Responsible for Infectious Risk Management (IHM)

• Country: Parakou, Benin
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-01-19

Background and Rationale:
The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Program is to provide assistance to countries and coordinate international action not only to prevent disease outbreaks and emergencies, but also to prepare for them, to detect them, to respond quickly and to recover from them.

2. Objectives:
Under the supervision and guidance of the Team Lead technical officer of the emergencies cluster of the WHO Benin office, the post holder provides support for the prevention and control of diseases with epidemic potential by coordinating forecasting, outbreak investigations, characterization of infectious diseases and/or risks, and implementation of evidence-based strategies to manage outbreaks and risks. He/She participates in activities carried out by mandated rapid response teams in order to quickly investigate alerts, assess risks in the field, detect threats and act promptly.

3. Expected results:
The position holder collaborates with departmental officials from the Ministry of Health, other sectors and local partners. More specifically, the holder of the position:
1) Provides advice on the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of departmental strategies and plans to combat diseases with epidemic potential, and ensures compliance WHO guidelines and standards;
2) Monitors and supports early detection, verification assessment and investigation of outbreaks, risks, and supports the provision of means of prevention and control;
3) Collaborate with local partners to improve approaches and methods for combating epidemics in the different epidemiological situations in the departments of northern Benin;
4) Establishes periodic reports on activities relating to infectious risks and documents lessons learned in the field;
5) Contributes to the monitoring and analysis of risks linked to infectious diseases;
6) Participates in activities carried out by mandated rapid response teams to quickly investigate alerts, assess risks in the field, detect threats and act promptly;
7) Contributes to the development of risk communication messages from a technical perspective and socio-culturally adapted in order to involve and empower stakeholders in prevention, mitigation and control infectious risks;
8) Issues recommendations and offers guidance on relevant lines of action in affected and unaffected areas in order to prevent and/or stem excess morbidity and excess mortality;
9) Provides technical assistance in areas such as vaccination, strengthening surveillance, infection control (including personal protection, improving sanitation and hygiene, increasing supply of water and/or nutrients, pre-positioning of medicines and medical supplies, vector control, etc.), in close collaboration with other local technical teams;
10) Promotes multidisciplinary and cross-cutting approaches and activities to facilitate full participation within WHO, outside the Organization and with key partners; and
11) Performs other related duties as assigned.

4. Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Languages:
Qualifications / Education  
Essential: 
First university degree (University degree in medicine) 
Desirable: 
• University degree at master’s level 2 or PhD in public health and related fields from an accredited/recognized university
• A specialized training in infectious diseases, a Master’s or MPH in field epidemiology

Experience:
Essential:  At least two (02) years of relevant experience in the planning, development and implementation of programs to combat infectious diseases, including the prevention and control of epidemics, risk management infectious and/or dangerous pathogens. 
Desirable: 
• Relevant experience with inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate preparation and response to health emergency situations.
• Related experience at WHO and/or in a UN system agency, with Health Cluster partners or in humanitarian organizations. 

Functional Skills and Knowledge (describe specific skills and knowledge of the position):
• Demonstrated knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly in areas critical to promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention or control, clinical management and important practices.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage projects, and establish partnerships with several partners in the context of health emergencies.
• A good ability to be tactful coupled with the ability to develop clear and comprehensive strategies and plans.
• Proven organizational skills, as well as an ability to multi-task and produce results while working under pressure.

Languages:
• Essential: Excellent knowledge of French
• Desirable: Working knowledge of English

Other qualifications (example: IT):
• Familiarity with commonly used software: Excellent knowledge of applications in the Microsoft Office software suite, notably PowerPoint and Excel 
• Good command of data collection software such as ODK, KOBOCOLLECT, statistical analysis software such as EPI Info and R or any other relevant software

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