Associate Public Health Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General As-sembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home vol-untarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

The ‘Associate Public Health Officer is expected to provide development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on the job training when working with (in-cluding supervising) national staff or non-governmental counterparts, including im-plementing partners. Reports and inputs as stated above are submitted regularly and on-time. Other tasks assigned are completed in a timely and accurate way.

Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assign-ment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed. The Associate PHO is expected to effectively coordinate the Sudan crisis response including basic and lifesaving services to the persons we serve in Wedweil settlement. The incumbent is expected ensures effective coordination mechanisms along with ministry health structure, UN agencies and other human-itarian organizations. The Associate PHO safeguards public health, MHPSS, clinical as-pects of SGBV programming, Nutrition and Wash activities at the Wedweil settlements and various entry points.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of UNHCR Aweil Field unit and under indirect technical supervision from the UNHCR Public Health officer at the Representation Office in Juba, South Sudan), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Programme planning, monitoring and evaluation together with UNHCR partners to effective-ly address issues of public health importance, based on the principles of public health and Primary Health care in the refugee camps and transit centers as well as in the areas of re-turn for returnees.

Activities include supporting partners and the refugee community to.

• Ensure the public health services provided by partner to refugees and returnees are complying with the required national and international standards.

• Guide and support partners to use the UNHCR Health Information System and collect UNHCR statistics verifying Core Standards and Indicators; review monthly health data; and compile technical periodic reports as well as the Annual report on the health situation.

• Ensure implementation of appropriate country protocols and guidance and adherence to UNHCR specific guidance for public health programming.

• Support partners in the implementation of the public health programmes, including re-productive health, HIV and mental health.

• Provide guidance and follow up to partners in the implementation of UNHCR action plans including for malaria and HIV/AIDS.

• Provide technical contributions during planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation process in the UNHCR program cycle.

• Ensure timely coordination and implementation of UNHCR led programmes

2. Coordination of services between UNHCR partners, National and international NGOs, other UN agencies, and Ministry of Health, and other sectors; ensuring early engagement of de-velopment agencies as appropriate.

• Capacity building of partners and refugee health officials as appropriate in identified are-as of weakness; facilitation of partners’ access to training activities conducted by other agencies, with a particular focus on health information and disease surveillance; malaria management; safe motherhood; integrated management of childhood Illness.

• Participate in advocacy, information sharing and communication on the health situation of populations of concern, within UNHCR and among partners, donors, other agencies, and the Government.

• Acts as focal point for UNHCR for any health and medical matters in relation with the UNHCR strategy.

• Participate actively in appropriate groups on the health, population, HIV/AIDS, and other cross cutting working groups and or forums related to health and medical issues, with the aim to anchor refugees and returnees' health concerns and needs into the ONE UN health program.

• Coordinate and lead monthly health coordination meetings with implementing partners, in close coordination with the programme

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)

• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.

• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including par-ticipation in ongoing reflection activities.

• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.

• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant lo-cal individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible

. Under the EU INTPA Regional Program funding, the incumbent contributes towards SDG 3 of Good Health and Well Being, through public health system strengthening and transformation. To achieve project objective including a robust response to the Sudan crisis, the indument is closely working with the diverse UNHCR South Sudan team including protection, program, other relevant units and external partners to ensure effective cluster coordination, standard-ization, timely need assessment, the ongoing use of UNHCR information database, im-plemting innovative measures, indicator monitoring, reporting, providing weekly operational updates and related to address health, nutrition and Wash needs of people we serve in UNHCR Aweil operation

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartial-ity and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; re-sponsive and client-oriented.

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working.

public health. Previous working experience, preferably in refugee settings and/or international experience is an asset. Experience with AIDS/HIV pro-grammes is an added advantage; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies and Ministry of Health is a plus.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds.

The incumbent’s duty staton, Aweil is a city located in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, East Aweil County in South Sudan. The weather condition varies between 17-33°C, Wind NW at 10 km/h, 12% Humidity. Aweil is classified as a non-family duty station with the hardship cat-egory “E”, mainly due to its remoteness and low level of basic facilities. The security level is categorised as level-4 with the situation calm and stable.

All security briefings are provided in Juba by the Senior Field Safety Officer upon arrival. Security clearance is re-quired for all travel between Aweil, entry points and Juba. However, the political environment in South Sudan is unpredictable, thus requires strong security awareness when in the field.

There is no reliable commercial flight operating between Aweil and the capital, Juba. Travel between Juba and Aweil is facilitated by UNHAS flight. There is also road transport to dispatch logistics where the road is bumpy. Security clearance is mandatory, via undss web. There is level 1 UN clinic in UNMISS compound and Aweil County hospital for emergency consultation.

As Aweil is designated R&R Duty Station, IUNV is entitled to go for R&R every 6 weeks (42 days) stay in the duty station. Accommodation is provided for all international staff in the UNHCR guest house. Visitors, too, can be accommodated if room is available.

Staff and visitors are expected to remain in the premises of the guest house after 2100hrs. South Sudan is a unique country and Aweil is a unique (humanitarian) operation with increased refugee and returnees' influx from Sudan. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and afford-able.

There are several refugees returns reception centers and entry points for UNHCR opera-tional areas under UNHCR Field unit Aweil. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and will-ingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.