Junior Tobacco Control Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies. And we promote healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes. WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) defines WHO’s strategy for the five-year period, 2019-2023. It focuses on triple billion targets to achieve measurable impacts on people’s health at the country level. The triple billion targets are to ensure by 2023: • One billion more people are benefiting from universal health coverage • One billion more people are better protected from health emergencies • One billion more people are enjoying better health and well-being

Context

In Jordan, around 43 percent of all individuals over age 18 smoked tobacco in 2020, meaning millions of Jordanians are at a substantially increased risk of morbidity and early mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and many other tobacco-attributable diseases. Studies conducted in Jordan have shown that tobacco use is responsible for 9,027 deaths per year, and 56 percent of these tobacco-related deaths occur under the age of 70. In addition, around 80% Jordanians are at risk from exposure to secondhand smoke. Alongside the cost to health, tobacco imposes a substantial economic burden. In 2012, worldwide, healthcare expenditures to treat diseases and injuries caused by tobacco totaled nearly six percent of global health expenditures. Furthermore, tobacco use can reduce productivity by permanently or temporarily removing individuals from the workforce due to poor health. When individuals die prematurely, the labor output that they would have produced in their remaining years is lost. In addition, individuals with poor health are more likely to miss days of work (absenteeism) and, when they are at work, to operate at a reduced capacity (presenteeism, workplace smoking). In 2015, tobacco use in Jordan accounted for JOD 1.6 billion in economic losses and causes substantial human development losses. The investment case study showed that there is an opportunity to reduce the social and economic burden of tobacco in Jordan. Enacting the recommended multisectoral tobacco control provisions would save over 3,100 lives each year and reduce the incidence of disease, leading to savings from averted medical costs and averted productivity losses. In economic terms, these benefits are substantial, adding up to JOD 6.5 billion over the next fifteen years. Further, the economic benefits of strengthening tobacco control measures in Jordan and implementing new ones greatly outweigh the costs of implementing them over 15 years (JOD 6.5 billion in benefits versus JOD 26.4 million in costs). By investing now in tobacco control measures, Jordan would reduce tobacco consumption, improve health, reduce government health expenditures and grow the economy. It would also reduce financial hardship among Jordanian citizens, particularly among those with low incomes. The investment case identified strong tobacco control investments that Jordan can take. It offers compelling economic and social arguments to implement core WHO FCTC measures. The WHO aims to empower the active civil society Anti-Tobacco organizations to play a larger role in forming public opinions, establishing pressure groups and alliances for combating tobacco consumption and accelerating efforts to implement core WHO FCTC measures (namely in the non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco): 1. Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke; 2. Regulation of the contents of tobacco products; 3. Regulation of tobacco product disclosures; 4. Packaging and labelling of tobacco products; 5. Education, communication, training and public awareness; 6. Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and, 7. Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation. National UN Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: - Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD JOD 854.8 ; - Annual and learning leaves; - Free Medical and life insurance; and - Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of WHO Representative to Jordan, , the UN Volunteer will: 1. Supporting NGOs and Community Engagement: 1.1. Follow up with NGOs and civil society organizations in relation to tobacco control and the areas of commitment identified by each entity; 1.2. Track the achievement of each NGO based on the identified commitments and identify areas where the WHO can support them; 1.3. Set up regular meetings with NGOs to assist them in achieving their short-term and long-term plans for tobacco control; 1.4. Coordinate and facilitate the communication between different partners in the area of tobacco control including MOH, GAM, and NGOs; 1.5. Identify areas of collaboration between NGOs and communicate events organized by each NGO to other NGOs that can provide support in the event; 1.6. Assist the WHO Communications teams in the dissemination of messages about Tobacco Control through social media focusing on youth and e-cigarettes; 1.7. Work with NGOs to disseminate tobacco control messages through social media; 1.8. Assist the WHO Tobacco Control team in setting up for World No Tobacco Day. 2. National Strategy and Action Plan: 2.1. Collaborate with the WHO tobacco control team, NGOs, and national stakeholders to finalize the tobacco control strategy and action plan; 2.2. Compile the action plans for each NGO and consolidate them into one document. 3. Assist in capacity-building trainings: 3.1. identify the training needed for each NGO represented in the NGO retreat; 3.2. identify the training needed for MOH and GAM; 3.3. Assist the WHO Tobacco Control team in conducting training based on the FCTC and its guidelines to national stakeholders and NGOs. 4. Assist in a database for tobacco control: 4.1. Communicate with the NGOs to identify one that could create a shared folder for the NGOs to access and share information; 4.2. Collaborate with the identified NGO and the WHO Tobacco Control team in identifying the necessary essential documents that need to be included in the shared folder. 5. Support WHO Tobacco Control Team: 5.1. Support the WHO Tobacco Control Team in their work on tobacco control.