| The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. | |
| Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/14/TA195 Title: EBOLA OUTBREAK - SURGE CAPACITY - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT\SOCIAL MOBILIZATION - THIS VACANCY NOTICE SUPERSEDES AFRO\14\TA188 Grade: Contract type: Temporary appointment Duration of contract: minimum 3 months (with possible extension) | Date: 17 December 2014 Application Deadline: 31 March 2015 (82 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station: Multiple duty stations Organization unit: AF Africa (AF) Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea (including district level) |
| OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013 and now involves intense transmission in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. On Friday 25th July 2014 the Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005), and grading the outbreak to Grade 3 in line with the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF). There is heightened concern about the risk of Ebola spreading to other countries. Within this framework, a WHO Ebola Response team is dedicated exclusively to coordinate international response, and mobilise international technical assistance from WHO, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and other partners and stakeholders to provide direct support for national outbreak response activities and in the field. The UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, agreed on the establishment of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) by the UNSG - the first of its kind - headquartered in Accra and providing a UN-wide initiative that draws together all the assets of all relevant UN agencies to tackle this crisis together. In this regard, WHO is the lead agency for a number of strategic objectives. | |
| Description of duties: Under the overall guidance of the WHO Country Representative (WR) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and team leader of the Outbreak Response Team, and in support to UNICEF social mobilization efforts, the incumbent will perform the following duties: - Provide technical and managerial support to the National Social Mobilization Task Team on Ebola to ensure community engagement and social mobilization priorities and activities are integrated and managed effectively, with clear roles, responsibilities and information sharing and planning mechanisms, within the overall outbreak response; - Support the MOH and Partners working on community engagement and social mobilization, to ensure that community engagement/social mobilization strategies and operational plans at the national and sub-national levels contribute to stopping ongoing transmission (are aligned with technical and operational objectives) and are evidence-based. - Ensure that gaps in human and financial resources needed to effectively implement the community engagement/social mobilization plans are addressed. - Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation tools and mechanisms are in place at the national and sub-national level. - Work closely with key technical team to promote and integrate effective community engagement of field staff, with particular attention on Ebola Treatment Units and the setting up and roll-out of Ebola Care Units/Community Care Units through a) ongoing review of current community engagement SOPs and team practices and, b) ongoing review and support to monitor and build the social mobilization and communication skills of frontline staff interacting with local communities; - Advise the MOH, WHO and Partners on ways to integrate social mobilization and health education so it contributes to prevention and control objectives; - Other duties as required by the supervisor | |
| REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS | |
| Education: Education: Essential: University degree in social sciences and/or communication/health promotion or other related areas | |
| Skills: Essential: - Proven knowledge and skills in: communication, social mobilization, and rapid appraisal techniques; - Understanding the roles of pertinent disciplines; - Ability to co-ordinate different inputs into a strategic communication plan; - Excellent interpersonal skills; - Strong organizational skills; - Ability to work effectively in multicultural environment with tact and diplomacy. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office package (e.g. Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc.). Desirable: - Knowledge of WHO, the UN System or NGO work in the field of response relief and/or of their practices and procedures would be an advantage. Competencies: 1. Communicating in a credible and effective way 2. Producing results 3. Fostering integration and teamwork 4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences | |
| Experience: Essential: Extensive experience (minimum 5 years) in strategic communication/health promotion planning and implementation for behavioral impact in health and in establishing relationships with Government and UN counterparts and partners at country the level. | |
| Languages: Depending on the country of assignment: - For French speaking countries: Good working knowledge (written & spoken) of French. Knowledge of English an advantage. - For English speaking countries: Good working knowledge (written & spoken) of English. Knowledge of French an advantage | |
| Additional Information: CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED FOR VACANCY NOTICE N° AFRO/14/TA188 ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO APPLY TO THIS VACANCY AND ANSWER THE ATTACHED SCREENING QUESTIONS. THIS VACANCY IS GENERIC AND OUTLINES THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. - ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED FOR DEPLOYMENT AGAINST A SPECIFIC POSITION WILL BE CONTACTED. AS REFERENCE CHECKS WILL BE MADE THROUGH YOUR CURRENT AND PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS AT THE POINT OF SHORTLISTING, PLEASE ENSURE THAT THEY ARE INFORMED OF THE URGENCY TO PROVIDE RAPID FEEDBACK. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INDICATE THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS WHEN COMPLETING YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY FORM. PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT CANDIDATES MUST: - HOLD A VALID YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE - COMPLETE THE ONLINE UNDSS BASIC II SECURITY IN THE FIELD TRAINING WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH https://training.dss.un.org/courses/v21/pages/dss_login_register.php - PROVIDE ALL COPIES OF DEGREES/DIPLOMAS INDICATED IN THEIR PERSONAL HISTORY FORM | |
| Annual salary: (Net of tax) at single rate | |
| This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. | |
| Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. | |
| All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. | |
| WHO is committed to workforce diversity. | |
| Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. | |
