Epi Fellows programme

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Epidemiology Fellowship Programme in the EMR (Epi Fellows), is designed to build the capacity of young epidemiologists from low- and middle-income countries in the region under the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network Strategy. Fellows will be assigned to the WHO country offices in their home countries for a six-month period. The initiative is jointly being implemented by WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) and WHO UHC/Health Systems (UHS) at WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The fellowship aims to enhance their skills, knowledge, and understanding of national, regional, and global outbreak management by engaging them in WHO technical programs.

The programme has the following objectives:

·Provide a framework for young epidemiologists from low- and middle-income countries in the EMR, designed to enhance their educational experience through practical, hands-on assignments involving health sector including Ministry of Health and National Public health Institutes or Centers for Disease Control.

·To provide young professionals with direct exposure to the work of WHO, an opportunity to acquire practical experience in WHO, by working under the direct supervision of experienced WHO staff.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of a technical expert in the respective area, fellows are assigned a project based on agreed termsof references and in line with their skills set. These terms of references typically include some or all of the followingresponsibilities:

·reviewliteratureandconductliteraturesurveys

·undertakewebresearchanddatacollectionandanalysisonspecificsubjectarea

·organize and analyze data

·participateinthedevelopmentoftoolsandguidancedocuments

·assistindrafting,formattingandeditingpolicybriefs,toolkits,guides/manuals,hand-outs,brochuresandreports

·assistinorganizingworkshops,meetings,conferences,events

·participate in on-going departmental projects

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Postgraduate degree in an area of study relevance to public health, outbreak management and epidemiology.

Skills

Core competencies

WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

All fellows should be able to demonstrate the following skills in line with the WHO core competencies:

• Producing and delivering quality results

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Moving forward in a changing environment

In addition, fellows need to be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Knowledge of specialized computer programmes, for example, statistical software such as XLStat may be an advantage.

Experience

Depending on the area of interest, 2 years of the below experience is required:

• Experience in research and/or in drafting reports
• Experience in the subject area through academic work or research
• Field and/or developing country experience
• Experience with data analysis, statistical packages and interest in the design of graphical display and analysis of health information in an international comparative perspective, such as for health system performance assessment.
• More specific experience such as specialized computer programmes.
• In addition, fellows need to be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint.Knowledge of specialized computer programmes, for example, statistical software such as XLStat may be an advantage

Experience

Dependingontheareaofinterest,2yearsofthebelowexperienceisrequired:

-Outbreak management, and/or health emergency management

-Experienceinresearchand/orindraftingreports

-Experienceinthesubjectareathrough field or academicwork

-Experience with data analysis, statistical packages and interest in the design of graphical display and analysis of healthinformationinan internationalcomparativeperspective.

Languages

• Fluency in English (reading, writing and speaking).
• Knowledge of French or Arabic is an asset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States 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.

• Candidates below 35 years old are eligible for the programme.
• Please note that the programme is competitive and only a small number of applicants will be accepted every year. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
• Entitlements include monthly fellowship stipend and official travel to duty station.
• Fellows are not eligible for appointment to any position in WHO for a period of three months following the end of the fellowship.
• Only applicants from nationals of the following member states of the Eastern Mediterranean Region will be considered: Afghanistan, Djibouti Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Sudan.