Health Emergency/Humanitarian Officer - Nairobi, Kenya, Dakar, Senegal & Cape Town, South Africa

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, 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. The Emergency Operations Unit of the Health Emergencies Programme is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning by partners, implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and the expansion and strengthening of operational partnerships. EMO also leads on humanitarian policy and guidance, as well as representation to key interagency bodies.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To support WHO Country Offices and Member States on emergency management during public health crisis. The incumbent is responsible for the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all aspects of health emergency procedures related to public health issues in emergencies, risk and needs assessments and/or strategies and actions plans. S/he will liaise with other technical departments and sectors on specific thematic issues relevant to the field of emergency response. S/he will actively engage with and support specific country offices and report on progress and project implementation. S/he will have a key role in facilitating information exchange and coordination between the three levels of the Organization (WHO headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Monitor countries on alert for public health emergencies and reported crises in close collaboration with the EPR Information Management Unit.

2. Support affected countries in the classification of emergencies and the follow-up of recommendations resulting from this process.

3. Provide follow-up and technical support to countries affected by acute public health emergencies and humanitarian crises through direct interactions organized through teleconferences.

4. Ensure the organization of key trainings for countries in need in the areas of public health emergency management including humanitarian response and project management.

5. Analyze the response provided to countries in order to identify gaps and propose operational or strategic solutions to the hierarchy.

6. Support the organization of monitoring field operations through operational reviews and monitoring of "Grading" crisis classifications, and joint operational reviews when necessary

7. Contribute to communication and information products (Hub Weekly Report, Hub Newsletters, etc.) as needed.

8. Ensure collaboration with the Hub Partnership Coordination team and key regional partners involved in public health emergency management.

9. Provide emergency management/humanitarian response on the ground as an incident manager or other relevant position during deployments to countries affected by acute emergencies. As such, the incumbent is called upon to ensure set up of an incident management system according to the WHO Emergency Framework for Action "ERF" and to represent WHO in inter-agency negotiations.

10. Perform any other related specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in Medecine or related field.

Desirable: Specialization or specific training on health emergencies.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 (seven) years of experience in public health emergency management and operations including Humanitarian emergencies and outbreaks in leadership, capacity building or emergency plan implementation positions at the national or international level.

Desirable: Previous humanitarian field work experience with WHO/UN, health cluster partners, a recognized humanitarian organization or with an international non-governmental organization with expertise in disaster and outbreak response.

Skills:

Proven experience and expertise in the management of the health response to humanitarian emergencies and outbreaks; extensive technical knowledge, and operational skills, including early recovery/transition, combined with knowledge of UN, interagency humanitarian systems and process. Excellent communication skills to negotiate/enlist cooperation from a broad range of actors from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Strong organizational skills complemented with ability to work in a proactive and independent manner, multi-task and produce results under pressure. Diplomacy, tact and discretion. Good knowledge of WHO operations and the specificities of operations in the context of an epidemic and humanitarian emergencies is an asset..

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment).

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English or French (depending on the country of assignment).
Language requirement are interchangeable.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the Professional Category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at 75.602 USD (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable).

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 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.
• 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.