Job Summary
The overall goal of this position is to provide technical support to strengthen the Afghanistan health system with
focus on integration, continuation and expansion of the laboratory network directly complementing the services
of central public health laboratory in Afghanistan
Duties & Responsibilities
Diagnostics are an essential part of healthcare systems. Universal access cannot be achieved without ensuring
that people have timely access to quality diagnostic services at all levels of the health system, without
experiencing financial hardship. We need diagnostics to confirm diseases, determine drug resistance, guide and
monitor treatment, and for the surveillance of outbreaks.
The purpose of this post is to provide technical and expert support in laboratory diagnostics quality assurance,
strengthening the capacity of existing labs in response to pandemic-prone diseases to ensure a coordinated
continuity of operations of the lab diagnostic networks in the country. Under the overall guidance of the HSD
program Manager, the incumbent will provide technical support to strengthen lab diagnostic network and
assume the following responsibilities:
1- To provide technical support in expansion, continuation and integration of C19 labs into public health
laboratories to complement the activities of central public health laboratory (CPHL) and other regional
reference labs thereby enhancing diagnostic capacity, biosafety/biosecurity, quality and/or workforce in
Afghanistan.
2- Support the development and implementation of technical guidelines and standard operational
procedures (SOPs) on laboratory testing for the detection of emerging, re-emerging, vaccinepreventable, and other infectious diseases, including the development and implementation of quality
assurance mechanisms that contribute to strengthening quality management at the public health
laboratories.
Serial Number: AFGHANISTAN/EDOC/2024/00340
3- Support the enhancement of laboratory infrastructure and the development of SOPs to ensure safe and
quality collection, handling, shipment, storage and analysis of human specimens.
4- Coordinate and organize capacity building activities for strengthening national and subnational
laboratory capacity to detect, confirm and characterize emerging, re-emerging, vaccine-preventable,
and other infectious disease pathogens, including those of epidemic and pandemic potential.
5- Ensuring quality assurance and quality control for diagnostic products and medical equipment procured
by WHO under the EU project, as per WHO quality assurance policy.
6- Ensuring availability of lab consumables and reagents in sufficient amount and provide timely request
as per consumption. Also ensuring the budget monitoring processes and mechanisms are in place.
7- Contributing to annual workplans, including the budget and donor proposal and reports and project
documentation relevant to infectious disease prevention.
8- To provide technical assistance in developing new lab procedures and updating SOP when required as
well ensuring all the laboratories are adhered to proper infection-control procedures including stringent
disposal management of potentially contaminated supplies.
9- Providing technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes
10- To perform any other tasks assigned by the program manager relevant to the context of the country
Job Requirements
Competencies:
1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Functional Skills and Knowledge:
– Good Technical skill
– Good Communication skill
– Good Management skill
3. Educations:
Essential: Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology and or Virology.
Desirable Master degree in Molecular Medicine or Virology
4. Experience:
Essential: 5 years of related experience in lab diagnostics services in Afghanistan.
Desirable: Relevant experience in the UN system particularly in lab diagnostic sector in
response to pandemic.
5. Languages: Fluent in English and the local language.
6. IT Skills: Good knowledge of Microsoft applications.
Criteria
Screening of the candidates:
➢ Long List – The candidates shall be longlisted based on the minimum qualifications and
relevant experience to the Vacancy Notice (VN).
Serial Number: AFGHANISTAN/EDOC/2024/00340
➢ Short List – Further shortlist shall be done based on years of relevant experience, higher
education and required skills.
Assessment method:
➢ WHO may conduct written test /presentation and interview or combination of the mentioned
mediums to select the most qualified candidate.
➢ WHO is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are particularly encouraged to
apply and equally qualified female candidate will be given preference.
Submission Guideline
Interested applicants (Afghan National) meeting the above qualifications are requested to submit
their applications quoting this Vacancy Announcement Number (WHOAFG-2024-02-07) along
with their curriculum vitae, copy of National ID (Tazkira) to below mentioned email:
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. ONLY CANDIDATES
UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED FOR INTERVIEW AND
TEST.
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