Technical Officer (Surveillance and Population-based Prevention)

(i) providing strategic leadership, engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed;

(ii) shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge;

(iii) setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation;

(iv) articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options, including providing vision for scaling up proven interventions; (

v) providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and (vi) monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.

The purpose of the programme is to support delivery of the WHO Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Comprehensive Global Monitoring Framework, and the Voluntary Global Targets for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, and to support Member States in the technical implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The programme has the principle of health equity at its heart and advocates for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach for the prevention of NCDs as well as Health in All Policies and the role of health services and systems being structured in a way that promotes health. The main objective of the Surveillance team is to support the collection, analysis and dissemination of country-level noncommunicable diseases and risk factor information to inform and improve public health policy. The Surveillance team focuses on the following overall strategic areas\:

1. Developing global standards for noncommunicable disease surveillance and risk factor assessment, including standard methodologies for collecting, analysing and displaying data;

2. Providing support to countries (through WHO regional and country offices) and increasing their capacity to improve the quality of noncommunicable diseases and risk factor surveillance and information processes.

The programme has the principle of health equity at its heart and advocates for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach for the prevention of NCDs as well as Health in All Policies and the role of health services and systems being structured in a way that promotes health. The main objective of the Surveillance team is to support the collection, analysis and dissemination of country-level noncommunicable diseases and risk factor information to inform and improve public health policy. The Surveillance team focuses on the following overall strategic areas\:

1. Developing global standards for noncommunicable disease surveillance and risk factor assessment, including standard methodologies for collecting, analysing and displaying data;

2. Providing support to countries (through WHO regional and country offices) and increasing their capacity to improve the quality of noncommunicable diseases and risk factor surveillance and information processes.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1.Assists with the development, implementation and on-going enhancement of mechanisms to collect, store and display information on noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors for all WHO Member States, and for global and regional estimates;

2. Provides technical support to countries implementing the Resolve-to-Save-Lives surveillance component, including training and technical guidance on household surveys to measure hypertension and population sodium intake;

3. Provides support to the Data for Health Initiative countries, implementing STEPS household surveys;

4. Provides technical support and guidance to countries implementing noncommunicable disease surveillance, including risk factor surveillance using WHO tools such as STEPS, GSHS, GATS, GYTS and Global SHPPS;

5. Analyses and synthesizes survey, surveillance and research data and preparation of results for dissemination on the global, regional and national status of NCDs and risk factors;

6. Produces regular reports drawn from the available data highlighting the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and risk factors and their current status and trends; and regular reports on project status to relevant donors;

7. Monitors the implementation of noncommunicable disease surveillance in Member States through a Tracking System;

8. Assists to enhance the overall quality and reliability of WHO NCD surveillance systems including STEPS, GSHS, and Global SHPPS and their delivery;

9. Works in collaboration with PND staff and other technical areas within WHO to establish and promote global noncommunicable disease surveillance;

10. Supports the day-to-day maintenance of a data warehouse (Global Infobase) and other data display and dissemination mechanisms (NCD datafinder) for noncommunicable disease related data.

11. Designs data acquisition tools, procedures, mechanisms and analysis tools for noncommunicable diseases and risk factor surveillance.

12. Provides technical support to countries implementing NCD surveillance, including risk factor surveillance using WHO tools such as STEPS, GSHS, and Global SHPPS, including support on data management, analysis and reporting of data.

13. Provides data analysis services for specific NCD surveillance projects including STEPS, NCD Country Capacity Survey, GSHS, and Global SHPPS;

14. Other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: A first level university degree in epidemiology, social sciences, medicine, public health, biostatistics or related subject.
Desirable\: An advanced level degree in any of the above-mentioned areas.

Experience

Essential\: At least five years' experience working with surveillance systems development at the national or international level, with at least two years at the international level. Practical experience in low and middle income countries focusing on the design, development and implementation of national surveillance systems.
Desirable\: Experience with NCD surveillance; Knowledge of data entry and analysis packages commonly used for survey data management, analysis and reporting; experience in delivering training and technical support to countries related to NCD surveillance.

Skills

Knowledge of epidemiology, social sciences, biostatistics or related subject. Knowledge of NCD risk factor surveillance and youth behavioural risk factor surveillance. Up-to-date knowledge of the latest trends and approaches with respect to public health surveillance systems. Keen and solution-oriented analytical skills and demonstrated analytical and project management skills. Enthusiastic approach to collaborative inquiry with a focus on tangible solutions. Ability to communicate credibly within peer community and advocate for the Organization's role in the surveillance field.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 60,233 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3985 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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.

• 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/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit\: http\://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

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

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.