Medical Officer (Immunization in Emergencies) at World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster is to build the capacity of Member States 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 Emergency Preparedness Unit of the EPR Cluster is responsible for identifying gaps in IHR core capacities and strengthening national capacities in preparedness to respond effectively to emergencies while ensuring resilience of health systems during these emergencies. This includes ensuring countries have developed and updated their National Action-Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), risks are identified and anticipated, contingencies and business continuity plans are developed, tools and systems are in place, and human and financial resources for emergencies and resilience are predictable and sustained.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the Emergency Preparedness Manager and oversight by the Regional Emergency Director (RED) in AFRO, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

• Lead 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.
• Liaise with the WHE detection, verification and risk assessment team to conduct and strengthen event-based surveillance for VPD outbreaks and verify signals, working with relevant technical programmes at the regional office and headquarters. Following verification of a VPD signal, decide whether to proceed with a rapid risk assessment (RRA). In the context of a VPD outbreak, RRA and grading should be undertaken when an outbreak is likely to be notifiable under the IHR or exceeds the response capacity of local authorities, or when multiple countries are affected. Based on the outcomes of the RRA, the technical programme and WHE teams will agree to proceed with grading or not, led by RED.
• 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 situation, as well as efforts towards early recovery of vaccination service delivery to restore equitable access to vaccinations.
• Ensure that performance standards described in the WHO Emergency Response Framework are respected with regards to response to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
• Perform other duties requested by supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Master’s degree in epidemiology or in a related field from a recognized institution.

Desirable:

• Specialized training in field epidemiology.
• Specialized training in emergency/humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of proven experience in vaccination in the context of international public health programmes, including experience in emergency humanitarian settings, and at least 5 years of management experience for managing both human and financial resources.
• Proven experience in policy and strategy formulation.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating vaccination campaigns in developing countries.

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

• Ability to undertake risk assessments
• 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.