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Qualifications

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OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and 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.
The Emergency Preparedness Team of the EPR Cluster is responsible for identifying gaps in IHR core capacities and strengthening national capacities in preparedness to respond effectively to emergencies while ensuring resilience of health systems during these emergencies. This includes ensuring countries have developed and updated their National Action-Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) from evaluation of IHR core capacities using tools such as JEE, risks are identified and anticipated, contingencies and business continuity plans are developed, tools and systems are in place, risky behaviors are communicated and communities are engaged, and human and financial resources for emergencies and resilience are predictable and sustained.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The purpose of the position is to function as the Head of the unit, coordinating a technical area of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) within the Emergency Management and Preparedness (EMP) programme area focusing on the provision of technical policy and advice. The Regional Advisor is responsible to coordinate, manage and evaluate program activities within an assigned area of responsibility, in consultations with WHO country Offices, other UN and/or, international counterparts on program needs within the area of RCCE and will create milestones on new policies and strategies to address regional needs.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties

• Provides technical leadership, coordination and managerial support within the Programme, ensuring that activities in the area of RCCE are carried out efficiently and effectively.
• Develops and proposes technical health policies and strategies for implementation through collaboration with Country Offices.
• Oversees a unit of technical teams specialized in various domains within their area of expertise and facilitates the efficient flow of team synergies.
• Manages the programme area in delivering its objectives through efficient managing a small team of technical staff, financial resources and effective work planning to optimize the programme’s deliverables in line with the mandate of the Organization.
• Leads and conducts research on best practices in implementing programmes and activities and dissemination of information for capacity building in the respective area of work.
• Manages the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of the subject area of work of key performance indicators and reporting requirements and mechanisms to optimize performance of Programme deliverables.
• Serves as the technical reference among the peer community, UN Agencies and other stakeholders at the technical levels in the respective area of expertise.
• Liaises with and utilizes partnerships in other UN Agencies, Donor, or research institutions in the area of RCCE to position the technical area of work and implementation into regional or national policies.
• Represents the programme area of work at various meetings to advocate for RCCE.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties

The incumbent will coordinate RCCE interventions in all phases of emergency management cycle from prevention, preparedness, response and resilience. Specifically, s/he will:

• Oversee the development, elaboration and implementation of the risk communication plan as part of the emergency preparedness and response in line with AFRO EPR flagships.
• Support member states in the implementation of Regional Framework on Community Engagements in collaboration with relevant teams in UHPR cluster
• Liaise closely with the HQ and regional counterparts to harmonize guidelines and tools for RCCE ensuring coherence of strategy, materials and messages.
• Monitor and proactively counter false rumors and misinformation, and address fears and concerns.
• Support national capacity building in conducting research/studies such as KAPB surveys to identify risk patterns that will generate evidence for effective policies and strategies
• Work closely with communications and media teams to enhance advocacy and dissemination of information to the public.
• Support resource mobilization for providing technical support to the member states.
• Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Educational (Qualifications):

Essential:

Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in social sciences, behavioral sciences, development sciences, communications or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable:

• PhD in one of the above fields
• Training in public health, health education, health communication, or health promotion.

Experience

Essential:

• At least ten (10) years of related experience, at the national and international levels, in risk communication, health promotion, emergency management, part of which working in disease outbreaks or health emergencies.
• Proven experience in the development and implementation of risk communications strategies and plans.

Desirable:

• Prior working experience with WHO, the UN, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or other international organizations, including at country level.
• Management or Project management experience.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Effective negotiation, facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work under pressure while producing results.
• Ability to “think out of the box” and to make innovative proposals related to risk communication.
• Tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork.
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
5. Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership.

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English and working knowledge of French language
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

Desirable:

Intermediate knowledge of French or Portuguese

Other Skills (e.g., IT)

Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event 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 E-Manual.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The 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.
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce . 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 can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected]
• 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• 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.
• 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. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
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• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• 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 Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
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