Technical Officer (Neglected Tropical Diseases)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

To reduce morbidity and mortality due to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and eliminate them where feasible through the use of appropriate global and regional strategies, multisectoral actions, social mobilization, and strengthening of primary health care; and to promote further development and improvement of national control and elimination strategies based on regional and global ones. The NPO will provide technical support for the implementation of the identified activities in close coordination with the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) Pacific Climate Change and Environment team, WHO country teams, the Ministry of Health, key governmental technical staff, partners, and beneficiaries, with a particular focus on assisting stakeholder engagement for the implementation of project activities, leading close monitoring of project timelines, and contributing to technical reports. S/he will mobilise beneficiaries and facilitate / guide implementation of project activities. The incumbent will use Decision of Global Environment Facility (GEF) EB on Health, Environment and Climate Change, Environment and Climate Change, WPRO Framework for Action on Health and Environment on a Changing Planet, Pacific Islands Action Plan on Climate Change and Health, WHO Policies, Rules and Regulations, as guiding resources, as well as any other relevant climate change and health resources as needed.
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office: 

• Facilitate the implementation of projects for the control of the respective diseases, including the procurement of safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines and technologies.

• Technically support: 

  • the documenting and dissemination of best practices and partners' experiences; other analysis and evaluation of a diverse range of data and information related to communicable and noncommunicable diseases and outbreaks; 
  • the identification of disease sources and provision of recommendations and reports on the appropriate response to identified risks, as well as the implementation of preventative and control measures; 
  • the monitoring of the national burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or factors, especially through health information systems and health research activities;
  • the coordination of the development or enhancement of information systems on communicable and noncommunicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
  • Support the efficient and effective management, as well as coordination of expertise, to provide technical advice on the development of sustainable, multi-sectoral, and integrated national strategies, policies, interventions, and plans for improvements in health systems and capacity building in the area of NTDs control contributing to WASH, and climate change and health.
  • Provide mentoring, training, and supervision of staff at provincial level.
  • Support the development of action plans for the inclusion of disease prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care.
  • Coordinate the adoption of norms, standards, guidelines and tools to support the implementation of NTD control projects.
  • Support the management of operational aspects of related operational research, surveillance, epidemiology, and health surveys.
  • Leverage knowledge of local systems and cultural norms to serve as technical communication focal point with the public on communicable diseases in the country and propose new community outreach activities impacting WASH and climate change and health portfolio, and the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of NTDs.
  • Support advocacy and building and strengthening of partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration and mobilize resources to address integrated NTDs prevention and control and its linkage to the areas WASH and climate change for health activities.
     

    REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

    Education

    Essential: A university degree (bachelor's) in a relevant field (such as public health, epidemiology, or another medical field).
    Desirable: Training or specialization in communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases.
     

    Experience

    Essential: A minimum of two years of work experience in communicable disease control programmes at the national level including experience in NTDs.
    Desirable: Relevant experience in the areas of WASH and climate change. Professional experience providing technical or programme services to national counterparts, Ministries of Health, and other partners on communicable disease related issues. Relevant work experience, with WHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners, non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.

    📚 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!

    Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained in an international context.
     

    Skills

  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead work in a team-oriented setting. 
• Ability to successfully coordinate and collaborate with officials from central, provincial, and local level governments, NGOs, and other agencies in Vanuatu. 

WHO Competencies

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Bislama.

 

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at VUV 5,923,233 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Qualifications

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