IPC/WASH Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The Programme seeks to promote and uphold the humanitarian and public health principles by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response together with the national and international community, with specific attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, through effectuating WHO's commitment to work within the framework of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster approach. The incumbent will be responsible for performing a dedicated coordination, health needs assessment, strategy development and resource mobilization, supporting the implementation and, monitoring the joint incident management system and advocacy function.

An exceptional three-season drought sequence has struck the Eastern Horn of Africa due to the poor rains in October-December 2020 and March-May 2021 followed by an extremely dry October-December 2021 season. In Ethiopia, millions are estimated to be in need of life saving humanitarian assistance affecting Somali region, Oromia and SNNP and southwest regions. To reduce excess morbidity and mortality resulting from the public health consequences of the drought-related humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, WHO will be working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Emergencies Institute (EPHI) and health partners to respond to this emergency while building on existing health sector development programmes, enhancing preparedness for further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, boosting capacities and integrating risk reduction and resilience building components to foster long-term development solutions to the crisis.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the Drought Response, the incumbent will provide technical expertise to the incident management system in planning, monitoring, evaluating, coordinating the environmental health interventions with a focus on provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, hygiene, and infection control. Provide technical advice and on-site support to develop national technical and institutional capacities for the implementation of primary prevention interventions, particularly those related to safety of drinking water, safe sanitation, waste management, and chemical management.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Working under the oversight of the Incident Manager and the direct supervision of the Field Coordinator, the IPC/WASH officer will perform the following tasks:

1. Provide leadership and guidance on IPC/ WASH strategies in line with WHO core mandates on health and water quality monitoring, sanitation and hygiene at National, Regional and sub-regional level.

2. Support FMOH/RHBs in developing/adapting updated IPC guidelines, training package and assessment tools,

3. Provide technical support to ensure the recommended IPC practices are implemented and managed effectively in HCFs and at community level in accordance with the National and WHO updated IPC guidelines,

4. Using standard tools periodically assess/monitor IPC performances in healthcare facilities, high-risk workplaces, special settings and community level. Provide technical support/guidance, orientations and materials to improve the IPC practices and prevent transmission of infections,

5. Conduct need assessment and prepare requests of procurement of required IPC supplies for, drought response, emergencies and outbreak situations,

6. Support risk assessment in affected and high-risk areas. Based on the evidence support development of action plan, its implementation and monitoring performances,

7. Support IPC training for staffs directly involved in the response at community and health facilities levels

8. Facilitate the collaboration/integration between health and other sectors for integration of IPC and emergency public health and nutrition response.

9. Support collaboration with other technical teams including infection prevention and control, risk communications and case management as part to the integrated health and emergency response.

10. Provide technical support to the FMoH, RHB and other drought affected regions response actors on relevant components of IPC/WASH as part of preparedness and response. Provide technical support to the IPC/ WASH cluster as part of the integrated response activity for health and nutrition.

11. Provide technical support in environmental surveillance of public health and nutrition emergencies.

12. Provide technical support for integration of emergency IPC/ WASH and emergency public health and nutrition response

13. Provide technical support for environmental sample collection

14. Provide relevant documentation and feedback to FMOH/RHB, other response actors and provide report to the WCO.

15. Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor and Incident manager.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Essential:

First University degree in Environmental health, Nursing, Public health or related field.

Training/certification in basic IPC/TOT by recognized organization (MOH/EOC/RHB)

Desirable

Master’s degree in public health, environmental health or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential

At least two years of relevant experience in the environmental health including IPC/WASH with national authorities. Experience in IPC program implementation.

Desirable

Working experience with humanitarian emergency settings in the related field including community-based WASH projects. Experience working with UN/WHO and other large international organizations would be an added advantage.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated knowledge of emergency response situations in the field of water and sanitation with proven ability to identify and solve technical problems in difficult circumstances.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with proven ability to elaborate and implement projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to promote cohesive actions and convince officials with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present factual information.
• Knowledge of WHO, the UN System or NGO work in the field of response relief and/or of their practices and procedures as related to the work

WHO COMPETENCIES

1. Communication
2. Teamwork
3. Producing result
4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of the local language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT Skills)

Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The duty stations of this assignment are located in Oromia, Somali, SNNPR, South West regions
• Remuneration – this is a Special Service Agreement (SSA) contract at NO-B, with a monthly remuneration of $2,359
• 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.
• This is an assignment reserved for local recruitment; so only applications from Ethiopians will be considered.
• Applications from women are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• The SSA holder shall perform the work as an independent contractor in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a SSA contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the SSA holder.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the SSA holder. The SSA holder shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the SSA holder in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the SSA holder shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.