Technical Officer (Malaria, Vector-Borne and NTD)

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”.

Through the lens of the European Program of Work2020-2025 (EPW) and with the commitment to leave no one behind, the Joint Infectious Diseases unit will identify opportunities and innovations within and beyond health with the aim to direct health policies towards the most effective country tailored interventions and to accelerate progress towards the targets of Sustainable Development on eliminating TB, ending AIDS and malaria, and combating viral hepatitis. The unit will foster innovation through conducting operational research for the fast uptake of new technological advances, seeking new perspectives and identifying new approaches to unlock country specific bottle necks to ensure that needs of the most vulnerable and hard to reach populations are met and that provision of affordable quality health services for TB, HIV/STI and viral hepatitis do not incur in catastrophic expenditure. It will also seek synergies to better define the links and develop a response between climate change and expansion of Vector-Borne Diseases in the Region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To support WHO Regional Office’s work in the areas of Malaria, other vector-borne and neglected Tropical Diseases, and support Member States in strengthening national and sub-national capacities to keep the Region Malaria free and to prevent and control vector-borne and parasitic diseases through providing policy and technical advice within the overall work of the JID program in line with Universal Health Coverage, developing and implementing policies, strategies, tools and capacities and monitoring their implementation, strengthening partnerships and promoting and facilitating intersectoral collaboration (One health approach).

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Unit Lead Joint Infectious Diseases, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities:

As the regional content expert and focal point for malaria elimination and control/prevention of other vector-borne and parasitic diseases; the incumbent will:

Provide technical guidance and policy options to Member States in relation to malaria elimination and control/prevention of other vector-borne and parasitic diseases as part of country efforts to strengthen health systems, including:

• the development of mechanisms, instruments and tools (such as national health strategies and policies) as well as the estimation of the required resources (human, financial, infrastructure and technological) and knowledge (i.e. through research, evaluation, performance measurement and knowledge management);
• advocacy and advice for the enhancement of the capacities and sills of health ministry’s personnel in carrying out their function related to malaria & other Vector-Borne and Parasitic Diseases;
• the development and implementation of innovative approaches, adapted to regional/country needs, in the technical areas of expertise;

Adapt and implement regional plans to implement global and regional strategies in the area of malaria elimination and control/prevention of other vector-borne and parasitic diseases;

Ensure WHO/Europe’s technical quality and competence in the Malaria & other Vector-Borne, Neglected Tropical and Parasitic Diseases technical areas and be responsible for the overall timeliness and achievement of all programme deliverables of both Country and intercountry workplans;

Foster partnerships with and between Government officials and agencies, UN agencies, professional associations, civil and community-based organizations, as relevant and other networks promoting and facilitating intersectoral collaboration – One health approach.

Responsible for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the work of the relevant technical areas, including allocation of resources within country and intercountry workplans in coordination with the Head of Country Offices;

Liaise between countries of the region, the Regional Office and the headquarters, as well as relevant organizations and partners in:

• providing situation analysis and recommendation on malaria and other vector-borne and parasitic diseases to countries in need;
• coordinating activities among countries;
• participating at regional/global meetings, conferences and other events on the subject;

Monitor data collection and countries response, manage and synthesize related knowledge to build the evidence base for dissemination to Member States as required;

Develop and implement innovative approaches, adapted to regional/country needs, in the relevant technical areas;

Undertakes relevant ad-hoc assignments upon need, as requested by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master’s level) in medicine, public health, epidemiology, tropical medicine, parasitology, or any related field relevant to the position.
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields. Specialized training in planning and management of malaria and other vector-borne parasitic diseases control programmes

Experience

Essential: At least seven years of working experience in public health programs including prevention and control of communicable diseases, with a minimum of two years at international level and in the field of malaria and other vector-borne, and parasitic disease projects within an international public health programme context.
Desirable: Demonstrated experience in the management of prevention and control of malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Relevant experience in WHO, UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or NGOs. Experience raising funds and managing donors.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge in public health epidemiology and particularly in disease control strategies, and especially in planning and management of Malaria & other Vector-Borne, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Parasitic Diseases control programmes. Proven skills in developing partnerships with and between Government officials and agencies (particularly those responsible Malaria & other Vector-Borne and Parasitic Diseases), civil society, community-based organizations and other networks. Emotional awareness; the 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
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of German. Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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 5361 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.

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• 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.

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