Emergency & Preparedness Officer

Objectives of the Programme

The objectives of WHO's emergency programme are to design and implement programmes that prepare the health sector to deal with emergencies and that improve health during and after crises. Within the emergency programme, the objectives of WHO's emergency response team are to support Member States by:

1. Promptly assessing health needs of populations affected by crisis, identifying priority causes of ill-health and death; preparing damage estimates and emergency response and rehabilitation plans; providing prompt, credible health information and ensuring the continuity of essential health services; 2. Coordinating and monitoring emergency health relief efforts under the aegis of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Health Cluster, of which WHO is the lead agency; 3. Ensuring that critical gaps in the health response are rapidly identified and filled. 4. Revitalizing and building the capacity of national health systems to deal with preparedness, mitigation and response.

Summary of Assigned Duties

1. Engage with national disaster management authority and high level officials in MOPH to develop contingency plans (winterization and floods related), monitor the implementation of the Emergency Preparedness and response (EPR) program, ensuring timely dissemination of information on progress of activities, identifying gaps and problems, suggesting remedial actions.

2. Adapt the international guidelines (disaster risk management) to the specific context of Afghanistan.

3. Build the capacity of MOPH staff in EPR to achieve efficient, effective and coordinated response to emergencies through training MOPH and relevant collaborative NGO staff in risk mapping, emergency preparedness, rapid assessment of emergencies coordination and response, revitalization of health services after emergency, and recovery.

4. Undertake provincial risk assessment and support MoPH in developing emergency preparedness and response plan.

5. Provide general briefing and guidance to EHA technical consultants in relation to the EPR local context, ensure obtaining sound deliverables and monitor implementation of recommendations.

6. Represent WHO whenever necessary in technical/advocacy meetings as well as coordination meetings.

7. Implement and monitor efficiently WHO programmes together with the health partners.

Recruitment Profile

WHO Competencies:

1. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

2. Communication

3. Ensuring the effective use of resources

4. Producing results

Functional Knowledge and Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of health sector activities in emergency response relief, or preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases.

2. Excellent skills in the assessment, and monitoring in the context of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and promote their implementation.

3. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.

4. Proven ability to communicate effectively.

5. Tact discretion and ability to promote consensus.

Education Qualifications

Essential

University degree in medicine or health related fields.

Desirable

Post graduate degree or formal training in emergency response or disaster management in the

context of public health.

Experience

Essential

At least 5 years of relevant experience in health sector coordination, with emphasis on emergency

response relief and on the management of epidemic-prone diseases.

Desirable

Familiar with the country Emergency Profile and Emergency Response activities.

Use of Language Skills

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and the local language.