Mission and objectives

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948. WHO is the specialized agency of United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. WHO aims to have everyone, everywhere attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. It directs and coordinates the world’s response to health emergencies and promotes healthier lives from pregnancy care through old age. The Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes. The WHO has its headquarters in Geneva with six regional offices, 150 country offices, and other offices around the world. This assignment will be under the WHO Regional Office for Africa. WHO AFRO operates two key technical units under the Programme Management Division: Health Systems & Services (HSS) and Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC). These units work collaboratively to advance the regional health agenda and support Member States in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improved population health outcomes. The strategic agenda of the DPC cluster is to reduce the disease burden in the WHO African Region by guiding the disease control agenda, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategic investments, and implementing tailored interventions. This approach is anchored in the principles of comprehensive, whole-of-society, people-centred, and integrated strategies for disease control. The whole-of-society approach involves a coherent implementation of a triple response. First, the technical response focuses on deploying disease-specific normative guidance, promoting effective intervention mixes, and ensuring access to essential medical commodities. Second, the health systems response strengthens district-level service delivery through disease mapping, risk stratification, tailored interventions, and sectoral planning. Third, the multisectoral response addresses the socio-economic and environmental determinants of health by mobilizing non-health sectors, communities, and stakeholders. This approach is further reinforced through partnerships across public and private sectors, and active community engagement in high-risk areas to manage disease determinants, stimulate demand for services, and promote accountability through local health stewardship. The people-centred, integrated approach to disease control emphasizes the development of integrated guidance for each health service delivery platform, moving away from fragmented, disease-specific models. It also promotes efficient and coordinated investments in health systems by deploying appropriate technologies and analytics to stratify disease risks across population groups. This enables the design and implementation of comprehensive intervention packages tailored to each population group and service delivery platform, while ensuring equitable access, coverage, and impact—leaving no one behind.

Context

The Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster of WHO AFRO works to reduce the disease burden across the African Region by strengthening disease prevention, control, and elimination efforts. Guided by WHO’s mission to promote health and serve the vulnerable, DPC supports countries to implement integrated, people‑centred, and evidence‑based interventions. Its approach combines technical guidance, health systems strengthening, and multisectoral action to address both the causes of disease and the conditions that make populations vulnerable, ensuring equitable access and impact. The cluster’s core objectives are to provide leadership and coordination for disease control; develop and deploy technical guidance, tools, and innovations; generate and use strategic information for decision‑making; and build national capacity to deliver effective prevention and control programmes. Within this framework, ESPEN plays a key role by supporting countries to prevent, control, and eliminate neglected tropical diseases through data‑driven planning, technical assistance, partnership coordination, and strengthened programme implementation—directly contributing to DPC’s mission of advancing health and reducing disease burden across the Region. Within the DPC cluster, the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is a flagship initiative established to support countries in the African Region to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through data-driven strategies, technical assistance, and coordinated partnerships. Its work contributes directly to the strategic objectives of DPC, which include: (i) providing leadership in disease control coordination, partnership development, and resource mobilization; (ii) contributing to the development and deployment of WHO technical products, services, and tools, including the adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) supporting the generation and use of strategic information for decision-making and investment optimization; and (iv) facilitating technical support and institutional capacity building, including assistance to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the ESPEN Team lead or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the ESPEN Partnerships & Communications Officer UNV will: • Identify subjects of interest to develop and improve media/communication activities and develop a communications plan which works in synergy with the global and regional communications strategies. • Produce high quality public information materials such as press releases, notes for the media, media advisories, social media posts and other material on WHO ESPEN events, products and issues for dissemination to the print, electronic and online media, as well as media talking points for country spokespeople. • Support the conceptualization and implementation of communications campaigns aligned with ESPEN’s strategic priorities. • Maintain and update ESPEN’s digital platforms, including the ESPEN portal and social media channels. • Collaborate with DPC Graphic Designer to design documents and materials to ensure they are visually appealing and true. • Liaise with country offices and partners to ensure alignment of activities with ESPEN’s strategic objectives and donor requirements. • Track and report on partnership activities, identifying opportunities for collaboration and innovation. • Track analytics and prepare reports on communications performance and outreach. • Coordinate the publication and dissemination of the ESPEN Newsletter. • Maintain ESPEN media archives including photos and videos. • Research and write feature stories and messages, ideally bringing in a human element from real life experiences. Other Duties • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Promoting the Organization’s position in Health Leadership • Producing Results • Moving Forward in a Changing Environment • Communication : proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences • Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility : adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

Living conditions and remarks

Brazzaville is the headquarters of the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the capital of the Republic of Congo. It is a quiet city on the borders of the Congo river with a relatively low crime rate and as such is a family station. WHO staff live either in the WHO compound which is a 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of town or in the city centre. There are a range of apartments available, with all the necessary amenities including furniture but it should be noted that the cost of living in Brazzaville is T. +49 (0) 228-815 2000 F. +49 (0) 228-815 2001 A. Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany W. www.unv.org The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 6 relatively high. The climate is generally warm year-round with several different rainy and dry seasons. While Brazzaville is a fairly quiet city there are a range of restaurants including European, Asian (Chinese, Indian and Japanese) and bars. WHO has a medical clinic. The Republic Congo is a unique country and WHO AFRO is a unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. https://www.unv.org].