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 Republic of Djibouti currently hosts 19,158 refugees and 10,900 asylum seekers in its territory in urban areas and in three refugee sites. The majority of these refugees and asylum-seekers are Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian nationals. Somalis live in the Ali-Addeh and Holl-Holl sites in the Ali-Sabieh district, while Yemenis live in the Markazi site in the Obock district. In addition to the Somalis and Yemenis, since March 2016, the Ethiopians have come from the Oromia and Amhara regions and are accommodated particularly in the refugee sites of Ali-Addeh and Holl-Holl. Djibouti’s health system is based on the district health system approach and the primary health care strategy. The organization of health care structures is pyramid-shaped with three levels. There are three subsectors of care within this pyramid: (public, parapublic and private). In the public sub-sector, the first level is made up of health posts (32) in rural areas and community.

1. Programme planning, monitoring and evaluation together with UNHCR partners to effectively 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 return 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 verifiying 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 reproductive 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 development agencies as appropriate.

• Capacity building of partners and refugee health officials as appropriate in identified areas 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 section. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

•Professionalism •Integrity •Teamwork and respect for diversity. •Commitment to continuous learning. •Planning and organizing. •Communication: proven interpersonal skills. •Flexibility. •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

A minimum 3 years of experience in public health; previous working experience, preferably in refugee settings and/or international experience, is an asset; experience with AIDS/HIV programmes is an added advantage; experience working with multi-sectorial teams especially UN agencies and Ministry of Health is a plus;

Djibouti is a small country of over 900,000 people. Although mired with its own economic challenges, it continues to welcome and provide for its refugee and asylum-seeker community of 30,475 roughly 3% of its population. UNHCR works with the Government of Djibouti, donors, and partners to alleviate the challenges of refugees in the three villages (Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, and Markazi) as well as in the urban areas. The majority of persons of concern (PoC) in Djibouti are refugees from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia living in the villages of Ali Addeh and Holl Holl in the south of the country although UNHCR Djibouti also extends protection related services to approximately 5,569 PoC living among the host community in Djibouti Ville. Many of these individuals have been assisted in the villages for over 25 years. The Yemen crisis has caused a substantial influx of recent arrivals in Djibouti. Currently, there are 5,206 Yemeni refugees living in Djibouti, out of which 2,320 are registered in Markazi village, in the Northern region of Obock. The long-term displacement context, prevalence of secondary movements and influx of arrivals from Yemen all present distinct protection concerns among the diverse PoC, demanding a solution-oriented approach to protection that is considered multi-dimensional. Rule of law and access to justice programming is a key enabling element of such approach. Partnership opportunities in the protection arena are limited in Djibouti, with only a small number of international NGOs present and a relatively small local civil society presence. Most legal support to refugees has been limited to assistance of SGBV survivors, marriages and divorce. This assistance involves support for SGBV victims to navigate the legal process through assistance to obtain necessary medical evidence, in cases of sexual assault or domestic violence, and advice on legal processes.