Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family
Family TypeNon FamilyDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS7
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-12-14
Job Posting End DateDecember 27, 2023
Standard Job Description
Senior Public Health Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Public Health Associate is a member of a multidisciplinary team and will ensure that UNHCR's public health programmes meet minimum UNHCR and global health standards in order to minimise avoidable morbidity and mortality among populations of concern (POC) and towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The incumbent provides technical guidance to UNHCR management and partners including on the design and scope of UNHCR's responses in health and nutrition, coordinates with other actors, and monitors the public health response. S/he interacts with internal and external stakeholders such as government counterparts, UN Agencies and NGOs.
The Senior Public Health Associate should also ensure consultation with communities seeking the diverse views of men, women, girls and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, LGBTI persons, persons with disabilities , including people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, in assessing needs, designing, implementing and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR's policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming.
Public Health programmes include primary health care, secondary health care, community health, reproductive health (including HIV), nutrition, MHPSS and health information systems. In addition to public health staff, major operations may also have dedicated staff focusing on any of these components but public health professionals are expected to be very conversant with reproductive health programming and ensure that minimum standards are met. Depending on the size of the operation the incumbent may be expected to have major responsibilities for nutrition and MHPSS responses.
The Senior Public Health Associate is normally supervised by a more senior public health staff or by a Progamme Officer and normally supervises some support staff. The incumbent has a functional line with the Public Health Section in Geneva regarding authoritative guidance and support in technical matters and is expected to maintain regular contact with the PHS.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Coordination and Partnership
- Support the co-ordinating the public health, reproductive health, nutrition and HIV activities in support of the government's responses and in conjunction with other UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners, including development actors to ensure delivery of public health and nutrition services to beneficiaries (POC and host community) meet UNHCR and /or nationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
- Support the Operation's engagement in the public health related aspects of contributions of major donors to refugee responses, including the World Bank; this includes taking part in assessments, design of projects, monitoring and evaluation.
- In line with the Global Compact on Refugees the incumbent will work with governments, humanitarian and development partners to ensure a whole-of-government (i.e. relevant national and local authorities for health and nutrition response) multi-stakeholder approach and planning to harness the comparative advantages of different actors to meet the health needs of POCs.
- Support robust and timely emergency responses to new refugee influxes or outbreaks or other situations in line with the Public Health Emergency Toolkit and UNHCR's Emergency Handbook and the SPHERE Handbook.
Strategic planning and development
- Contribute to the implementation of UNHCR's Strategic Plan for Public Health and adaptation at country level with support from the supervisor.
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, returnees and other POC's access to local public health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV, MHPSS and nutrition services (including food assistance where relevant) and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other POC as a specific group in government policies and plans related to health, RH and HIV as well as major donor programmes such as the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
- Work with stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, Ministries of Health and academic institutions in the development of public health response plans associated with refugee movements (including in repatriation programmes).
- Maintain and update contingency plans for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movements.
Technical integrity and risk mitigation
- Update and disseminate standard practices on public health, MHPSS, nutrition, HIV and reproductive health among partners.
- Support the prioritization of primary health care (including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care)
- Contribute to monitoring, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that health care services provided to POC are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies.
- Assist with the adaptation of UNHCR internal operating procedures to ensure they are in line with UNHCR and/or international standards and improve efficiency of programme activities; this includes - but is not limited to - referral health care, medicines and medical supplies procurement and management, medical resettlement and resettlement of persons with health needs, cash-based assistance for health care coverage and referral between units and inter-sectoral collaboration.
- Monitor and support compliance with, and integrity of, all public health standard operating procedures in conjunction with Project Control and Programme staff and in line with delegated authorities, including flagging to the supervisor when these are not in line with global guidance or not being followed.
Collaboration
- Support linkages of public health to WASH programmes throughout all stages of the programme cycle including in outbreak preparedness and response, emergency responses to refugee influxes, WASH in health facilities, and menstrual hygiene management.
- Support inter-sector collaboration throughout all stages of programme cycle between public health and nutrition with WASH, education, environment, shelter, and protection in order to promote synergies and maximise impact.
- Seek the diverse views of men, women, girls and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and LGBTI in assessing needs, designing, implementing and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR's policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming.
- Assist with the implementation of the UNHCR Health Information System and other relevant data collection tools including the balanced scorecard, maternal and neonatal death audits, Health Access and Utilisation Survey and other corporate tools where relevant; support the analysis, interpretation and use of public health data.
- Advocate for the inclusion of refugees and other POC in national surveys such as demographic and health surveys, multi-indicator cluster surveys, AIDS indicator surveys including where possible a separate sample for refugees allowing for comparisons and trend analysis over time.
- Support national health systems to disaggregate data by refugee and nationals in key areas based on country specific needs in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Assist with the monitoring of public health and nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators, to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner.
- Support the planning, implementation, analysis, dissemination and use of nutritional surveys (Standardized Expanded Nutrition Surveys, SENS), health-related surveys and post-distribution monitoring exercises (in collaboration with WFP).
- In line with policies for Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) ensure POC have access to feedback and accountability mechanisms relating to public health and nutrition services including the collection and analysis of data on their satisfaction regards to public health and nutrition services.
- Draft regular sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports as required by the supervisor.
- Provide timely updates to enable adequate reporting and briefings to donors and management.
Capacity Building
- Support capacity strengthening of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address public health, nutrition, reproductive health, HIV, MHPSS programming in a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral way.
- Undertake and/or support capacity building needs assessments of UNHCR staff and partners and develop approaches to address capacity gaps including identifying internal and external training opportunities.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not appliacable;
Certificates and/or Licenses
Public Health;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of public health, reproductive health and nutrition in humanitarian situations. Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles. Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills.
Desirable
Understanding of the linkages with public health and Food security. Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Public Health.
Functional Skills
EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
FO-Complex field emergency operations
MD-HIV/AIDS situation management
MD-Reproductive Health
PH- Public Health Epidemiology
PH-Community Health-Health Data Collection/Analysis/Interpretation
UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile Degree in medicine, pharmacy, nursing or other health professions.
Degree, certificate or training in public health.
Experience in managing health programs.
- Shortlisted candidate will be required to sit for an eliminatory Written Test. Passing threshold is 50% . Only the passing candidates will be given a chance to sit for the interview. The scores of the written test and interview could later be combined with that of the interview to arrive at the final scores, Weight of the oral interview is 50%.
- When completing the application, candidates are required to list all their language skills – including their mother tongue. The three broad levels are A1/A2 (\"Basic User\"), B1/B2 (\"Independent User\"), and C1/C2 (\"Proficient User\").
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Arabic
,English
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Please visit the site:
https://www.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
The incumbent will be working in the public health unit in the country office in Damascus, and is expected to support in developing capacity building plans, SOPs and guidance to guide offices in areas of reproductive health, child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDs , MHPSS, while taking the lead in the areas of provision of medicine services, monitoring and evaluation health programs, and health information system including using different solutions, and to actively participate in coordination forum and advocate for UNHCR mandate and persons of concern. The position requires creativity to support the operation in meeting the challenges in securing health services for persons of concern, strong communication skills and solid knowledge base in mainstreaming protection in health services including AGD approach, and ensuring PSEA capacity and adherence in health services. The position incumbent is expected to support in other areas of public health when required such as referrals.
Living and Working Conditions:
Within working hours, additional working hours as agreed upon with the management. Office work and regular and ad-hoc field missions to cover work objectives.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsPH-Gender Equality in Health and Nutrition, PH-Health Strategy and Programme Management, PH-Maternal and Newborn Health Knowledge, PH-Non-communicable Disease Management, PH-Pediatric Health, PH-Public Health Capacity Development, PH-Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge
Education
CertificationsPublic Health - Other
Work ExperiencePublic Health
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Compendium
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance