| The mission of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. | |
| Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/14/TA182 Title: EBOLA OUTBREAK - SURGE CAPACITY - INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (IPC) - THIS VACANCY SUPERSEDES VN AFRO/14/TA138 Grade: P level 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, Guinea, Sierra Leone (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: In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and under the supervision of the WHO Country Representative, the WHO Outbreak Response Team Leader, and the National Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, the incumbent will perform the following activities: 1. In coordination with the Ebola Outbreak Response Team and the National IPC lead, manage IPC priorities and activities within the overall outbreak response and in line with WHO IPC guidelines. (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/). 2. Assess IPC capacities and practices in hospitals and health care facilities in the areas directly affected by the outbreak. Identify needs for further assessment, based on this revision. 3. Review the IPC measures implemented in the affected areas and advise on prevention of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings, within the affected health zones. 4. Review training needs, and based on this assessment, conduct training in IPC for staff at district hospitals, and health facilities according to the review of IPC measures. 5. Report to the Ministry of Health and the WHO international outbreak response team on findings and activities, and advise on effective and feasible IPC activities in areas affected by the outbreaks. 6. Provide guidance on immediate IPC policies, resources, equipment and training needed for central, provincial and district level hospitals in order to ensure adequate preparations for response should the outbreak spreads to others health zones. 7. Support the adaptation of elements at a National Infection and Control Strategy as Sub-national lead, in regards to measures pertaining to enhancement of Standard Precautions mainly for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, and identify activities that can be rapidly implemented. 8. Support the Ministry of Health in documenting the outbreak and response activities. 9. Other duties as required by the supervisors. | |
| REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS | |
| Education: University degree or professional qualification in nursing, medicine, microbiology or epidemiology, or public health with speciality training in the area of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). | |
| Skills: Essential: - Proven knowledge and skills in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), rapid assessment techniques; - Excellent interpersonal skills; - Strong organizational skills - Ability to work in a multicultural environment; - Ability to promote cohesive action and convince officials with tact and diplomacy; - Ability to function effectively in complex and rapidly changing emergency environments - Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present factual information. - Competency in data management and analysis; Desirable skills: - Knowledge of WHO, the UN System or NGO work in the field of response relief and/or of their practices and procedures as related to the work is desirable - Ability to use other equipment such a radio and satellite phones; | |
| Experience: Essential: - At least five years of experience in developing, implementing and evaluating Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) policies, procedures and tools in developing country settings, and outbreak response. - Experience working with multiple partners; - Experience in implementing infectious prevention in a clinical/hospital/hospice (rather than community) type setting. Desirable - Experience working with Ministries of Health. | |
| 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/TA138 WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS VACANCY AND THEREFORE DO NOT NEED TO RE-APPLY. 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. | |
| 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. | |
