Fresh Vacancies at World Health Organization

Objectives

The consultant is expected to lead in obtaining the following project objectives;

• Country policy coherence to facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention, detection and response to SF medical products through appropriate multi-sectoral collaborative efforts.
• Strengthened collaboration and capacity of stakeholders to prevent, detect and respond to SF medical products.
• Promotion of partnerships for a sustained implementation of the prevention, detection and response to SF medical products strategy.

Deliverables

• Coordinate and support SAHPRA and South Africa in the implementation of the National Action Plan for SF medical products.
• Strengthening leading agency’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to SF medical products: Contribute to the enhancement of SAHPRA role in preventing, detecting and responding to SF medical products in collaboration with selected key stakeholders by coordinating and facilitating meetings and information sharing.

Development of budgets and work plans in South Africa, integrating the prevention, detection and response strategy for SF medical products taking into consideration South Africa specific supply chain risk assessments.

• Conduct a situation analysis, evaluate and prioritize South Africa-specific risks and identify and address gaps in readiness to implement the NAP for SF medical products.
• Develop checklists, milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) and update the work plans accordingly.
• Provide regular progress reports on activities to WHO and national stakeholders.

Provide technical expertise in strategic operationalization of the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products.

• Strategic implementation of NAP for SF medical products: Contribute to the planning and conducting of meetings and workshops to improve readiness to implement the NAP for SF medical products and to develop strategies for effective implementation.

Monitoring and Evaluation of the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products.

• Provide technical expertise and contribute to the implementation of NAP for SF medical products activities and tailor response strategies to the unique challenges that arise.
• Collaboratively develop and implement monitoring, evaluation and learning processes from the implementation of the NAP for SF medical products with SAHPRA , national stakeholders and partners.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in applied Global Health, Public Health, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sciences,   or its equivalent.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience at national, regional, or international levels in public health programs.
• Proven experience in operational planning and management within a large organization, preferably in the health sector.

Desirable: 

• Relevant work experience in strengthening country capacities in the regulation of pharmaceuticals and other medical products.

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DESCRIPTION OF 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 managetheir 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 atcountry, 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, scalable 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 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• 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 inepidemiology. Specialized training ininfectious diseases.

Experience

• Essential: At least five (5) years of international and/or national professional experience in planning, developing and implementing thecontrol and prevention of infectious diseases programme including outbreakprevention 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

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly in those areas critical for promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention or control, clinical management, and significant practical application of this knowledge in an international context.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage projects, build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies. Sound tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive strategies and plans. Demonstrated organizational skills with ability to multi-task and consistently produce results even underpressure

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French. Beginners knowledge of UN Official language. Beginners knowledge of local languages.