Infectious Hazard Management Officer at World Health Organization

Purpose:

• In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the incumbent will manage the Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) activities at the country level; will support the prevention and control of high threat diseases of pandemic & epidemic potential through coordinating the forecasting, characterization of diseases and/or infectious risks and the implementation of evidence-based strategies to manage infectious hazards. The incumbent will be deployed to emergency operations when required.

Objectives of the Programme

• The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.
• Reporting to the WHO Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Lead and under the leadership of the Head of WHO Country Office, the incumbent will act as an advisor to the WHO emergency team on Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) activities, enabling the development, implementation, and monitoring of strategies that maximize the individual and collective impact of WHO throughout the full cycle of the emergency, in the country of deployment. The incumbent is expected to exercise full judgment in adapting or modifying relevant WHO guidelines and to facilitate the development of new guidelines to meet particular requirements or changing circumstances in close coordination with the respective Regional Office and HQ. S/he will engage with the local authorities, UN partners and non-health actors to establish strategic partnerships in respect of multi-dimensional IHM activities. 

Summary of Assigned Duties

• Advise on the development, implementation and evaluation of the national strategies and work-plans pertaining to the prevention and control of high threat diseases of pandemic & epidemic potential or infectious risks and the implementation of evidence-based strategies to manage infectious hazards, interventions in high-risks groups and recommend measures for special attention, ensuring compliance with organization-wide IHM strategies.
• In close collaboration with the risk assessment, health information management and other teams in HQ and the respective Regional Office, monitor the early prevention, detection, verification, assessment, and investigation of any risks of outbreaks and the dissemination of data related to the occurrence of outbreaks.
• In collaboration with preparedness and readiness teams, undertake the following for infectious risks of epidemic and pandemic potential: timely readiness assessments guided by the epidemics calendar, develop and test (through simulations) hazard specific contingency plans and pandemic preparedness plans and standard operating procedures.
• Adapt IHM global policies, concepts, tools, and strategies and manage their implementation at the country level, for the prevention and, where feasible, elimination of diseases/epidemic risks. Work with partners, to improve approaches and methods of controlling epidemics in different epidemiological situations.
• Conduct the periodic reporting of infectious hazards activities, support the information systems and the monitoring facilitating integration with the national health information systems, as required.  
• Contribute to the surveillance and risk analysis of infectious diseases; participate in the rapid response teams responsible for the rapid investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early detection and response.
• Ensure that risk communication messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation, and control of infectious hazards.
• Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of actions to be taken in affected as well as non-affected areas in order to prevent and/or control cause of excess morbidity and mortality.
• Support research, innovative tools, products, and interventions available for high threat infectious hazards in collaboration with teams at country, regional, and headquarters level.
• Ensure that proven, evidence-based effective strategies for priority pandemic/ epidemic prone diseases are implemented at scale.
• In close collaboration with other technical teams, provide technical assistance on vaccination, enhanced collaborative surveillance, emergency coordination, clinical care, infection control (including personal protection), community protection including community engagement and risk communication, enhanced sanitation and hygiene, increased provision of water and/or nutrients, prepositioning of drugs and medical supplies, vector control, and increasing access to other countermeasures.
• Request the activation of technical experts networks at global or regional level to characterize the pathogen and respond to the disease in case of unknown infection.
• Represent the Country Office at official meetings as needed.
• Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.
   

Requirements and Qualifications

• Essential: Advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in medicine, public health, or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Desirable: Specialized training in epidemiology.  Specialized training in infectious diseases.

Expertise and Experience:

• Essential: At least five (5) years of international and/or national professional experience in planning, developing, and implementing the control and prevention of infectious diseases programme including outbreak prevention and control, infectious hazard management and/or dangerous pathogens. Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies.
• Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.