Position Number: 500979, Public Health Intelligence and Risk Assessment Lead

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties, adapted to Somalia's context:

1.Lead the development and implementation of a country strategy for health information management related emergency preparedness and response, and vaccine-preventable diseases.

2.Lead WHO's efforts to enhance Somalia's Emergency Response Information Management Systems (ERIMS) provides technical support to federal and state health authorities to improve data readiness for all hazards, including climate-related shocks like floods and droughts.

3.Design and oversee field epidemiological and health service availability surveys (e.g., HeRAMS), and support country teams in conducting health needs assessments during and after emergencies. This includes multi-sectoral needs assessments for health in line with the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) guidelines.

4.Manage the timely and high-quality collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of health data during complex emergencies. This includes internal and external Situation Reports (SitReps), rapid needs assessments, and health inputs for humanitarian needs overviews (HNO) and strategic response plans (SRP).

5.Build the capacity of country and state teams involved in data management and public health intelligence, providing technical guidance and training on data gathering, analysis, and quality assurance.

6.Promote a culture of continuous learning and innovation, including multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approaches, to strengthen the health system's resilience in a fragile and conflict-affected setting.

7.Lead the development of projects based on the country's strategic plan to help mobilize resources, recognizing that a significant portion of the WHO Somalia office's budget is driven by emergency funding.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master's degree in Epidemiology, Statistics, Database Management or Public Health.
Desirable: Substantial training in Quantitative Epidemiology from an accredited/recognized institute and specific training in humanitarian response or information management in emergencies.

Post-Master's degree (e.g.PhD Degree or similar) in Public health, Epidemiology and other health related fields.
 

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of relevant experience in information management, monitoring, needs assessment, and data management in the public health sector. A significant portion of this experience must be in emergency management, surveillance or humanitarian context in a leadership position at the national and international levels.
Desirable: - Experience in epidemiological aspects of infectious diseases and experience in their prevention and control. - Experience in AFP surveillance as well as surveillance for other EPI diseases. - Good understanding of complex database structure and management.
 

Skills

- Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention to application of an all-hazard approach in the context of the International Health Regulations and the use of descriptive epidemiology and principles of public health in communicable disease surveillance and response.

- Ability to process, analyze and interpret epidemiological and event-based surveillance data for epidemic and pandemic risk assessment. - Knowledge in analyzing vaccine preventable diseases surveillance and immunization data, synthesizing information, and presenting clear and concise conclusions and recommendations for decision making.

 - Demonstrable skills in the use of epidemiological and statistical software.

-Demonstrated knowledge and experience in operational support for responses to epidemics and other public health emergencies in a country context. High-level analytical skills and the ability to design, manage, and coordinate complex health information systems and databases are essential.

- Knowledge of humanitarian coordination and the functioning of the UN system is a strong asset.
 

WHO Competencies

WHO global Competencies model at

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/who-careers/who-enhanced-competence.pdf?sfvrsn=aae66472_3&download=true

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of Local.
 

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 86,027 (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 2989 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 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.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.

• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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 a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical 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.

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