| The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. | |
| Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/14/TA176 Title: EBOLA OUTBREAK - SURGE CAPACITY- FIELD COORDINATOR Grade: Contract type: Temporary appointment Duration of contract: : Minimum 3 months (with possible extension depending on Mission's mandate, operational necessity and satisfactory performance) | 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) LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE, GUINEA |
| 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), the incumbent will lead and implement field operations that contribute to Ebola technical coordination, and interact with operations, and logistics of the WHO Ebola response structure. In support of the Ministry of Health Ebola response leadership and field activities, the incumbent will build strong operational relations with technical partners and stakeholders on the ground, ensure the coordination of international support from GOARN, and support outreach initiatives with community leaders and communities in Ebola-affected areas. He/she will: 1) Coordinate and manage effective implementation of Ebola response interventions with relevant health authorities, and partners working at the Sub-National level and work closely with the UNMEER Field Crisis Manager; 2) Identify and actively engage local partners and stakeholders in the Ebola response; 3) Support existing Sub-National coordination mechanisms, including Sub-National health authorities, and international organizations, NGOs and civil society involved in Ebola response activities; 4) Provide authoritative technical advice and guidance on Ebola response strategies and implementing field activities, and ensure reporting to WHO and Ministries of Health at country level on the overall implementation of Ebola Outbreak Response field operations; 5) Oversee implementation of daily Ebola outbreak alert and response activities, including active surveillance, case finding, and contact tracing, community support, Infections and Prevention Control - particularly related to the safety of staff and field operations, Field Operations and Logistics, Case Management, Laboratory support, and Water/Sanitation of designated field sites; 6) Implement daily communications and contacts with each affected area (hotspot) to monitor the situation, conduct rapid field assessments and facilitate rapid response and coordination actions to critical incidents and urgent needs. 7) Identify critical training needs for outbreak response activities, and implement activities to develop local capacities ; 8) Manage the collection of 4 x W (Who does What? Where? When?) information from all Sub-National partners and regularly report to the National Coordinator and WHO, and coordinate reporting and update from Sub-National to the National Technical Coordinator. 9) Monitor and evaluate Ebola outbreak response activities including contact tracing, surveillance, social mobilization, case management & IPC, laboratory, communications and information management, in line with relevant and agreed operational plans; 10) Ensure appropriate planning, coordination with health authorities and partners and contingencies for Outbreak Response needs in the field, including ensuring staff safety, and security, human resources needs, accommodation, communication, logistics, essential outbreak response supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), sample collection and shipment, and operational cash; 11) Provide public health advice and guidance to all partners, and promote adherence of WHO technical standards and best practices by all response actors, and personnel taking into account the need for local adaptation. Promote use of the available guidelines to ensure the application of common approaches, tools and standards; 12) Perform other related duties as assigned. | |
| REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS | |
| Education: At least an advanced University Degree (Post-graduate or equivalent) in Medicine and/or Public Health. | |
| Skills: - Strong technical skills in the area of infectious disease control and outbreak responses. - Extensive knowledge on the Ebola Outbreak. - Proven negotiation skills with both high- level representatives including Ministries of Health officials and Government, and with local community leaders and stakeholders. - Strong team-building, team management and coordination skills. - Excellent interpersonal skills. - Ability to work in a multicultural environment. - Ability to function effectively under stress, and in complex and rapidly changing emergency environments. | |
| Experience: Essential: At least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in epidemic surveillance, and managing infectious disease control/outbreak response field operations in developing countries. Experience in coordinating and collaborating response activities (e.g. data collection, strategy planning) with external organizations? Supervisory experience. Desirable: Professional work experience within WHO or the UN System would be an advantage. | |
| 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: 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 PERSONS CONTRACTED AGAINST THIS VACANCY NOTICE WILL COMPRISE A MOBILE WORKFORCE AND MAY BE DEPLOYED TO ANY LOCATION WITHIN THE ASSIGNED COUNTRY, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THAT COUNTRY. THEY MAY ALSO BE REDEPLOYED TO ANOTHER LOCATION DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR ASSIGNMENT. | |
| 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. | |
