The World Health Organization(WHO) was founded in 1948. WHO is the specialized agency of United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. WHO aims to have everyone, everywhere attain the highest level of health.
WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. It directs and coordinates the world’s response to health emergencies and promote healthier lives from pregnancy care through old age. The Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes.
The WHO has its headquarters in Geneva with 6 regional offices, 150 country offices and other offices around the world. This assignment will be under the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
WHO AFRO has three technical clusters under programme management namely: Universal Health Coverage Life Course, Universal Health Coverage Communicable Disease and Non-Communicable Diseases and Universal Health Coverage Healthier Populations.
The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Management Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal health coverage/Communicable and non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO Regional Office for Africa. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding the disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups in order to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate to each targeted population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of UCN/NCD Team Lead or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Public Health Project Officer will:
• Assist in the development and execution of project plans and activities related to NCD management.
• Support the writing of technical documents
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders to implement programme strategies and activities.
• Ensure alignment of project activities with national health policies and guidelines.
• Support the implementation monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to assess programme performance and impact.
• Collect and analyze data to monitor progress against targets and indicators.
• Prepare regular M&E reports and provide recommendations for programme improvement.
• Organize and conduct training sessions for healthcare providers on NCD prevention, diagnosis, and management.
• Support the development of educational materials and resources for health workers and communities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, and forums to engage stakeholders in programme activities and decision-making processes.
• Support the development of funding proposals
• Write program reports and support in writing of scientific manuscripts for publication
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organizing
• Professionalism
• Self-management
public health project management, preferably in NCD management or related areas.
At least 3 years of experience in public health surveillance and disease control
Experience working with government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations.
Demonstrated professional work experience at the national and/or international level in communications or marketing role;
Must possess exceptional writing skills and be able to compose engaging and accurate content;
knowledge of Microsoft apps
Knowledge of data analytics and the use of data analysis softwares such as ‘R” and Stata
Knowledge of Geospatial Epidemiology and the use of GIS softwares such a Q-GIS and ARCVIEW.
Understanding of Public Health best practices
Ability to think strategically and identify ways to improve public health interventions efforts
Must be resourceful and take initiative even when given minimal direction
Desirable:
Experience in public health and resource mobilization, as well as experience working in the UN or other international development organization
Experience in public health data management
Experience in scientific writing and possess publications in peer review journals