Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the Division of WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to assess, prevent and manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The WHE Division brings together and enhances WHO’s operational, technical and normative capacities in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. The Programme is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities.

The main objective of the Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment Programme Area is: The Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment Programme Area is responsible for providing timely and authoritative situation analysis, risk assessment and response monitoring available for all major health threats, events and emergencies. This includes detecting, verifying and assessing the risk of potential and ongoing health emergencies; establishing data collection mechanisms and monitoring ongoing health emergency operations; providing data management, analytics and reporting platform to produce and disseminate timely emergency health information products.

Description Of Duties

The WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) aims to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks, and lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

• Provide technical support for the monitoring and evaluation of public health and programmatic indicators in line with HIM strategies and WHO/WHE policies, with focus on indicators for outbreak and emergency response, including, but not limited to:

[a] defining and contributing to the collection of indicators that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound (SMART);

[b] guiding the definition of public health and response indicators used by WHO and key partners for monitoring and evaluation outcomes and performance of public health interventions, including in graded and ungraded emergencies and in humanitarian context;

[c] collaborating with counterparts in technical teams within HIM, WHE, WHO HQ, Regional, Hubs, and Country Offices.

• Participate in the design, establishment and updating of:

[a] monitoring and evaluation systems and tools to generate accurate, valid and reliable information on performance with focus on efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of emergency response coverage

[b] elaboration of approaches for the collection and analysis of key outcomes and performance indicators on emergency response, preparedness, and health systems recovery

[c] support the preparation of quantitative methods and analytic reporting documents, and their harmonization

[d] the production and dissemination of findings and recommendations for improvements.

• Develop and provide capacity building and training to colleagues for WHO and partners, including Ministries of Health, for effective and systematic approaches to monitoring and evaluation applicable to dynamic fast-changing emergency events and complex situations, including in humanitarian context, with focus on promoting inter-agency, national, regional and global networks to facilitate the collection and analysis of monitoring data.
• Perform event-based surveillance (EBS) related activities, as assigned, including backstopping for DVA work. When in charge of the HIM 24/7 Duty Officer:

[a] Conduct EBS by gathering and assessing information on public health signals, events, alerts and emergencies caused by any hazard (CBRNE)

[b] Verify signals and contribute to joint risk assessments with IHR States Parties and relevant WHO Technical Units, and help organize international support to the public health response in the affected Member State(s) when requested and required

[c] Coordinate activities involving other WHO units and partners, including IHR NFPs, technical units in EURO, other WHO Regional Offices, WHO HQ and with the European Commission and relevant EU institutions and agencies, concerning management of acute public health emergencies caused by any hazard

[d] Prepare and post public health information on the WHO Event Management System (EMS) to facilitate health decision making and distribute relevant public health event information to all 196 IHR States Parties by creating postings for the global IHR Event Information Site (EIS) and/or the public-facing Disease Outbreak News (DONs), Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) or Situation Reports in humanitarian emergencies and/or disasters

[e] Provide situational awareness of epidemic threats through the preparation and delivery of briefing materials and situational analyses to a broad range of staff within and outside HIM, WHE and WHO, as well as through conducting and participating in the daily HIM signal and events meetings and convening multidisciplinary structured risk assessments, as appropriate.

• Other Duties:

[a] Contribute to maintenance and continuous development of public health event management tools and processes used in WHO regionally and globally, and provide training in the use of these tools for WHO, WHE and staff in the Regional and Country Offices;

[b] Act as a surge capacity in response to emergencies, humanitarian crises and disease outbreaks at national, regional and global levels, as needed;

[c] Other duties assigned to you by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

Education

Essential: University degree in health sciences, demography, monitoring and evaluation, quantitative methods, or a related field.

Desirable: A postgraduate degree in epidemiology and/or public health.

Experience

Essential: At least five (5) years of combined national and international experience, with at least two (2) years of international experience, in working in public health, with experience in participating in outbreak and emergency response field missions (e.g., event-based surveillance (EBS) monitoring and evaluation and related information systems used in public health emergency response for outbreak investigation and control and/or in the humanitarian context).

Desirable: Experience in WHO with an understanding of its mandate, goals and procedures an advantage, or experience in the UN System.

Skills

Excellent organizational and analytical skills, combined with ability to write and synthesize information in a clear and concise manner. Ability to contribute to capacity building activities for Member States both individually and as a member of a team, including outside partners. Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance concepts, including event-based surveillance (EBS) monitoring and evaluation and related information systems used in public health emergency response for outbreak investigation and control and/or in the humanitarian context.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Producing results

Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of either French, Russian or German.

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 64,121 (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 4205 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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to

[email protected]

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 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.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected].
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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Grade

P3

Contractual Arrangement

Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)

12 months

Job Posting

Dec 13, 2023, 8:07:55 PM

Closing Date

Jan 4, 2024, 4:44:00 AM

Primary Location

Denmark-Copenhagen

Organization

EU/WHE WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)

Schedule

Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.