OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH) in Bonn, Germany, provides technical and scientific expertise on the impacts of environment on health. It delivers to countries policy advice, tools to inform and support decision-making in the areas of air quality, access to safe WASH, minimizing the adverse effects of chemicals, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, environmental sustainability of health systems, urban health planning, including transport and mobility work, as well as violence and road traffic injury prevention. It works with all units to develop collaborative initiatives addressing environment-related diseases. The Centre strengthens country capacities to address environment and health challenges through development and delivery of a range of training courses on environment and health, including on health impact assessment.

The Programme on Water and Climate (WAC) at WHO ECEH addresses the health-related aspects of WASH and climate change adaptation. WAC provides the secretariat function to the Protocol on Water and Health, jointly with UNECE. It also provides the secretariat for the Working Group on Health in Climate Change, established under the European Environment and Health Task Force, to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among Member States in the WHO European Region to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. WAC works with Member States to support the development of climate change health adaptation plans, and to develop and improve WASH regulations, management and surveillance approaches, as well as management of outbreaks of water-related disease. The programme supports the regional implementation of the WHA resolution 72.7 on WASH in health care facilities, and the achievement of SDG 6, for which WHO is the custodian agency.

The WHO Country Office (CO) in Ukraine is a large office with core staff, health system related cluster and project related teams. At the same time the CO is part of the Regional Office (RO) and related to other COs in the region. The latter means active communication with colleagues in all the other COs. Within the division of Country Health Programmes (CHP), and under the general guidance of the Public Health Officer in the CO, the incumbent is the responsible officer for WASH. The incumbent will also work closely with the lead on infection prevention and control, and other areas as necessary (e.g. laboratory as it relates to water quality testing).

The role of the incumbent is that of a technical specialist. He/she is part of the CO team and closely relates to relevant technical units in the Regional Office, WHO ECEH and Headquarters. The incumbent also plays the role of facilitator to engage colleagues on key deliverables (including other divisions according to needs) and with national government and UN counterparts to ensure that WASH-related activities reflect latest WHO guidance and are implemented in cohesion with key health programming, monitoring and financing activities. The incumbent will advocate (when possible) for the incorporation of a health and risk-based approach to managing and delivering water and sanitation supplies, including in health care facilities, by the actors normally involved in policy-making, regulation and both water, sanitation and health care service provision.

The work is guided by World Health Assembly and Regional Committee resolutions, the European Programme of Work (EPW), GPW 13, and SDG 3 (on health and well-being) and SDG 6 (on safe WASH). Furthermore, the areas of work are guided by the Biannual Collaborative Agreement, the objectives of the ongoing projects the incumbent is involved in addressing emerging needs, the Ukraine Crisis Strategic Response Plan, Ukraine health system recovery and transformation principles, as well as the WHO/UNECE Protocol on Water and Health. WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, the WHO Manual, technical documents related to medical product policy and regulation, the Programme Budget provide basic WHO documents.

Some independence in decision making is expected and the incumbent must exercise judgement in providing policy interpretations on water and sanitation guidelines and regulations, coordination among WASH and health actors, and wider health and economic sector developments. The incumbent takes a proactive role in seeking guidance from colleagues, searching and analysing evidence, and applying WHO guidelines and tools.

A wide range of contacts within the organization is expected - the purpose is to receive policy guidance and support on technical, information-related and administrative as well as managerial issues related to project implementation. Additional contacts both within RO (including other country offices, geographically dispersed offices such as WHO ECEH in Bonn and the office in Copenhagen) and Headquarters to seek technical support for planning collaborative activities as well as to support project implementation in the country, are foreseen. Under supervision and guidance of Head of the CO, regular contacts are maintained with the ministry of health, the public health institute and centers for disease control and relevant WASH and other environment and health institutions and stakeholders to provide and obtain necessary information, coordinate adoption and implementation of water and sanitation risk-based approaches and tools, and report back to donors on project progress. Upon request, the incumbent has contacts with counterparts in the country to represent WHO.

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:

Within the context of strengthening WASH, and more broadly environmental risk management for public health, and with the aim to support readiness and sustainable recovery to the war in Ukraine, the incumbent will provide technical support and coordination to the implementation of WASH and environmental risk management priorities in Ukraine.

Key duties:

1. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with infection prevention efforts, on improving WASH in health care facilities, including through addressing national actions set out in the 2019 World Health Assembly Resolution and the Protocol on Water and Health and adoption and use of existing WHO guidelines and tools (e.g. the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool: WASH FIT).
2. Support the MOH updating and adapting relevant guidelines, materials and tools related to primary health care and health service delivery by addressing relevant WASH aspects.
3. Support activities on readiness and preparedness for public water and sanitation utilities, including refining and finalizing a checklist of WASH readiness and supporting piloting and implementation in target cities and localities in collaboration with service providers (e.g. Vodokanals), MOH, regional CDCs and key partners (e.g. UNICEF).
4. Strengthen waterborne disease outbreak preparedness and management capabilities of MOH, CDCs and the Institute of Public Health, including through adapting and delivering training, coordinating with health and WASH actors on key water quality testing supplies and actions.
5. Coordinate pilot efforts on surveillance of V. cholera in wastewater in conjunction with ongoing wastewater surveillance programmes related to pathogens of public health concern (e.g. poliomyelitis, Hepatitis A, SARS-CoV-2).
6. Support development of risk-based drinking-water surveillance and sanitary inspections, including translation and dissemination of WHO surveillance and sanitary inspection packages.
7. Support the introduction of the water safety plan (WSP) approach, including sensitization of key national stakeholders and partners and stakeholders (i.e. Vodokanals, MOH), support the long-term development of a national WSP roadmap (in close cooperation with UNICEF and other partners) and ongoing national efforts in the context of the water-related European Union accession package.
8. Support MOH’s engagement and actions under the WHO/UNICEF Protocol on Water and Health.
9. Prepare the missions for WHO staff and external consultants addressing WASH and environmental risk and follow up on their recommendations.
10. Prepare regular reports and updates to the Country Office and to the Regional Office, as well as WASH donors (e.g. US CDC), as needed.
11. Explore opportunities for fund raising and contribute to proposal development to ensure adequate resources are available to conduct the planned activities related to WASH and public health.
12. Assist in executing other tasks as requested by the WHO Representative, the Public Health Officer and the Infection Prevention and Control Officer, including in other environmental health domains.
13. Provide support to cross-office and intercountry activities as requested.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: University degree (Bachelor’s level) in environmental science, environmental engineering, microbiology, public health, or infection prevention and control.

Desirable: Master's degree or postgraduate training in any of the above fields.

Experience:

Essential: At least two years of national work experience in the field of environmental engineering, water quality monitoring, water and sanitation service provision, public health, infection prevention and control, water and sanitation policy and regulation with government, academic institutions or international and/or non-governmental organizations.

Desirable: Relevant work experience with(in) international institutions or organizations in the area of policy advice for WASH and/or health systems strengthening / health care services delivery. Relevant experience with(in) WHO or the United Nations.

WHO Competencies

1) Teamwork

2) Producing Results

3) Communication

4) Moving forward in a changing environment

5) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Russian. Expert knowledge of Ukrainian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 37,537 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

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

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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.

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

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.