Technical Officer (National Action Plan for Health Security) – WHO jobs in Switzerland

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-03-13

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Health emergencies continue to have significant and sometimes catastrophic impacts on countries health, economies and development. Both recent and ongoing public health events have demonstrated that many communities remain at high risk, and that strong levels of national preparedness across all relevant sectors are crucial to ensuring the effective management of health emergencies, when they occur. They also illustrate the need for scaling up the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) that requires countries to build and maintain the capacities to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to, and recover from public health emergencies, anchored on strong and resilient health systems. The Emergency Preparedness Division contributes to the implementation of the WHO Global Programme of Work (GPW 13) and is guided by WHO strategic priorities to “keep the world safe, improve health and serve the vulnerable”. The WHO strategic priorities drive the progress in health towards Universal Health Coverage, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and speaks particularly to SDG 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The Health Security Preparedness (HSP) department supports Member States in enhancing national preparedness across the IHR core capacities to manage all-hazard risks and emergencies, and to build multisectoral approaches for health security. It ensures that WHO supports Member States to build sustainable preparedness capacities and scale up the implementation of the IHR (2005), and support the implementation of the Sendai Framework, the WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework, Paris Agreement on Climate Change and other related global and regional frameworks. HSP works with partners and the broader global health security community to ensure that the most vulnerable communities in all countries are protected from the impact of health emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent will have the following roles and responsibilities, in close collaboration with other WHO departments, regions, and relevant stakeholders:

1. Provide critical analysis of NAPHS at the country, sub-regional, regional and global levels, produce country, regional and global profiles, and conduct regular reviews on the quality of NAPHS.
2. Ensure integration of various country processes to better align relevant plans, including disease/hazard specific and other plans, into the NAPHS as relevant.
3. Provide technical assistance to countries in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NAPHS as well as documentation of experience, publish and share experiences and good practices.
4. The incumbent will also lead the work on the electronic NAPHS (e-NAPHS) which include supporting countries use the e-NAPHS, guidance development, training and advocacy materials.
5. Disseminate a wide variety of guidance documents, materials, trainings related to national planning, integration and costing of plans.
6. Strengthen partnerships to facilitate collaboration among member states, donors and partners to support plans and address gaps.
7. Support in strengthening partner coordination for NAPHS implementation.
8. Working closely with relevant WHO departments, develop and implement costing tools for NAPHS in collaboration with financial institutions such as the World Bank.
9. Work with other relevant units/teams within WHO to support the senior technical officer to develop strategies, policies, policy briefs, advocacy materials, guidance, tools, training materials for NAPHS and other national action plans and integrating these into sustainable health sector plans.
10. Support the in providing regular update to senior management on NAPHS including the strategic approach to IHR capacity building so that WHO is better positioned in strategically supporting countries to strengthen NAPHS implementation and IHR capacities.
11. Support of outbreak response capacity building and leveraging the COVID 19 pandemic response as needed.
12. Support to the ongoing pandemic and other outbreaks through a multisectoral, whole of society approach.
13. Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree (master’s or equivalent) in public health, health sciences, international relations, law, diplomacy and/or other related fields.
Desirable: Doctoral degree in health policy, health emergencies, international relations and/or related fields.

Experience

Essential:

• At least seven years’ experience in public health planning, development or management, implementation and coordination at the national and international levels.
• Demonstrated exposure at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience working in WHO, or other agencies of the UN System, other international organizations in the field of public health emergencies.
• Experience in grant writing and research.

Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of the WHO and all aspects of IHR (2005) assessment and implementation.
2. Sound, practical knowledge on national planning process with health security relevance.
3. Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills with proven ability to communicate and write in a clear and concise manner.
4. Proven knowledge and skills, discretion and diplomacy, as well as familiarity of the principles and practices of communicable disease surveillance, prevention and control, as well as monitoring and evaluation practices.
5. Proven analytical and organizational skills complemented by capacity to process, analyze and interpret epidemiological surveillance data, using qualitative and quantitative techniques.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Moving forward in a changing environment
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of other UN language.

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 5658 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 TA (Temporary appointments) 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.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
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