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Background and Justification
The position is to coordinate VPD surveillance activities and so contribute to Universal Health Coverage, Health Security, and address health outcomes across the determinants.
The mission of the WHO Country Offices is to reduce the morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases for everyone across the life course by increasing equitable access to and use of existing and new vaccines. This will contribute to the movement towards the triple outcomes for Universal Health Coverage, Health Security, and addressing health across its determinants. The focus shall be on providing coordination for the surveillance, leadership, research, standard setting, policy dialogue, and monitoring trends relating to vaccine-preventable disease interventions.
This shall include interventions to address the vaccine-preventable diseases targeted for eradication (poliomyelitis), elimination (measles, rubella, neonatal tetanus), and control (yellow fever, cholera, COVID-19, malaria, meningitis, etc).
Tasks and Deliverables
The incumbent will have the following assigned responsibilities/duties as Surveillance Officer:
· Support the updating and adapting relevant guidelines, materials and tools, and in performing training needs assessments to align with regional and global standards for the surveillance of VPDs and develop health works surveillance guidelines.
· Provide technical and operational support to strengthen Rotavirus Sentinel Surveillance system, ensuring high-quality data collection, timely reporting, capacity building for healthcare workers, and coordination with stakeholders to monitor disease trends and evaluate vaccine impact.
· Rotavirus sentinel surveillance was implemented, and data generated were used to support the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine and for the post-introduction impact assessment.
· Technical assistance for CRS surveillance and monitoring its trends for developing rubella vaccination policy. The same applies to new or underutilized vaccines.
· Ensure capacities for VPD surveillance by supporting capacity building and technical support.
· Oversight on VPD surveillance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making for routine immunization.
· To support Vaccine Safety Surveillance through capacity building, technical support, supportive supervision and reporting.
· Provide support to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate integrated surveillance of AFP, Measles/ Rubella, Neonatal Tetanus, and Hepatitis.
· Work with other partners to ensure the early detection and reporting of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks to allow the immunization team to respond timely.
· Ensure capacities for VPD surveillance by supporting capacity building and technical support.
· Lead the technical end of the AEFI surveillance system and serve as the secretariat for the National and Sub national AEFI committee, supporting the timely investigation of all AEFI cases.
· Investigation and final reports of all severe AEFI cases.
· Data generated from Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance is used to inform immunization strategies and improve immunization performance.
· Provide technical support for planning, implementation and evaluation of AFP, measles, neonatal tetanus and yellow fever surveillance designed to achieve eradication, elimination objectives
· Monitor VPD/life course programs including supporting the Immunization Program Coordinator, in implementing projects on vaccinations
· Provide assistance in other areas of immunization programme support as needed.
· Support resource mobilization, including project planning, proposal development and reporting.
· Transfer knowledge gained to Ministry of Health to the technicians and partners where appropriate
· Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.
Education Qualifications
* Essential
First University Degree level in a Health-related science (medicine or public health) or human biology with specialization on immunization- or vaccine relevant areas
Desirable
Post-graduate training in public health
Experience
* Essential
At least five (05) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of immunization and vaccine development programs. Within this experience demonstrated professional experience at the international level providing support to Member States and evaluating vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programmes
Desirable
Work experience within international organizations or UN systems is an asset. First-hand working experience in a developing nation
Functional Knowledge and Skills
· Sound knowledge of country-level situations about vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programs, their development and management with an understanding of relevant country needs, priorities, and policies, along with WHO's policies, practices, guidelines, and procedures in the related areas and ability to apply them in the country office setting
· Excellent knowledge of disease burden and surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases.
· Ability to conduct research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations for clinical trials of new vaccines.
· Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program and activities.
· Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
· Excellent knowledge of Health care systems and safety regulations.
· Proven knowledge of technical aspects in the field of specialty.
· Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
Excellent knowledge of English and good knowledge of Arabic
Additional Information (For HR use only):
· This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.A written test may be used as a form of screening.If your candidature is retained for 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.For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.· The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. 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 for WHO jobs.
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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) 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 short-listed candidates.