Mission and objectives

The mission of WHO in Myanmar is the attainment of the highest possible level of health by the people of Myanmar. In order to provide effective support, the WHO country office leverages the three levels of the Organization: to focus support where it can make a difference; to place the right people in the right places; to engage partners effectively; to enhance communications, and to improve operational intelligence. Priorities of WHO WHO’s general programme of work (GPW) sets medium-term priorities and strategies of the Organization. The World Health Assembly in May 2018 is expected to approve the 13th general programme of work, covering the period 2019–2023. It encompasses a set of three interconnected strategic priorities, strategic shifts and organizational shifts, as well as 10 outcomes to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. The three strategic priorities are: Universal health coverage: 1 billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage Health emergencies: 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies Healthier populations: 1 billion more people enjoying better health and well-being Additional Information WHO is committed to workforce diversity. WHO’s workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

Context

The UNV assignment will be part of the WHO Country Office for Myanmar, Health Cluster and Humanitarian Structure. The mission of the Health Cluster is to collectively prepare for and responds to humanitarian and public health emergencies to improve health outcomes of affected populations in Myanmar, through timely, predictable, appropriate and effective coordinated health action. The Cluster operates in 6 core functions which are: support to service delivery, assessment and public health information, planning and health response strategy, M&E of health response, building capacity and advocacy. Myanmar has activated its Health Cluster in Rakhine and Kachin in January 2013 and countrywide in August 2021. The Public Health Information Service (PHIS) Standard https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/standards-for-public-health-information-services is activated and expected to deliver with health cluster activation. Conceptually, the PHIS are grouped into the following three domains of information: – Health Status and Threats for affected populations – Health Resources and Services Availability, namely information on preventive and curative health services, infrastructure, personnel and supplies provided by health authorities or other actors, as well as the degree of access that affected populations actually have to those services. – Health System Performance, namely information on the sheer output, coverage, utilization and quality (or effectiveness) of health services available to the crisis-affected population. The PHIS Toolkit assembles guidance, templates and best-practice examples for each core, additional and context-specific public health information service, as outlined in the PHIS standards. The Toolkit also includes additional general tools and resources to support information management functions in activated Health Clusters – https://healthcluster.who.int/our-work/task-teams/information-management-task-team/public-health-information-services-toolkit.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Health Cluster Coordinator or his/ her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Information Management Office will: 1. Support the timely collection, analysis, generation and dissemination of quality data/information on health cluster-related activities. This includes 4/5W, people targeted, people reached, partners’ contact list, needs assessments, gaps analysis, situation reports, bulletins, Public Health Situation Analysis; and health inputs into proposals, reports, humanitarian needs and response plans (HNRP), and strategic response plans (SRP). 2. Coordinate with OCHA on information management issues, as well with IMOs from other clusters for enhanced information sharing and joint information products . 3. Coordinate internally with other data initiatives within WHO, such as epidemiological, mortality and vaccination coverage surveys. 4. Coordinate with sub-national level for enhanced accuracy and relevance of health cluster and WHO-related information. 5. Support technical guidance development and training to health partners including WHO. 6. Compile monthly updates from sub-national hubs, including inputs from Health Partners and to be shared with the health cluster coordinator (national). 7. Undertake field mission activities in targeted areas to support the health sector and Public Health Information Systems (PHIS) in the assessment of provincial-level priorities/needs, and implementation of the health cluster plan. 8. Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility

Living conditions and remarks

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. One-third of Burma’s total perimeter of 1,930 km (1,200 miles) forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country has an estimated population of 51 million people. Myanmar’s capital city is Naypyidaw and its largest city is Yangon. The country is ethnically diverse. The government recognizes 135 distinct ethnic groups but the Bamar form an estimated 68% of the population. Temperatures in Myanmar can vary from place to place. In general, the Myanmar climate is hot throughout the year, with temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The months of March, April, and May the weather in Myanmar can be very hot and humid, especially around the coastal regions. This increase in temperature is caused by the onset of the rainy season. Despite the hot temperatures, there are areas that can be quite pleasant. The interior areas such as Inle Lake and Bagan can be quite a bit cooler than the coastal regions. The mountainous areas can also be cooler as they have a much higher altitude. Yangon is the busiest and most populous city in Myanmar. Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government relocated the capital to the purpose-built city of Nay Pyi Taw in central Myanmar. With over 7 million people, Yangon is Myanmar’s largest city and its most important commercial center. Yangon boasts of all modern amenities, malls, hotels, cafes and a well-served international/domestic airport.