Technical Officer

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Description

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department of Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, EPP develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin. The department is committed to delivering GPW13 Outcome 2.2 Epidemics and pandemics prevented, through: Delivering risk assessment, technical guidance, interventions and control strategies for country impact; Promoting innovation and adoption of new technologies; Aligning and coordinating international action through trusted partnership; Ensuring vulnerable populations have access to life-saving interventions and supplies. The High Impact Events Preparedness (IEP) unit provides leadership and coordination for cross-sector partnerships in the development of global preparedness mechanisms for epidemics and pandemics, thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. For example, a global supply chain & deployment mechanism to ensure equitable and timely access to life-saving interventions and biological materials during an outbreak; the establishment of the WHO information network for epidemics (EPI-WIN) and for Infodemic management during epidemics and pandemics, as well as the effectiveness and impact of public health and social measures (PHSM).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Manage the development, elaboration and implementation of tools to aid in infodemic management preparedness planning and evaluation as part of the health response operations.
• Support regular coordination meetings between HQ, RO and CO, and with UN and other external partners for strategic and technical coordination and alignment of activities.
• Organize technical assistance including trainings for RO, CO and national counterparts to independently use the techniques and tools in their practice.
• Work with resources from the regional and country levels to train and prepare country-level counterparts for emergency Infodemic management.
• Develop tools and methods with key stakeholders in the national authorities, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations and then apply them to address common infodemic-related challenges faced by countries with evidence-informed approaches and resources, including innovative approaches leveraging digital native health workers and human centered design approaches.
• Convene working groups with national authorities, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations to develop, pilot and publish job aids, toolkits, example SOPs and templates to help national and subnational health authorities prepare for and manage infodemics.
• Conceptualize and manage evidence generation and evaluation activities to identify opportunities for improvement of tools and capacity building activities.
• Support conference planning and training organization through project management and technical contributions.
• Work with ROs, COs, and national health authorities to collect and discuss case studies of social listening and integrated analysis in practice, and lessons learned from implementation research and process management.
• Perform any other related duties, as required by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: A first level university degree in health promotion/health education, development sciences, sociology, social sciences, behavioural sciences, health communications, or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Desirable: Advanced university degree in socio-behavioral science. Specialized training in health communication, participatory research, training and impact evaluation of community engagement/social mobilization interventions.

Experience

• Essential: At least five years of relevant experience and exposure at the national and international levels, in applying multidisciplinary approaches in digital communication, humanitarian, health promotion, community engagement and social media in health.
• Desirable: Proven experience in the application of project management in health and the ability to adapt and innovate in emergency situations.

Skills

• Proven ability to move from design of a conceptual framework for developing tools and its operational implementation.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.
• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing communications products, partnerships, policies and strategies.
• Ability to critically evaluate skills gaps and competence frameworks, develop training curricula and deliver them in a variety of formats for different kinds of learners in a multidisciplinary professional space.
• Ability to apply best evidence from behavioral sciences into infodemic management strategies and tools.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of WHO language.

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2211813&tz=GMT%2B05%3A30&tzname=Asia%2FCalcutta

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