Technical Officer, Malaria and Vector-borne Diseases

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department (CDE) promotes, coordinates, and implements technical cooperation activities directed toward the surveillance, prevention, control, and elimination of communicable diseases and zoonosis that are technically sound and appropriate for the political and sociocultural context in which they are implemented.  It strives to achieve a sustainable impact on health by providing normative guidance, furthering the implementation of evidence-based interventions, and fostering alliances that strengthen country capacity, improve the effectiveness of inter-country collaboration, and facilitate policy and decision-making processes through improved health information coverage, analysis and quality at all levels. 

Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative (PWR), and the general supervision of the Unit Chief, Neglected, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases (CDE/VT), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:

1. Provide technical support for the provision of technical cooperation to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the national health system for the implementation of the National Plan for Elimination and Prevention of Re-establishment of malaria;
2. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and other institutions of the national health system on treatment schemes, diagnosis, patient management, identification of risk factors, entomological surveillance and vector control activities towards the elimination of malaria;
3. Coordinate the execution of the technical cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization for the development and strengthening of capacities for the implementation of the national elimination plan of malaria to 2021 and prevention of the reestablishment of transmission;
4. Support follow-up efforts and ensure implementation of activities within the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (RMEI) with special emphasis on PAHO responsibilities within that initiative;
5. Support the Ministry of Health on the development of an operational approach for establishing a continued monitoring of vulnerability and receptivity for malaria and to elaborate and implement a national plan for Prevention of the Reestablishment of Malaria based on that approach;
6. Provide support to local levels, in coordination with national authorities, in implementing key interventions for malaria elimination and prevention of malaria reestablishment; 
7. Engage in developing the monitoring and evaluation framework for malaria elimination in the country and implementing it with focus on tracking the achievement of milestones and indicators of success;
8. Provide technical support to health authorities on the country preparation for malaria elimination certification processes;
9. Support the Regional Malaria Program to facilitate the ongoing dialogue and cross border interventions between neighboring countries;
10. Provide technical cooperation, in coordination with national authorities, in implementing The Vector Borne Diseases Control National Plan and The Resistance Pesticides Control National Plan;
11. Collaborate in the implementation of the national EGI to prevent and control arboviruses;
12. Collaborate in the development of standards, guidelines, and procedures for the organization, operation, and evaluation of program activities;
13. Prepare, compile and present mid-term and annual technical performance progress reports which include the following information among others – summary of technical support, key accomplishments and indicators achieved, description of capacity-building strengthening activities and key challenges;
14. Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Essential\: A university degree in a health science from a recognized institution.

Desirable\: A master’s degree in public health entomology, vector management, vector-borne and/or neglected epidemiology, would be an asset.

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/.  PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http\://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https\://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Essential\: Seven years of combined national and international experience in disease control programs, with emphasis on the design, implementation or evaluation of control or elimination plans for vector borne diseases

Desirable\: Experience working on malaria elimination or control projects and programs would be an asset.

• Overall attitude at work - Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to the Organization’s mandate and promotes the values of the Organization in daily work and behavior; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role and responsibilities; is respectful towards, and trusted by, colleagues and counterparts.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences - Treats all people with dignity and respect. Relates well to people with different cultures, gender, orientations, backgrounds and/or positions; examines own behavior to avoid stereotypical responses; considers issues from the perspective of others and values their diversity.
• Teamwork - Creates team spirit; promotes collaboration and open communication in the team; proactively supports others; welcomes team responsibilities and drives team results; promotes knowledge sharing in the team.  Proactively identifies conflicts and facilitates their resolution in a respectful manner; tactfully resolves conflicts between or with others and takes action to reduce any possible tension; effectively builds a rapport with individuals and teams, establishing good personal and professional relationships, as well as minimizing risk of potential conflict.
• Communication - Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly. Facilitates open communication; encourages others to share their views openly and takes time to understand and consider their views. Writes down ideas in a clear, structured, logical and credible way; drafts and supports the development of guidelines, policies and procedures. Shares relevant information openly and ensures that the shared information is understood; considers knowledge sharing as a constructive working method and demonstrates awareness of the Organization.
• Knowing and Managing Yourself - Remains objective and focused even in a “changing and moving” environment; continues to display positive behavior when facing some constraints; keeps challenges in perspective.  Effectively controls own emotions, avoiding displaying them inappropriately; continues to show positive attitude when producing individual results, as well as supporting team’s work; continues to be collaborative with others, even in stressful and challenging circumstances. Sees feedback as a key element in personal and professional development; displays a high level of self-awareness in response to positive and negative feedback, accepts negative feedback positively, moving forward quickly and constructively. Seeks all relevant information for decision making from a wide range of sources; quickly learns new competencies and skills that expand role capability; shows rapid understanding of new and/or complex information relevant to job.
• Producing Results - Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs.  Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives. Consistently solves own and team’s problems effectively as needed.  Challenges self and team to deliver high quality results, in line with Organizational goals.  Welcomes challenges to produce new results.  Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results. Shows awareness of own role and clarifies roles of team members in relation to project’s expected results.  Consults counterparts as required and takes responsibility for work of own team. Demonstrates a good understanding of the impact of team’s and own work on external and internal counterparts. Proactively engages in projects and initiatives, accepting demanding goals, in line with Organizational Strategies and Program of Work. Demonstrates accountability for work of team and sets an example, while explicitly articulating lessons learnt for own and team’s benefit.

• Technical and professional expertise and skills in epidemiology of communicable diseases, especially of Malaria epidemiology, prevention, control, elimination and patient management and care.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of international technical cooperation on planning, assessment and evaluation of public health programs with emphasis on Malaria and on the implementation of Malaria prevention strategies at, national, subnational and local level.
• Excellent data base management and reporting skills
• Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical and conceptual skills; demonstrated ability to assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendations on key technical issue;
• Ability to integrate managerial and technical inputs into recommendations for decision-making processes; ability to manage multiple issues and tasks in a complex organizational environment;
• Ability to apply principles of epidemiologic surveillance and operational research, mainly on infectious diseases aiming vector-borne diseases.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, funding reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Very good knowledge of Spanish and working knowledge in English. Knowledge of French or Portuguese would be an asset.

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Access, Epi-Info, Tableau and Project would be an asset.

US$1,395.40  This amount is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

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.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

For information on PAHO please visit\: http\://www.paho.org  

PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

PAHO/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.