Pandemic Fund Project Officer

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Qualifications

Pandemic Fund Project Officer

1.Purpose of the Position 

The purpose of this position is to support the Pandemic Fund project implementation through project administration.

2.Background

WHO has established the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) programme to help member states build their capacity to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The programme is to support countries to enhance their all-hazards preparedness and to strengthen their IHR core capacities in prevention, preparedness, detection and early response to public health emergencies. The Zambia WHO Country Office EPR cluster is established for this purpose.

Zambia experiences frequent outbreaks of communicable diseases due to cholera, measles, anthrax, typhoid fever, polio, rabies alongside other communicable public health hazards. The country still experiences notable transmission of SAR-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses. Effects of climatic change frequently manifest through cycles of droughts and floods which compound the public health situation in the country. In the 2023/2024 rain season, the country experienced one of its worst droughts in decades. Response needs exert immense pressure to the MOH, WHO and response partners, with significant fatigue among personnel. WHO is the health sector implementing entity for the Pandemic Fund which the country successfully won in 2023.

With the support of WHO, Zambia received funding from Pandemic Fund in 2024. WHO alongside FAO are the two implementing entities. This is exerting additional strain on the personnel and resources at the WCO. By end of quarter 1 of 2025, the utilization of the funds from the Pandemic Fund project was low, at about 14% yet the project is past its mid-term.

WHO has continued to play its role coordinating partners in support of the national response. With this active public health landscape, an uncertain COVIID-19 evolution, and extra demands during implementation of the Pandemic Fund activities. The Pandemic Fund implementation rate is slow. There is need to recruit an appropriate technical person to provide administrative support towards implementation of the fund. The personnel will work with other EPR personnel to support attainment of the WHO goal of protecting people from effects of health emergencies.

3.Description of Duties

Under the immediate supervision of the EPR cluster lead, the Project Officer will support overall pandemic fund administration services. The incumbent will liaise with counterparts within the organization, in government, UN agencies and other partners organizations to ensure optimum and timely implementation of Pandemic Fund funded activities.

In summary, the officer will perform the following duties:

• Provide overall administrative support to the Pandemic Fund project at WHO country office
•  In consultation with the EPR cluster lead, plan, prepare for and ensure successful meetings to monitor, review and plan for project implementation
• Support drafting of project correspondences
• Support documentation and circulation of proceedings of project meetings
• Maintain records of government requests, all project related WCO documents and minutes of meetings.
• Monitor and track government requests and internal WHO processes to ensure timely activity implementation
•   Monitor funds expenditure and work with the WCO technical personnel to speed up project implementation
• Monitor and track activity implementation and provide support to technical team to speed up implementation.
• Track reporting requirements and support technical teams to meet the reporting requirements
• Prepare WHO internal project reports to country office, regional office, headquarters, and the Pandemic Fund Secretariat.
• Monitor and report regularly to the emergency team, drawing their attention to needs, gaps and problems, and proposing remedial actions.
•  In compliance with the WHO rules and regulations, based on a comprehensive forecast of the supply needs, plan an end to end, timely provision of quality and adequate supplies, equipment and consumables from the Pandemic fund and for the health emergency operations.
• Facilitate customs clearance, reception, transportation, storage and distribution of supplies to affected areas and populations.
• Liaise with the government and partner logistician both centrally and in the field regarding managing WHO warehouses and inventory and implement stock control mechanisms.
• Assist the WCO in preparing their procurement forecasts. Based on the procurement forecast plan, provide support in executing related procurement activities
• Administer procurement resources and ensures compliant and efficient use of standard operating procedures of procurement.
• Assist the WCO in preparing their procurement forecasts. Based on the procurement forecast plan, the officer will support executing related procurement activities and participate in meetings with government, partner organizations, suppliers or programme units.
•  Perform any other related duties, as required by the supervisor

  4.Specific requirements

  Education Qualifications

  • Essential:

  o First university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, program management, project management or related field.

  •Desirable:

  o An advanced university degree in the above fields.

  Experience

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  · Essential: A minimum of three years’ experience, working in program management, project management, or procurement services, and logistics services for a program.

  · Desirable: Previous experience working with the UN or international organizations

  Functional skills and knowledge

  •       Sound knowledge and skills on project or program management.

  •       Strong computer skills in office applications including excel, power point, and word.

  •       Sound knowledge and skills in planning and budget.

  •       Concrete skills in implementing operations of procurement services and processes.

  •       Ability to develop innovative approaches and solutions.

  •       Ability to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills by working harmoniously as a member of a team, adapting to diverse educational, socio-political and cultural backgrounds and maintaining a high standard of personal conduct.

  WHO Competencies

  •       Communication in a credible and effective way

  •       Producing results

  •       Moving forward in a changing environment

  •       Fostering integration and teamwork

  Language requirements

  •       Essential: Excellent knowledge of the English.

  •       Desirable: Working knowledge of local languages in Zambia.

    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.
              • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff 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 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.
                      • 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 final candidates.
                        • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
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                            • WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
                              • 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.
                                • This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
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