Coordinator (Whole of Syria Health Cluster)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s 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

The aim of a country-level Health Sector working group (HSWG) is to ensure a more coherent and effective humanitarian response by all international, national and local actors operating in the health sector in areas affected by crisis in the south of Syria. 1. Act as the point of contact for representatives of assisting and cooperating agencies. Liaise on collective actions and collective results from internal and external actors, including those deployed as part of the WHO response team (staff, consultants, GOARN members, or stand-by partners) and those deployed otherwise (independent governmental and nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) within and outside the health cluster and emergency medical teams).2. Identify and make contact with health sector stakeholders and existing coordination mechanism, including national health authorities, national and international organizations and civil society.3. Hold regular coordination meetings with country HSWG partners, building when possible on existing health sector coordination fora.4. Collect information from all partners on ‘Who does What Where, When’, and regularly feed the database managed by OCHA (4W). Provide consolidated feedback to all partners and the other sector working groups.5. Assess and monitor the availability of health services in the crisis areas provided by all health actors using GHC tool: Health Resources Availability Mapping System (HeRAMS).6. Ensure that humanitarian health needs are identified by planning and coordinating joint, inter-sector working group, initial rapid assessments adapting to the local context the IRA tool, as well as follow-on more in-depth health sub-sector assessments, as needed.7. Mobilize HSWG Partners to contribute to establishing and maintaining an appropriate Early Warning Alert and Response System, and regularly report on health services delivered to the affected population and the situation in the areas where they work.8. Lead and contribute to the joint HSWG analysis of health-sector information and data (see points 4, 5,6 and 7) leading to joint identification of gaps in the health and nutrition sector response and agreement on priorities to inform the development (or adaptation) of a health crisis response strategy.9. Inform the Health Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) Representative of priority gaps that cannot be covered by any HSWG partner and require CLA action as provider of last resort.10. Ensure partners’ active contribution to and involvement in joint monitoring of individual and common plans of action for health interventions; collate and disseminate this and other information related to the health sector in Sector working group sit-reps and/or regular Health Bulletins.11. Represent the HSWG in inter-sector working group coordination mechanisms at country/field level, contribute to jointly identifying critical issues that require multisectoral responses, and plan the relevant synergistic interventions with the other sector working groups concerned.12. Lead joint HSWG contingency planning for potential new events or set-backs, when required.13. Provide leadership and strategic direction to Health Sector working group Members in the development of the health sector components of Humanitarian Programme Cycle and other interagency planning and funding documents.14. Promote adherence to standards and best practices by all HSWG partners taking into account the need for local adaptation. Promote use of the Health Sector/cluster working group Guide to ensure the application of common approaches, tools and standards. 15. Identify urgent 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 HNSWG partners. Coordinate the dissemination of key technical materials and the organization of essential workshops or in-service training.16. In a protracted crisis or health sector recovery context, ensure appropriate links among humanitarian actions and longer-term health sector plans, incorporating the concept of ‘building back better’ and specific risk reduction measures.Whole of Syria Duties17. Provide support to the Whole of Syria Health Sector Coordinator as required, including on elements of the Humanitarian Program Cycle and cross-border/cross-line coordination

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Master’s level) in public health, medicine, international health, international relations, social sciences or management from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Post graduate studies or specialized training in emergency management, international aid or humanitarian principles.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of relevant experience, with international exposure, in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships in emergency and humanitarian relief operations, including experience in coordinating health programmes in chronic and acute, sudden-onset emergencies
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, relevant nongovernmental, health cluster partners or humanitarian organizations.

Skills

–> Solid understanding of the overall intersectoral health emergencies response and related national priorities. –> 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 of disaster prevention and preparedness programmes and the incident management system.–> Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among UN, NGOs, national health authorities, donors and non-health actors.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Moving forward in a changing environment
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Arabic.

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 77,326 (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 2565 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

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• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

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