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Qualifications

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) Cluster is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.  of the EPR hub is to provide direct support to specific sub-regions and ensure strong coordination with critical stakeholders who are based in the sub-region. Emergency operations within the EPR programme is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning by partners, implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and strong logistics and operational support. The expansion and strengthening of operational partnerships is a key priority

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The EPR Hub Coordinator is responsible for the management and coordination of emergency preparedness and response activities located in the respective sub-regional hub. He/she leads emergency operations for the sub-regional area, providing operational leadership to WHO’s response to emergencies.  He/she provides guidance, strategies, and standards for effective emergency operations in acute and protracted situations, for all aspects of emergencies at all levels, and ensures their implementation across the Programme.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties:

(1)       Spearhead, lead and direct all aspects of sub-regional work in emergencies, in close collaboration with WHO senior management at Regional and Country levels, working in collaboration with the organization-wide WHE network for the development, implementation and oversight of policies, strategies, programmes of work, and annual work plans and their

implementation and monitoring of results.

(2)       Lead the formulation, revision and updating of all technical aspects of guidelines for emergency response, based on sound Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and their application at sub-regional and country level as appropriate, including ensuring operational and technical support in emergency operations in response to epidemic events, outbreaks and other public health emergencies with focus on confirming and grading decisions on emergencies in line with the WHO protocols and guidelines, in full coordination with IASC and a broad range of key partners and stakeholders through inter-agency and inter-cluster collaboration based on a culture of collaborative multi-disciplinary cross-cutting approaches to optimize the use of effective incident management, in line with IHR to further operational support for WHO response to epidemic events.

(3)       Provide strategic advice and expertise on emergency operations to the EPR Technical Coordinator on relations and partnerships with the UN, UN Agencies, Member States, NGOs and other key partners and stakeholders toward enabling and promoting collaborative working agreements and collaborative arrangements to establish a common understanding of health priorities in ongoing emergencies and to ensure the provision of comprehensive technical support, including the convening of time-limited task forces to address specific issues, as necessary.

(4)       Harness and coordinate technical expertise from all areas in EPR, as well as departments and programmes across the three levels of WHO as appropriate to strengthen the implementation of all-hazards emergencies work at the sub-regional level through the provision of networks of experts and technical expertise mechanisms.

(5)       Provide sound and effective leadership, motivation, guidance, management and performance evaluation of EPR Hub staff, including proactively promoting effective teamwork and achievement of results and resolving problems, within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, and EPR accepted procedures; and managing the EPR Hub budget within the framework of WHO Staff and Financial Rules and Regulations.

(6)       Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including representing EPR/AFRO at international and national events and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Educational (Qualifications):

Essential:

Post-graduate degree in public health, MBA or MA, complemented by specialized training in leadership and management, or related field.

Desirable:

Doctorate or PhD in any of the above qualifications and/or specialization in epidemiology, emergency and/or humanitarian response

Experience

Essential:

At least 10 years of proven experience in public health in emergency operations and response to epidemic events, outbreaks and other public health emergencies combined with leadership and managerial experience, with at least five years’ experience in coordinating large scale public health projects in developing countries, with knowledge of inter-agency mechanisms in the area of international preparedness for and response to health emergencies

Desirable:

Experience in WHO and/or the UN System in the areas of outbreak response and/or humanitarian interventions; field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries

Skills

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Communication.
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

* Essential:

Expert knowledge of English or French.

* Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of other UN official languages.

Other Skills (e.g., IT)

Computer literacy.

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 92,731 (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. 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.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.