Disease Control Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The incumbent will manage the communicable and noncommunicable diseases programme in the country, while maintaining a multisectoral overview, and will ensure the availability of technical expertise to advise the government on integrated programmes and initiatives to strengthen their capacity building in investigation, surveillance, and control. The incumbent will promote and strengthen programme activities within an assigned area of responsibility, consult with national counterparts on programme needs, and perform related managerial tasks as required. The position contributes to the WHO’s country cooperation strategy in communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:• In coordination with the regional and/or headquarters communication focal points, develop and guide the implementation of communication strategies and plans to support awareness of the programmes and achievements of WHO at country level. Ensure the implementation of the WHO corporate (global and regional) communication strategy. • Identify marketable subjects/success stories and develop communications and advocacy products including for partnerships’ initiatives. • Establish office processes for content identification. • Ensure optimal and timely outreach and dissemination to target audiences in suitable media channels and platforms, including social media. • Organize media events, campaigns and media technical briefings, coordinating between media and WHO experts, as required. • Build and maintain productive networks and contacts with the press/media and key, national communication counterparts to ensure positive and optimal coverage of WHO’s• As a national of the country or territory, apply knowledge of the cultural norms of diverse, national stakeholders and audiences to (i) manage the development/updating of content and stakeholder linkages for the WHO country office website and (ii) the sensitive design and delivery of effective social-media engagements. • Ensure regular media monitoring, tracking audience/target group perceptions of the organization. Identify information deficits and develop strategies to address these deficiencies; manage risk-mitigation communications. • Collaborate with national stakeholders, development and other strategic partners and United Nations Information Officers, to encourage the production and dissemination of information on national health strategies. Advocate for organizational priorities, foster related initiatives, and represent WHO in the United Nations Communication Group. • Deliver and/or support specialized emergency or multi hazard risk communications, social mobilization and advocacy plans, during public health crises, emergencies, and outbreaks. • Advise country office leadership on strategic, external and internal communications and support country office staff on communications with sensitivity to national cultural norms, where required. • Coordinate and deliver communication and media-sensitization-related training for WHO country office staff

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree in a relevant field (such as public health, epidemiology or statistics).
Desirable: Training or specialization in communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases

Experience

Essential: A minimum of five years of work experience relevant to the position (in communicable and non-communicable diseases, focusing on disease investigation, surveillance, and control, as well as developing strategies and action plans for implementing capacity building and disease prevention programmes).
Desirable: Demonstrated professional experience providing technical services to national counterparts, Ministries of Health, and other partners on communicable disease related issues. Relevant work experience, with WHO and/or United Nations agencies, health cluster partners, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained in an international context.

Skills

• Transmissions, specialized methods of diagnosis, development, and treatment of communicable diseases, including HIV infection and other communicable and noncommunicable diseases.• Technical and programmatic knowledge of the prevention and control of a range of communicable and/or noncommunicable diseases.• Expertise to strategically plan, coordinate, and support the implementation of health programme interventions.• Disease prevention and control.• Knowledge of country situation in communicable and noncommunicable diseases.Desirable: • Health and safety regulations.• Excellent analytical and organizational skills. • Skills in developing and promoting collaborative multi-sectoral partnerships and mobilizing resources.• Ability to provide clear advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of Portuguese.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of French.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at XOF 19,150,000 (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 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.

• 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 shws@who.int.

• 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.

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