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Qualifications

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The incumbent will cover the function of Field Coordination Specialist for the three northern provinces of Mozambique, Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula, and of Incident Manager for the protracted humanitarian crisis affecting this area. S/he will also act as Head of the Sub-Office in Cabo Delgado.

As field coordination specialist the incumbent ensures that the key priorities of WHO and of the health cluster are met at the subnational level, including by filling in gaps, and enhancing access to, quality preventive and curative health services for internally displaced persons and most vulnerable population groups. The incumbent will ensure reliable health information to enable evidence-based emergency response and monitoring of the provision of technical guidance on priority public health issues and threats.

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), the incumbent will have overall responsibility in the coordination of planning, management, adaptation and implementation of strategies, managing the sub office and work plans activities to coordinate and decide on the ordering and the release of resources to respond to multiple health emergencies going in Cabo Delgado as well as in the neighboring provinces (Nampula and Niassa where IDPs are hosted) of Mozambique. The IM will manage the operational and technical components with three levels of WHO, establish clear lines of communications, ensure proper documentation of the incident, including the provision of situation reports and action plans.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objectives of WHO’s emergency programme are to design and implement programmes that prepare the health cluster to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. This ensures that WHO’s critical functions, as outlined in the Emergency Response Framework (ERF), are fulfilled.

The position ensures in Cabo Delgado both the roles of WHO sub-office manager, Field Coordinator of required operations as well as the role of Incident Manager of Public Health concerns within covered provinces through filling WHO core functions in emergency settings, and enhancing access to, quality preventive and curative health services for internally displaced persons and most vulnerable population groups. The incumbent will ensure reliable health information to enable evidence-based emergency response and monitoring of the provision of technical guidance on priority public health issues and threats.

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED TASKS (describe what the incumbent needs to do to achieve key objectives; include key deliverables)

During the complete operational period, the incumbent will perform all, or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office :

1. Coordinates and guides the technical and operational inputs, including resources mobilization, to fulfill WHO’s critical functions, in collaboration with the WHO Health Cluster Coordinator and the Health Emergencies’ Team Lead.

• Ensure the implementation of the Incident Management System (IMS) and synergies between operational and technical components
• Establishes effective communication channels with affected sub-national authorities involved in the response to the reported events.
• Provides guidance to covered province’s capacities with respect to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery
• Manage the sub-office physical presence through overarching planning, operations, resources and monitoring and reporting processes.
  • Assesses and reassesses the emergency situation,
  • Determines strategies, set objectives appropriate to the level of the required response and prioritizing filling health service delivery gaps,
  • Develops an operational planning cycle to reach health sector performance standards
  • Approves the incident action plan (IAP) – ensuring fulfilment of WHO’s critical functions
  • Ensures the implementation of the IMS, ensuring synergies and smooth functioning between the operational and technical components
  • Strategically plan on the recovery, reconstruction with health system strengthening
  • Oversees the monitoring and evaluation of the operations, take corrective actions as necessary

2. Guides the building of sub-national capacity through need identification, and development, operationalization and implementation of required training plans.

3. Guides the WHO’s field support team on continued self-assessment and learning on planning, budgeting, and operational service delivery.

• • Identify training needs and develop, operationalize, and implement training plans.
  • Guide the WHO field support team on planning, budgeting, and operational service delivery.
  • Build national capacity through need identification and development.

4.     Determines staffing needs for WHO response and ensures their timely mobilization in liaison with the WHO country office.

5.    Briefs the WHO country office on situation reports and events, bringing concerns and recommended courses-of-action under the Incident Management.

• • Brief the WHO country office on situation reports and events.
  • Ensure proper documentation of incidents, including situation reports and action plans.
  • Represent WHO in negotiations and inter-agency forums.
  • Provide information to/briefing of senior and elected officials as required.

6. Builds external relations, represent WHO and its positions in negotiations in relevant inter-agency and international fora involved with the incident management system at the country or province level.

• • Partner with UN agencies, international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations in respect of the mobilization and coordination of resources.
  • Encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.

a) Immediate Actions: 

• Oversee all aspects of WHO’s operations in the three northern provinces (Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa) and manage the Health Emergency Operations, and provide technical advice to other agencies, with emphasis on the coordination and consolidation of health agencies and health cluster activities.
• Provide guidance to the respective state’s capacities with respect to emergency preparedness, response and recovery; ensure the participation of the country office in the joint risk assessment process of any suspected or actual emergency event.
• Coordinate overall incident health related activities to ensure the concerted approach of WHO in all required functional areas as per incident management structure.
• Support national and local health authorities and partner with UN agencies, international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations/institutions, in respect of the mobilization and coordination of resources, identify needs and funding gaps.
• Encourage donors to fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.
• In cooperation with other levels of response authorize the release of related information, communications, advocacy products and statements to internal and external partners as well as to the public.
• Provide information to/briefing of senior and elected officials as required, manage sensitive issues arising from the incident.
• Determines WHO response team staffing needs, ensures deployment arrangements and the mobilization of the required human resources.
• Provide leadership, motivation, guidance, and performance management of staff and experts, build dynamic and efficient teams to bolster WHO’s incident management operations, take concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all WHO responders.

b) Demobilization/recovery:

• Oversee demobilization of the Operations Centre and restocking of supplies, as appropriate.
• Ensure that after-action activities are coordinated and completed including:
  • Collection of all event documentation,
  • Conduct of staff debriefings to identify accomplishments, response and improvement issues
  • Identify needed revisions to the event management procedures, job action sheets, operational procedures, records, and/or other related items
  • Writing the after-action report and improvement plan

COMPETENCIES

1.     Teamwork

2.     Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3.     Communication

4.     Creating an empowering and motivating environment

5.     Producing results

6.   Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact and collaborative work style
• Excellent skills in the assessment, monitoring, analysis and evaluation of emergency situations, with the ability to conceptualize and implement innovative strategies and advocate their implementation.
• Authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques in international emergency incident management system.
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to quickly comprehend strategic and tactical objectives and to formulate comprehensive plans to address challenges/risks.
• Demonstrated knowledge in analyzing health systemin crisis and mobilize resources for response and health system recovery.

EDUCATION (QUALIFICATIONS)

Essential:

• An advanced university degree in health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable:

• Specialized training in emergency management; Specific training in humanitarian response.
• Medical degree.

EXPERIENCE 

Essential

• At least 7 years of related experience in emergency management and operations, with proven experience in emergency response.
• Substantial experience at both national and international levels in leadership positions, capacity-building, and their implementation.
• Experience in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships and/or experience in developing countries.
• Substantial experience in efficient human and financial resource management. 

Desirable:

• Relevant work experience in outbreaks and/health emergency management and related strategy development with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners.
• Experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.

LANGUAGES

Essential: 

• Excellent knowledge of French or English with at least working knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish or Italian

Desirable:  

• Knowledge of a second working knowledge of the African Region for WHO

OTHER SKILLS

• Microsoft Office Software 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 75,602 (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, and currently amounts to USD 2766 per month for the duty station indicated above. 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 may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• 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 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 final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.