Technical Officer (Emergency Preparedness & Response)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the EU funded project “Strengthening health systems resilience in the Western Balkans” the incumbent will provide technical expertise and day to day management for the implementation of Strategic Objective 1 “Strengthening and maintaining all-hazard preparedness and response capacities across the Western Balkans region”.

Key duties:

1. Provide technical assistance and coordinate the development and implementation of country workplans in line with milestones and project deliverables, ensuring compliance with WHE's organization wide strategies for Country Health Emergency Preparedness and Response & International Health Regulations.
2. Track the status of technical and financial support to country core capacities, the development of national action plans and the costing to prepare for, detect and mount a rapid and effective response to public health emergencies.
3. Support the provision of data and information required for any IHR-related documents to be presented to WHO Governing bodies, IHR Emergency Committee or an IHR Review Committee or an IHR technical consultation.
4. Provide guidance and training to national authorities to develop critical core capacities. Support the implementation of policies, norms, standards and guidelines to support the development of critical core capacities for global health security.
5. Liaise on multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches and activities with key partners, at the country level, to ensure the successful implementation, monitoring and evaluation of capacities in line with IHR (2005) requirements, as well as the identification of financing for country plans.
6. As and when required, support the assessment of the performance of national transport, tourism and mass gatherings capacity, the dissemination of practical guidelines, facilitate the effective implementation of national surveillance systems in accordance with IHR (2005) requirements.
7. Document best practices in all hazard emergency preparedness and response capacities and share with countries and WHO at all levels.
8. Project management and oversight of funding utilization against progress, eligibility of expenditures and reporting deadlines in accordance with donors' specific requirements and reporting schedules.
9. Develop internal and external reporting and briefings on the project progress and implementation based on the technical inputs and countries' implementation updates. Finalize and conduct quality assurance of submissions of reports to the donor.
10. Establish and maintain efficient coordination and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders of the project throughout the full cycle of the project management.
11. Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: First level university degree in a health-related field or a Medical degree from an accredited/ recognized institute
Desirable: Advanced level university degree (Masters level or above) in a health-related field. Specialized training in epidemiology. Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of relevant experience in planning, developing and implementing health security, emergency, surveillance, disease control, and/or public health programmes. Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies, including those most relevant to coordination of health policy and action in health emergencies. Relevant experience in the implementation of International Health Regulations (2005).
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.

Skills

1. Knowledge of International Health Regulations (2005), the epidemiology of infectious diseases and other global health security threats, and of issues and practices for disease prevention and control.
2. Proven ability to manage projects, build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.
3. Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and produce results under pressure.
4. Emotional awareness; Ability to identify and harness one's emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one's own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of other WHO languages.

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 62,120 (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 1713 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.