Grade: P4
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 months
Job Posting: Dec 12, 2022, 5:47:42 PM
Closing Date: Jan 3, 2023, 12:59:00 AM
Primary Location: Switzerland-Geneva
Organization: HQ/CRS Country Readiness Strengthening
Schedule: Full-time
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme supports countries and coordinates international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The objectives of the Country Readiness Strengthening Department include the development and strengthening of core national capacities necessary to mitigate and respond to emergency risks and vulnerabilities. The Department prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low-capacity countries. The Health Care Readiness (HCR) Unit enhances readiness measures through the development of technical infection prevention and control and clinical care standards addressed from a person-centered and system’s perspective. The unit includes the promotion across partners and regional offices of capacity building and rapid deployment of health care experts and teams as surge capacity to provide both immediate, short-term care to reduce the loss of life and prevent long-term disability indifferent emergency scenarios. One of the priority strategic objectives of WHE HCR IPC is to provide country support for readiness and during health emergencies through dissemination of technical guidance, dedicated tools and trainings, as well through the deployment of teams and/or experts for on-site assessments and support to operations.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent will perform the following duties:
1. Norms and standards: provide technical expertise in the development of WASH normative guidelines and standards for readiness and response of public health emergencies; infectious disease outbreaks (including but not limited to Covid-19, Ebola Virus Disease and Monkeypox), disasters and conflicts. This includes development of derivative products (e.g., SOPs, tools, risk communication products), guideline dissemination and implementation strategies and monitoring and evaluation frameworks of corresponding technical products.
2. Country support: provide direct support to countries, both remotely and in-country, through collection, review and compilation of information, guidelines, standards and good practice notes relevant to specific needs and contexts identified for WHE support in order to provide guidance for Member States. Support WASH and Health coordination structures and relevant Ministries during emergencies with recommendations on immediate WASH interventions, including for monitoring of activities.
3. WASH PHE assessment tools: lead the review and develop an assessment tool for WASH/IPC in health care facilities in PHE. Participate to in-country assessments in priority areas of needs.
4. Networks: support the maintenance and convening of the WASH in Public Health Emergencies Working Group.
5. Capacity building: provide technical expertise and coordinate the development of WASH training materials and packages in the context of PHE. When needed support in-country WASH and IPC trainings.
6. Research and Development: provide technical expertise for the development of a WASH/IPC PHE research agenda and products including the scientific brief led by the WHE IPC team. Develop and/or review response plans and budgeted proposals for interventions where needs are identified.
7. Logistics: act as a technical focal point for WASH in PHE procurement requests (e.g. on water quality tests, point-of-use treatment devices, water disinfection agents for personal use, soap, menstrual hygiene products, PPE, disinfection products, etc.
During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Advanced level university degree in Public Health, Civil Engineering, or a field relevant to Humanitarian WASH.
Desirable: Equivalent training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and/or WASH in health care facilities.
Experience
Essential: At least seven years of experience in WASH and/or public health – including humanitarian emergencies and outbreak response (EVD, VHF, Cholera, Hepatitis E, etc.) at the local, national, or international levels. Field experience with WASH and/or IPC in healthcare facilities during public health emergencies in resource-limited settings.
Desirable: Demonstrable experience with assessments in complex emergencies where security is a concern. Prior working experience with a national health authority, WHO, the UN, WASH cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or other international organizations, including at country level. Experience working collaboratively with WASH and Health sectors. Additional experience in any of the following areas would be an advantage: epidemiology, WASH in health care facilities, or infection prevention and control. Experience in guideline development including use of GRADE methodology. Experience with conducting training using adult learning principles, including supportive supervision and simulation exercises. Experience with implementation research or evaluation of public health/WASH programmes.
Skills
– Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations.
– Deep understanding of WHO guidance and tools for assessing and improving WASH in health care facilities.
– Familiar with water quality risk assessments, rapid water quality testing, and ability to formulate recommendations based on WHO Guidelines on Drinking-Water Quality.
– Familiar with sanitation options, risks and implementing strategies for WHO Guidelines on Sanitation and Health.
– Strong organizational and communication skills including ability to negotiate with national and international authorities and partners.
– Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues at national and international levels.
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 other UN languages.
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 75,602 (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 4952 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 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.
- 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.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- 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.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
