Liaise with technical departments across the Organization and support country offices on issues related to resilience and the response to emergencies;

14. Upon request, provide technical and managerial support, backstopping and gap-filling for emergency activities at any level of the Organization or scale of emergency; and

15. Perform other related duties, as requested by the supervisor, including provision of support to other areas of work and teams or programme areas within the WHE, as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in health or natural science and a master's degree in health science, public health or public health-related discipline, or disaster risk management.
Desirable: Medical degree; specialized training in disaster risk management, emergency or outbreak management.

Experience

Essential: Minimum seven years of relevant national and international experience in health emergency planning and management, preparedness, relief and response operations, monitoring/evaluation, capacity-building and/or policy formulation in disaster risk management including risk identification, readiness and preparedness. Experience in developing countries. Experience in the UN system, with knowledge of interagency mechanisms in the area of national and international preparedness and response.

Desirable: Knowledge and experience in programmes or projects in disaster risk reduction and with implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the Sendai Framework.

Skills

- Theoretical and practical knowledge in establishing and managing emergency operations, including formulation of strategies, plans of action, project proposals, budgets and reports;

- Familiarity with the international actors in emergency preparedness and humanitarian assistance.

- Knowledge and experience of disaster risk reduction strategies.

- Ability to identify priorities and develop strategies and activities to bring together all stakeholders to promote disaster response and preparedness.

- Knowledge of the UN system and of fundraising or communications or public relations.

- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

- Mature judgement, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills;

- Ability to identify, assess, analyse, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political, technical and administrative issues.

- Ability to integrate political, technical and managerial inputs into recommendations for decision-making.

- Ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment to reprioritize actions on short notice.

- Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of written and spoken English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of other UN language.

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 74,913 (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 3009 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.