Health Sector Coordinator

Mission and objectives

WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was established in July 1946 and whose objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. WHO’s primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system. WHO’s main areas of work are health systems; health through the life-course; noncommunicable and communicable diseases; preparedness, surveillance and response; and corporate services.

Context

Following the recent escalation of the decades-long conflict in the region, the Government of the Republic of Armenia reported that between 24 September and 4 October 2023, 100,632 refugees, including 30,000 children, arrived in the country. An average of 15,000 people arrived per day, with a peak of 40,000 refugees entering the country on 27 September 2023. Overall, the number of refugees constitute almost 3 per cent of the entire Armenian population, i.e., 1 in 30 people, which adds to the 36,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people of all nationalities who were already present in the country. According to the latest available data from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, many of the new arrivals are vulnerable, including older people, women and children, pregnant women, people living with disabilities and people chronic health conditions, as well as newborns. 52 per cent are women and girls, 31 per cent are children and 18 per cent are older persons. About half of the refugee population are from the countryside. The refugees are currently located in different regions across Armenia, with the highest numbers residing in Yerevan, Syunik, Kotayk and Ararat. The Government of the Republic of Armenia is leading the response to ensure protection and lifesaving needs of refugees as well as ensuring medium- and longer-term planning. Humanitarian partners including UN agencies, national and international NGOs, and community-based organizations, under the overall leadership of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, scaled up their operations to complement the national response, through coordinated and inclusive interventions, to support urgent lifesaving needs and the resilience of both the refugees and communities hosting them, with a particular focus on the approaching winter. Armenia Refugee Response Plan covering October 2023 – March 2024 has been developed with participation of the UN agencies and coordinated by UNHCR from the UN side. After March 2024 there will be a transition period till the end of 2024 followed by recovery and development period during 2025-2026. A Humanitarian Coordination Platform led by the Deputy Prime Minister has been established to coordinate the response composed of the various Line Ministries including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Territorial Administration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Sector working groups have been established under Armenia Refugee Response Plan on the thematic areas of Health, Protection, Basic Needs, Education, and Resilience. Health Sector Working Group (HSWG) has been coordinated by WHO and IOM in Armenia comprised of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, UN agencies, and international and local NGOs. HSWG also includes 18 agencies participating in the Armenia Refugee Response Plan.

Task description

Under the general supervision of the WHO Country Representative (WR) and in close coordination with the WHE National Professional Officer and the Hub Coordinator for the Southern Caucasus, and Emergency Management Operations Team at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the incumbent is to be responsible for the following duties:

a) Lead an effective and coordinated, national, health-sector response by maintaining appropriate links and dialogue with national and local authorities, local civil society and other relevant actors, respecting their respective mandates and programme priorities, focusing on the refugee and host communities, in line with evolving needs, in coordination with IOM and in consultation with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) of Armenia.

b) Convene and facilitate regular health sector coordination meetings, ensuring that discussions are participatory and results-oriented. Ensure that all, including NGO members of the health sector coordination are kept fully informed of the meetings and any decisions that may take place outside of regular health sector coordination meetings.

c) Ensure protection and early recovery are mainstreamed and awareness of the different needs and capacities of women, girls, boys and men of all ages, people with disabilities, and other diversity characteristics are informing what we do, how we do it and with whom to promote meaningful access, safety, and dignity in all phases of the health sector response.

d) Participate actively in gap analysis, priority setting reinforcing the complementarity of partner actions by avoiding duplication and gaps.

e) Contribute effectively to cross sector coordination forums and cooperate with other sectors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities (as appropriate) in planning, coordination, and operational activities, ensuring that all partners, including NGO community is contributing to.

f) Provide oversight to the health sector’s activities as part of the overall response, based on regularly collected reporting data from the partners (5Ws and ActivityInfo), with regular updates provided to the MoH of Armenia.

g) Support the WR with oversight to implementation of the WHO part of the response, including respective emergency funds implementation, fulfillment of the WHO obligations in line with the project documents.

h) Work closely with UNHCR as the lead agency for the response, ensure timely and effective response to UNHCR’s requests, also in relation to the cross-cutting topics and working groups.

i) Participate in reviews of coordination mechanisms and their adaptation over time to reflect the evolving crisis and the response capacities of local actors.

j) Lead on regular reporting to UNHCR as the lead agency for the refugee response, including provision of a coordinated monthly report on health sector’s behalf.

k) In coordination with the WHE National Professional Officer and other responsible Country Office staff, support reporting from WHO side of the response both internally and to the donors.

l) In coordination with the WR, liaise with the MoH, MoLSA to have the ministries’ agreement and awareness about the implemented activities, changing strategic priorities and needs.

m) As per the agreed periodicity, in cooperation with IOM organize and chair the periodic Health Sector Working Group (HSWG) meeting, based on the agenda to be agreed in advance with various partners, in particular MoH, and in line with the HSWG ToR.

n) Support resource mobilization and advocacy efforts for the health part of the refugee response in the transition period

o) Support WR in various relevant meetings and discussions with stakeholders, governmental representatives, and donor agencies.

Required Qualifications:

7 years of 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 programmes in chronic, acute and sudden onset emergencies;

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Public Health, Medicine, International Health, Emergency Management, or Social Sciences (or related fields); • Desirable: Specialised training in emergency management, international aid, humanitarian principles, health emergencies, or health cluster coordination.

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Armenian and Russian is desirable.

Desirable:

Proven experience in emergency management, international aid coordination, humanitarian work, health emergencies or other relevant areas of work;

Demonstrated knowledge of emergency management, sector/cluster approach, emergency response operations;

Solid knowledge of emergency relief policies and practices within the UN, other UN specialised agencies, donor agencies, national and international NGOs;

Sound knowledge and experience in disaster prevention and preparedness programmes and the Incident Management System (IMS);

Desirable: knowledge and experience with the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF);

Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among UN, NGOs, national health authorities and donors;

Excellent presentation skills;

Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, health cluster/sector partners, and relevant NGOs or humanitarian organisations.

As of Feb 2024, National UN Volunteer Specialists in Armenia receive AMD 374,248/month as their Volunteer Living Allowance. Other benefits and entitlements include:

1. Pre-assignment:

Entry lump sum – USD 400 (one time payment) relocation costs

USD 200 at the beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV)

2. During assignment:

Volunteer living allowance – AMD 374248.5

Learning – Access to UNV’s learning and career development resources

Annual leave – 2.5 days per month Insurance –

Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents. See the Conditions of Service for more details on eligibility criteria.

3. End of assignment:

Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment)