Public Health Support Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures, behavioural insights; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels”.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO’s mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health. 

WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavor; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Under daily supervision of WHO Representative, the incumbent will support the provision of technical and managerial expertise to develop, strengthen and implement policies and programmes of activities designed to strengthen national, public-health capacity in Universal Health Coverage/Health Promotion and Determinants. This includes those designed to promote health and reduce the burden of preventable disease and injuries driven by environmental, social, and economic determinants of health, including the distribution of risk factors, through interventions in one or more of the following Health Determinants: Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH), Health Promotion, Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity (HPD), Nutrition and Food Safety (NUT); Tobacco and Reduction of Other Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors (TNR), Violence, Injuries, or Health and Migration (PHM); and Demographic Change and Ageing. Health.
• The endeavors target all populations, including refugees and migrants, through a coordinated, intersectoral approach in accordance with the country cooperation strategy that aligns with WHO global and regional commitments.
• Upon request from WHO Representative, the incumbent has contacts with counterparts in the country to represent WHO.

Key duties:

• The focus of this position is on environment, climate change and health, prioritizing commitments and actions stipulated in the Budapest Declaration on Environment and Health. The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office:
• Maintain partnerships and networks to strengthen multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration to combat communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors in the country.
• Analyse and undertake research on the public health topics to support the country teams in the development and implementation of multisectoral national plans for the prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
• Technically assist in the monitoring of work plans and budgets, including resources mobilized for the work programme and following up on the implementation of planned activities.
• Technically support the promotion of health in all policies, including for the development of healthy cities, other healthy settings and the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.
• Analyse information on best practices in public health and health systems and report findings to responsible officer.
• Participate in capacity building in public health systems and the management and financing of the systems.
• Utilize understanding of national and subnational cultural norms to inform community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks.
• Contribute to the drafting of public health reports and act as a focal point to public health topics in the area of work.
• Ensure collaboration, and work with international and national partners to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors.
• Technically assist the health authorities and its partners in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, strategies and action plans, in line with the Global Action Plans
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in emergencies and public health events.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in a relevant field (such as health, public health, social sciences). Training in epidemiology or social epidemiology and/or good knowledge of theory and the practice of health promotion and the determinants of health.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of two (2) years of work experience relevant to the position (in public health and disease control programme management, working with national /international organizations involved in health promotion, public health or development).
• Desirable: Experience in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of major disease control programmes, and experience with the United Nations or international non-governmental organizations.

Skills

• Policies, strategies and guidelines in the field of public health, particularly in health promotion and the determinants of health.
• The prevention of communicable disease outbreaks and health protection through community engagement and multisectoral action.
• Good understanding of country office needs, priorities and policies, along with WHO’s policies, practices, guidelines and procedures in the related areas and ability to apply them in the country office setting.
• Basic understanding of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Ability to maintain relationships and network with national authorities and other stakeholders in relevant sectors.
• Ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.
• Conducting research and analyzing results, identifying issues, formulating opinions, drawing conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health care systems.
• Ability to draft policies and objectives of assigned programme and activities.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages, handling of web-based management systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and cloud management enterprise systems, such as Workday.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Local Language (Hungarian).
• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN Languages (French, Russian, German)

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2407082