Back Technical Officer (Communicable Diseases)

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Qualifications

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures, behavioural insights; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels”.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 –“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens’ expectations about health.

WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To coordinate, manage and provide technical support to MOHMI of Turkmenistan in implementing activities to support national TB and MDR-TB, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections responses as well as other relevant communicable diseases within the overall framework of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and MOHMI of Turkmenistan and as part of the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan.

The incumbent will function as the focal staff for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis, and more specifically drug resistant tuberculosis, in the context of strengthening communicable disease prevention, care and elimination efforts and health systems. More specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

1.      Provides and facilitates overall technical support to the MOHMI on national TB, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care policy in line with relevant WHO strategies and action plans;

2.      Liaises with the MOHMI and other government agencies and works closely with relevant national and international partners in the country to strengthen human resources capacity for implementation of specific TB and HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and STI programmes;

3.      Supports the MOHMI in performing training needs assessments. Organizes, implements and supervises educational activities and training programmes for key communicable disease staff (including laboratory personnel) at central, regional and district levels;

4.      Develops and adapts training curricula and organizes programmes of workshops and training courses on priority communicable diseases in collaboration with national and international partners, in line with WHO standards, rules and regulations; discusses participants’ expectations and solicits feedback from participants and the faculty on training courses and workshops, prepares reports of the training and workshops organized;

5.      Facilitates interventions of the WHO Regional Office and WHO Headquarters to assist Turkmenistan;

6.      Assists in developing national communicable disease strategic documents and recording and reporting systems in line with WHO recommendations and definitions;

7.      Coordinates together with the MOHMI counterparts, joint actions such as working groups, roundtables, meetings to facilitate the implementation of communicable disease programmes at national and regional level;

8.      Facilitates smooth information flow of BCA activities between the MOHMI and other involved institutions through sharing of reports and meetings;

9.      Prepares regular technical reports on the progress of implementation of assigned projects;

10.  Assists with the technical preparations of the relevant WHO missions and events;

11.  Performs other relevant duties as required by the supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in in medicine or other health related fields

Desirable: Post graduate training in public health, communicable diseases or related subject

Experience

Essential: Minimum five years of experience in communicable diseases programmes (such as TB, HIV, viral hepatitis and/or STIs) or other relevant public health programmes.

Desirable: Experience in the implementation of HIV/AIDS,TB and/or other communicable diseases control programmes and experience in working with WHO or other international organizations. Demonstrated experience in developing training programmes and facilitating training courses.

Skills

Demonstrated good knowledge of communicable diseases control, including tuberculosis, HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs.

Strong negotiation and communication skills.

Skills in formal report writing. Computer literacy. Excellent presentation skills. Emotional awareness: the ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Russian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 49,829 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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 and/or an asynchronous video assessment 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.
        • According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
          • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
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              The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

              Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

              • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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.
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                        • The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
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                            • This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.
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