Associate Public Health Officer

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UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 21 Mar 2022 at 00:00 UTC

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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.

Conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Sudan’s Blue Nile state in September 2011 led to the influx of refugees into South Sudan starting in November 2011. Hundreds of thousand refugees have sought protection and assistance from the Government of South Sudan, where they have been settled in four camps – Doro, Yusuf Batil, Gendrassa and Kaya - in Maban County, Upper Nile state. The operation continues to transition through post emergency phase. In view of the complex and high-risk nature of the large-scale operation in which all 4 Pillars of UNHCR are being implemented in Upper Nile State, UNHCR Sub-Office Bunj would require the technical expertise of an Associate Public Health Officer (IUNV).

Supervision, induction and duty of care of UN Volunteers UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to: • Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment; • Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence permit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host government or host entity; • Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the incumbent has a functional line with the Public Health Section in Juba regarding authoritative guidance and support in technical matters. The UN Volunteer Associate Public Health Officer will perform the following:

  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 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 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.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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 local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

• The Associate Public Health Officer is a member of a multidisciplinary team and will ensure that UNHCR's public health programmes meet minimum UNHCR and global health standards in order to minimise avoidable morbidity and mortality among populations of concern (POC) and towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • Strong and timely technical guidance is provided to UNHCR senior management and partners including on the design and scope of UNHCR’s responses in health and nutrition, the engagement of other actors is catalysed, resource mobilisation efforts are supported including with the private sector and monitors the response. • The Associate Public Health Officer would ensure consultation with communities seeking the diverse views of men, women, girls and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, LGBTI persons, persons with disabilities, including people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, in assessing needs, designing, implementing, and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR’s policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming. • Capacity building needs assessments of UNHCR staff and partners is supported and approaches to address capacity gaps including identifying internal and external training opportunities are developed.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

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

The UNHCR operation in South Sudan provides protection and support to refugees, IDPs, and statelessness. The conflict that broke out in Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile States in 2011 led to widespread displacement of civilians to Upper Nile State and Unity State in South Sudan. As a result, in 2019, South Sudan is hosting almost 300,000 refugees mainly from Sudan but also from DRC, Ethiopia, and CAR. In 2019, almost 1.9 million people have been displaced in South Sudan because of the civil war which has brought massive destruction and loss of life, as well as serious violations of human rights. Since the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed on 12 September 2018, the security situation in South Sudan improved in most areas.

R&R cycle for all duty stations in South Sudan is six weeks and all international staff reside at UNHCR provided accommodation. UN curfew is from 19:00 to 06:00. There are limited medical facilities in Juba and other cities in the country. The Bunj hospital has minimal medical facilities with serious to severe cases managed outside the duty station. In all UNHCR compounds, regardless of the location, accommodations are equipped with all the necessary furniture and cleaning services. In addition, most locations are equipped with a gym or some sports equipment. Food supply varies depending on the season; at Bunj Maban fruits and vegetables tend to be scarce most of the year. There is the option for staff to buy meals from a cafeteria. WFP UNHAS provides air passenger service three times a week. There is water, electricity, and Internet connection available on the UNHCR compound that houses both office premises and accommodation. The area has no banking facilities, and phone communications are mostly erratic.

South Sudan is a unique country and Bunj Maban is a unique (humanitarian) operation. 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 affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate US$ 1,631. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unv.org