Objective of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objectives

The HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis, including other Sexually Transmitted Infections (HTH) Team is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage – Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster of the WHO Regional Office for Africa. The work of the UCN cluster is guided by its strategic agenda: “disease burden reduction through using analytics to inform tailored interventions and guide disease control investments”.

Objectives pursued by UCN – to which the HTH team and all members of the HTH team contribute – are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) facilitate country support – Technical assistance in deployment of WHO technical products and institutional capacity building including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities – towards improved program governance, improved interventions coverage and improved interventions quality.

UCN investments towards these objectives are developed and delivered as guided by two guiding principles:

Comprehensive, whole of society approaches involving: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting interventions mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental

• determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards.
• People-centered, integrated approaches involving: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms – deploying appropriate technologies and analytics to guide: stratification of risks and impact of diseases across population groups, development and deployment of comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each health service delivery platform, and monitoring population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.

Purpose of the Post

Pursuant to the UCN strategic agenda, objectives and guiding principles, part of the strategic investments of WHO at the country level in the African Region is the deployment of technical experts based on confirmed needs of each country. For South Sudan, HIV, TB, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are among major communicable diseases of concern. The position of Medical Officer (HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs) is therefore a major priority in moving forward the WHO disease control agenda in South Sudan. Pursuant to the 2030 SDGs targets, the incumbent will coordinate WHO contribution to strengthening integrated Health Sector Response to HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs in South Sudan, thereby reducing new infections and reduce disease-related deaths.

Organizational context (Describe the work environment; the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making; and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization):

Context:

Under the direct supervision of the WHO Representative (WR), as well as the technical and programmatic guidance of the AFRO/UCN/HTH Team Leader, and in collaboration with the other country office programme officers, the incumbent will plan, develop and implement programmes and activities for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI control including: (i) leadership on coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization for disease control; (ii) adoption and adaptation of WHO HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI technical products, services, and tools; (iii) generation of analytics-driven strategic information for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI agenda setting and interventions; and (iv) technical support and institutional capacity building support.

Contacts

Duties require ongoing contacts and consultation within the WHO country office and with the AFRO/UCN/HTH Team as well as the HTH team at WHO/HQ as appropriate, to promote cross-cutting activities and ensure full coordination and implementation of integrated HTH interventions. Within the delegated authority, the incumbent represents WR/South Sudan at national meetings to discuss HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI control initiatives and mechanisms.

• • Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected)

 The incumbent is expected to contribute towards 

• Leadership on coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization for disease control through:
  • o Supporting coordination of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI technical working groups (TWGs) and steering committees;
  • o Facilitating development, review, update, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national strategic plans for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI in the country;
  • o Facilitating effective partnerships, planning, proposal development and national resource mobilization efforts that promote delivery of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI services;
  • o Strengthening mechanisms for collaboration and capacity building of national MOH, State MOH and civil society.
• Adoption and adaptation and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of WHO HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs technical products, services, and tools through;
  • o Facilitating development, review, update and monitor use of tools and guidelines in line with WHO global and regional policy guidelines, norms, standards and tools;
  • o Supporting integration of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI responses into national health sector policies, strategies, plans and primary health service packages to promote universal coverage of the three diseases.
• Generation of analytics-driven strategic information for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI agenda setting and interventions through;
  • o Facilitating development of a research agenda for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI in the country;
  • o Facilitating generation of evidence for improving the impact of interventions of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI including investments in surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, operational research and documentation of best practices.
• Provision or facilitation of technical support and institutional capacity building support through:
  • o Facilitating and/or providing technical advice and support to the Ministry of Health and partners in the disease-specific prevention activities, testing or diagnosis, treatment and monitoring the continuity of care for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI.
  • o Supporting development of institutional capacity building initiatives aimed at domesticating technical support to HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI programs in the country.
• Other related tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors.

Recruitment Profile Competencies

Competencies (Describe the core, management or leadership competencies required, with reference to WHO competency model; list in order of priority, commencing with the most important ones; identify a minimum of three and a maximum of five competencies):

• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Communicating in a credible and effective way;
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences;
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment;
• Fostering integration and teamwork.

Competencies: Management

For all Positions that possess Managerial/Supervisory responsibilities, an additional mandatory Management Competency is required.

Is this a Supervisory Position? No

Functional Knowledge and Skills (Describe the essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position)

Extensive knowledge and experience in disease prevention and control (HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI); prevention and control programme management and implementation at country level; knowledge and working in humanitarian settings; Knowledge of health systems management and strategic planning at national level; Ability to develop and facilitate the development of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI guidelines and effectively monitor progress in use of guidelines.

Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to cooperate and negotiate with technical and funding agencies, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff. Experience with Global Fund proposal development, grant making and implementation processes. Excellent communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to write strategically and speak clearly.

Education Qualifications

Essential

Medical degree in Medicine and a master’s degree in public health or epidemiology from a recognized University.

Desirable

Postgraduate diploma or training in the control of HIV, TB, Hepatitis and/or STI

Experience

Essential

At least 7 years of experience in HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STI control at national or subnational level in developing countries. Practical experience in programme review and strategic plan development

Desirable

At least 5 years international experience in working with UN and/or international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies; Familiarity with Global Fund Policies & Procedures; Planning and programme management; Humanitarian settings experience

4. Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable:Working knowledge of another UN Language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

Proficiency in standard MS Office applications. Presentation skills.

N.B: Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Additional Information (For HR use only):

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• 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.
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