EPI Technical Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) provides technical guidance and operational support to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHE assists countries to contain and mitigate the risk of high-threat diseases and infectious hazards; to detect and assess emergency health threats and inform public health decision-making; and to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies under a coordinated Incident Management System. It ensures WHO’s work in emergencies is effectively managed, sustainably financed, adequately staffed and operationally ready to fulfil its mission. Its hub-and-spoke structure ensures country-specific and inter-country activities in priority countries.

The objectives of WHO’s emergency programme are to design and implement programmes that prepare the health sector to deal with emergencies and that improve health during and after crises. Within the emergency programme, the objectives of WHO’s emergency response team are to support Member States by: (1) promptly assessing health needs of populations affected by crisis, identifying priority causes of ill-health and death; preparing damage estimates and emergency response and rehabilitation plans; providing prompt, credible health information and ensuring the continuity of essential health services; (2) ensuring that critical gaps in the health response to outbreaks are rapidly identified and filled; (3) revitalizing and building the capacity of national health systems to deal with preparedness, mitigation and response to outbreaks of communicable diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the WHO emergency response programme in Turkeye, and under the direct supervision of the HSS technical focal point, WHO Gaziantep, the incumbent will provide technical support to local de-facto authorities and international/local partners (INGO/NNGO) towards the goals of polio eradication and the implementation of EPI programme and supplementary immunization activities and effective disease surveillance systems.

Key duties: To elaborate and implement together with health partners strategies and policies for the EPI system, in view of preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases, producing and analysing information on health threats, activities and outcomes, and ensuring dissemination to partners and local authorities.

The incumbent will:

1. Develop and strengthen the Northwest Syria surveillance system for acute flaccid paralysis and for polioviruses, measles, and other vaccine preventable diseases, monitor the completeness of reporting and advise on the use of performance indicators at the country (the whole of Syria), governorate, and district levels.

2. Promote the strengthening and resilience of the Immunization program in Northwest Syria, focusing on integration activities and integrated Immunization/EPI program into PHCC system.

3. Ensure strong coordination between surveillance and laboratory activities. Include support on quality check and identification of capacity building at laboratory level.

4. Lead/Coordinate the technical working group and technical structures/subgroup meetings with all relevant partners, producing and circulating minutes, related decisions, and tracking the latter, recommending improvements to current and future field operations based on lessons learned.

5. Develop and apply monitoring and evaluation methods and materials.

6. Cooperate with local de-facto authorities to plan, train and evaluate activities at the targeted areas level and establish networks to ensure timely investigation and adequate response to identification of areas with persistent circulation of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.

7. Guide and assist staff in the Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals in areas including training, planning, logistics, and development of appropriate guidelines.

8. Improve health information management in EPI program in collaboration with technical officers, IMOs, and other staff to enhance sources of information and quality of data.

9. Develop work plans for medium- and long-term, as well as strategies for strengthening the implementation of the EPI and surveillance system within the context of emergency response and early recovery.

10. Contribute to the Epidemiological bulletin (Situation Reports, health cluster bulletins, outbreak bulletins, etc.) and prepare and present updates on epidemiological status to different coordination meetings with all relevant partners and local actors/authorities; Also, draft and revise technical documents, briefing notes, meeting reports, information products, and content as appropriate.

11. Improve capacity of local actors/authorities and health partners to report and interpret epidemiological data of vaccine preventable diseases, prepare and respond to outbreaks of communicable diseases, document achievements and obstacles to implementation, that will be contribute to better coordination mechanisms and improvement to current and future field operations in the area of work proactively participate in the development of project proposals to mobilize resources.

12. Project cycle management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the WHO Gaziantep Field Presence health projects.

13. Manage and supervise staff and consultants, including task assignment, performance evaluation, and professional development.

14. Being the focal point for donors reporting/strategic discussion and annual plans – in coordination with UNICEF Gaziantep.

15. Perform any other related incident-specific duties as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in Public Health and/or Health related fields.
Desirable: Degree or sound understanding of emergency response or disaster management in the context of public health, or in communicable/infectious diseases. Degree or studies in vaccine preventable diseases, epidemiology and surveillance

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of professional experience in public health programmes in the areas of planning, disease control, and immunization, including experience at international level in humanitarian setting.
Desirable: Experience in EPI with UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or NGOs.

Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of health sector activities in developing countries and/or in the context of emergency response relief, or preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases and EPI or preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases.
2. Excellent skills in the assessment, surveillance and monitoring in the context of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and promote their implementation.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.
4. Proven ability to communicate effectively.
5. Tact, discretion and ability to promote consensus.
6. Emotional awareness; Ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

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 English.
Desirable: Expert 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 2455 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 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.

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• 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.

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