Health Cluster Coordinator

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall goal of WHO's Outbreak and Health Emergencies (OHE) Programme is to minimize the health consequences of emergencies due to any biological, natural, technological or societal hazard. Collective and sound health emergency and disaster risk management is essential to health security, to sustainable development and to building the resilience of communities, countries and health systems.The objectives of WHO's OHE Programme are: to help Member States build their capacity to manage health emergency risks and, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to minimize the impact on the health of affected populations as well as the impact on the health system. WHO's Health Emergencies Programme directs all of the Organization's work in health emergency risk management, with an all-hazards approach comprising risk reduction, preparedness, readiness, response and early recovery activities.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Needs assessment and gap analysis1. Manage, coordinate and be the overall lead within the Health Cluster or at Inter-Cluster level for rapid health needs assessments, as well as participatory assessments (Multi Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessments and Humanitarian Needs Overviews, post-event risk assessment Post Disaster/Post Conflict Needs Assessment); be familiar with and ready to choose from existing tools to confirm that the Health Cluster covers all identified humanitarian health needs of the affected population,2. Collect information from all health partners on Who's Where, since and until When, doing What (4Ws), and regularly feed the database managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA). Provide consolidated feedback to all partners and the other clusters.Strategic Planning3. Lead the development, in cooperation with the Health Cluster Members, of the health sector components of the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) as well as contingency planning for potential new events and other inter-agency planning, ensure proper linkages with the incident management system, disaster risk reduction, relief and recovery to complement national health sector preparedness/response plans.4. Ensure full compliance with national and international Norms and Standards, oversee that Cross-Cutting issues are mainstreamed in the Health Cluster Response and implementation plans, taking into account the need for local adaptation.Coordination of the Health Cluster:5. Facilitate health partner coordination and involvement in health and other related sector assessments (e.g. nutrition, WASH), planning, information, interventions, monitoring and quality assurance, and regularly report on health services delivered to the affected population.6. Identify urgent technical gaps and training needs in relation to technical standards and protocols for the delivery of key health services to ensure their adoption and uniform application by all Health Cluster partners; identify opportunities for capacity building in collaboration with partners.7. Ensure appropriate links among humanitarian actions and longer-term health sector plans, incorporating the concept of ‘building back better' and specific risk reduction measures.8. Convene and facilitate consultative and results-oriented meetings in line with the principles of partnership. Organize and conduct joint support missions to field operations9. Oversee the development of a functional Information Management strategy and mechanism for the Health Cluster to facilitate information sharing as well as monitoring and reporting; ensure that the Health Cluster produces and disseminates to partners, donors, government and other stakeholders regular updates, technical reports, bulletins and briefings on the health status of the affected people, response activities, resources mobilization, achievements, challenges and the remedial actions when necessary.10. Support national (health system) capacity building in emergency preparedness and response in accordance with the IASC Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) Approach and other related guidance.Resources mobilization and funds allocation11. Liaise and manage the development of resource mobilization efforts, oversee the initiation of Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and other pooled fund proposals and other funding documents, as required, in close collaboration with the Head of the WHO Country Office, and in consultation with the Health Cluster Partners and the Humanitarian Country Team.12. Establish clear and transparent prioritization criteria for vetting partners' projects for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.Monitoring and Evaluation13. Coordinate the development, adaptation and implementation of an Indicators' MonitoringFramework to ensure adequate implementation of the Health Cluster Plans; empower partners' active involvement in joint monitoring of individual and common plans of action for health interventions. Promote peer-exchange of experiences and lessons-learned within the cluster partnership.Advocacy14. Identify core advocacy concerns for the Health Cluster through a consultative process: develop joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy is conveyed to the RC/HC and Humanitarian Country Team. Advocate for collective action, collective results, and collective accountability;15. Represent the Health Cluster in inter-cluster coordination mechanisms at country/field level, contribute to jointly identifying critical issues that require multi-sectorial responses, and plan the relevant synergistic interventions with the other clusters concerned.16. Advocate for priorities in the health sector, including protection for health workers and health facilities and the highest possible integration of the health related activities in the humanitarian agenda.Perform any other cluster related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in Public Health, Medicine or International Health or related field.
Desirable: Specialized training in emergency management, international aid, humanitarian principles, health system recovery, and health cluster coordination.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of relevant experience at national and international level, in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships in emergency and humanitarian relief operations, including experience in managing and coordinating health programs in chronic and acute, sudden-onset emergencies.
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff.• In-depth knowledge of emergency relief policies and practices within the UN, other UN Specialized Agencies, donor agencies, national and international NGOs.• Sound knowledge and experience about disaster prevention and preparedness programs and the incident management system. • Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among UN, NGOs, national health authorities and donors.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

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 74,913 (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 2535 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.