Health Emergency Officer, Immunization _Band B at World Health Organization

Area of expertise Health Emergency

Health Emergency Officer, Immunization _Band B, Nairobi

Purpose of consultancy

WHO has a strong mandate to work with Member States on immunization and the response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Detecting, preventing and responding to these outbreaks are part of the core capacities required by the IHR (2005), and key to achieving global health security.
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to immunization interventions during new and ongoing emergencies, including. The incumbent will be tasked with data management and analysis. The position aims to assist vaccination efforts by delivering timely, accurate, and actionable information to facilitate decision-making, planning, and monitoring throughout the entire vaccination process. This ensures the efficient deployment of vaccines and offers the necessary protection to targeted populations during outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies. The incumbent will support risk assessments to determine the rationale for vaccination; review of vaccine options based on contextual considerations and available data. The incumbent undertakes coordinated, transparent and collaborative assessment, planning and implementation of vaccination response approaches for WHO to engage as a trusted partner in outbreaks and health emergencies, providing unique and valued capacities.

Background 

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergencies 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 EPR Cluster is responsible for identifying gaps and strengthening national capacities in preparedness and response to respond effectively to emergencies while ensuring resilience of health systems during these emergencies.

Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of EMR team lead at the hub, with technical oversight of the emergencies immunization officer in AFRO, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties:

•  In collaboration with the Emergencies Immunization officer, coordinate WHO support for vaccination in emergency context by ensuring regional coordination and guide decision making on vaccination interventions immediately after the onset or during planning in anticipation of a likely acute emergency.
• Providing guidance and technical support to countries in determining and setting policies for COVID-19 vaccination.
• Review existing M&E reports and information products, and design a template for each document.
• Coordinate the development of M&E report and information products including but not limited to performance monitoring reports, risk assessment reports, country profile, periodic bulletins on COVID-19 vaccination, executive briefs to the management.
• Contribute to the preparation of slides presentation on COVID-19 vaccination.
• Review and Edit documents related to COVID-19 vaccination to be send out by the vaccination pillar.
• Contribute to the development of scientific publications on Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with Research, science & documentation Sub-pillar.
• Perform any other task related to COVID-19 vaccination M&E upon request of the supervisor.  
• Determine the considerations that need to be taken into account when implementing vaccination in the context of a humanitarian emergency including assessment of resources needed to implement vaccination interventions.
• Support effective management and delivery of vaccination services, including coordination, planning, and vaccine forecasting and management.
• Identify the suitable vaccination delivery strategies in different types of emergencies to increase access to the most vulnerable populations and maintain equitable access to vaccinations.
• Provide expert advice on methods for the collection and analysis of coverage data and information on vaccination interventions in emergencies. Ensure timely reporting and data sharing in emergency situations.
• Provide guidance on strategies to sustain and improve routine vaccination coverage during a protracted/chronic emergency, as well as efforts towards early recovery of vaccination service delivery to restore equitable access to vaccinations.
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.
• Weekly briefs on the vaccination response for ongoing incidents (e.g., diphtheria, COVID-19).
• Representation of the vaccines pillar at the weekly event coordination meetings.
• All countries with active outbreaks and a vaccination pillar supported to develop and implement costed vaccination action plans.
• Contribute to development of tools and technical guidance documents on vaccination response and strategies to ongoing vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
• Minutes of agency or interagency meetings 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential

An advanced university degree in medicine or related field from an accredited/recognised institute.

Desirable

• Postgraduate degree in public health or related field of health science or or relevant field.
• Specialized training in field epidemiology.
• Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential

• At least 7 years of related experience in vaccination in the context of international public health programmes, including experience in emergency humanitarian settings.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating vaccination campaigns in developing countries during emergencies. 

Desirable

• Relevant work experience in WHO or UN agencies or humanitarian organizations.
• Field experience in public health programmes or emergency response programmes in developing countries.

Skills/Knowledge 

• Ability to coordinate vaccination interventions including mass campaigns.
• Demonstrated managerial skills in international and multi-cultural settings combined with proven ability to successfully coordinate and manage projects and build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.
• Sound strategic and tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive policies, strategies, and plans.
• Excellent interpersonal with proven ability to communicate in a clear and effective way, with tact, diplomacy, and courtesy.
• Proven ability to think independently and strategically, plan, coordinate and implement strategies, activities and capacity building.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and give technical advice and guidance taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-limited contexts; and to participate in resource mobilization and advocacy activities.
• Ability to undertake risk assessments.

Languages and level required 

• Expert knowledge of English or French with working level of the other language.
• Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.