Technical Officer

The objective of the WHO Nepal Country Office is to implement the Country Cooperation Strategy by supporting the Nepal Government in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of national health policies, strategies and plans and developing and managing WHO’s technical cooperation programmes at the country level. WHO provides guidance and technical support in organizing the humanitarian health response following emergencies and in revitalizing the capacity of the health sector to rebuild and recover from emergencies in appropriate and sustainable ways. The Country Office collaborates with the Government of Nepal and relevant stakeholders in support of their efforts of achieving national health goals; of ensuring the attainment of universal health coverage and of contributing to global and regional public health action by providing need-based technical assistance in national level policy formulation, setting norms and standards, improving knowledge dissemination and management, monitoring country health situation and building sustainable institutional capacity, to play a greater leadership role in different national level policy and technical forums. Within this framework, this specific position will liaise with the MoH’s specific Departments/Divisions and related academic/research institutes for achieving the above mentioned WHO objectives/activities related to communicable diseases at country level. The Communicable Diseases Programme aims at providing technical assistance to the TB, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Hepatitis, NTDs and (as appropriate) other Communicable Disease programmes to strengthen national capacity, to prevent, control and reduce morbidity, mortality, disability & deformity caused by Communicable Disease and to support, surveillance implementation of cost-effective public health and health care interventions and monitoring of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, programmatic & social impact and resource mobilization.

Duties:

Under the direct supervision of WHO Representative for Nepal and in close technical and administrative collaboration with the Team Leads of WCO Nepal and concerned Regional Advisers of Communicable Diseases and other relevant departments at WHO/SEARO and WHO/HQ, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

• Provide technical advice to the MoH in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating activities for prevention, control and monitoring of HIV, TB, Malaria, Hepatitis and NTDs. This includes ensuring high-quality laboratory testing for the relevant diseases and addressing concomitant anti-microbial resistance issues;
• Advise MoH on strengthening the epidemiological information component of the national health information system, through the formulation of strategies and practical recommendations for improvements with particular attention to epidemiological surveillance and the development, monitoring and evaluation of programmes for prevention and control of HIV, TB, Malaria, Hepatitis and NTDs;
• Provide technical support to the integration/inoperability of vertical surveillance systems for relevant communicable diseases with the existing EWARS and the envisaged integrated disease surveillance system (IDSS) as feasible;
• Assist MoH to enhance epidemiological capacity for effective utilization of epidemiological data and information through appropriate analysis, modelling and burden forecasting; and generation of information products and their dissemination for effective use in planning and management of relevant communicable disease control programmes at all levels;
• Promote the generation of evidence on relevant communicable diseases through facilitating appropriate operations research and contribute to informed policy decisions by government and provide cutting edge policy advice.
• Conduct and regularly update comprehensive stakeholders’ analysis to enhance partnerships and assist the government to effectively coordinate the efforts of key stakeholders for the achievement of envisaged targets and goals;
• Collaborate with relevant ministries and other stakeholders to undertake gap analyses in relevant areas of work and support capacity building efforts in these deficient areas to ensure that priorities are fulfilled;
• Facilitate the exchange of information on relevant programme areas and assist in developing proposals for resource mobilization and managing & monitoring implementation of donor funds and submitting annual as well as end-of-grant report as per donor requirement;
• Contribute in Global Fund liaison and participate in Global Fund CCM, and backstopping WHO representation in inter-agency meetings related to the relevant Communicable Diseases programmes;
• In support to the government, provide leadership on strategies/implementation aimed at achieving regional and global goals by the agreed target dates. Take necessary action when targets are at risk of being missed.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and managerial support to the WHO Country office team working on the relevant communicable diseases, facilitate the development and the implementation of the relevant work plans under the WHO-GoN collaborative programme while promoting the integration of communicable disease control programmes with health systems approaches and ensure the monitoring and evaluation of related activities;
• Liaise and coordinate with concerned technical units/departments of MoH, WCO-Nepal, WHO-SEARO and WHO-HQ and with donor and development partners (UN bilateral) to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to the relevant communicable diseases;
• Contribute to the management of WCO’s knowledge and policy advise on matters regarding the wholistic integration/incorporation of health service and care interventions for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis and Neglected Tropical Diseases in the country’s UHC agenda and the mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the achievement of relevant UHC targets and goals;
• Work with relevant government entities and WCO to assist in making program adjustments during the country’s transition towards a federal State, with the aim that the relevant communicable disease programs continue to function uninterrupted and provide services to all levels and areas in the country.
• Strengthen technical capabilities of the country for rapid response to outbreaks/epidemics caused by TB, Malaria, Hepatitis and NTDS by:
• Providing technical advice on new approaches, methodology and procedures deemed suitable for the country;
• Assisting in conducting/organizing training on outbreak/epidemic investigation and control for the national staff concerned;
• Assisting in developing an inventory list of i) reference laboratories within the country and the region and ii) trained public health staff in the area of epidemiology and communicable diseases control.
• Support the development/adaptation of country contextualized knowledge products prioritized through periodic review of the WCO Contingency/Business Continuity Plan for surveillance, prevention/control of relevant communicable diseases during/post emergencies; facilitate and monitor their appropriate use in public health response in coordination with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme team;
• Perform any other task assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

Essential:

• University degree in medicine and post graduate degree in public health, epidemiology and/or control of communicable diseases.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in public health including considerable experience obtained in communicable disease programs in an international context, and in developing countries. Demonstrated experience in leading a team, preferably in a context of Communicable Diseases.

Skills:

• Epidemiological and management experience and skills including the ability to negotiate with national authorities, multi-lateral and bilateral development assistance agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
• Specialist in health programme management in Communicable Diseases relevant to the priorities.
• Proven capability in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and capacity building.
• Proven ability in preparation of technical proposals, plans and reports on communicable diseases for donor community and for other international organizations.
• Proven ability to work under pressure and multitask.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to effectively coordinate with partners/donors and collaborative agencies.
• Technical expertise; Overall attitude at work are also required mandatory competencies.

Language Skills:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Source:  https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402221