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 Assembly. 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 voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). UNHCR Operations in Tanzania is managing a camp-based Persons We Serve (PWS) population of 249,383 refugees of whom 66.83% of the population are influx (Burundians) and 33.97 % are Congolese as of 31 March 2023. The refugees are currently situated in 2 namely Nyarugusu (131,811 PWS) and Nduta (76,176 PWS) located in northwestern Tanzania. UNHCR Tanzania, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and representatives of the donor community, has also been providing durable solutions for thousands of refugees through voluntary repatriation, local integration through naturalization and resettlement. As part of the basic needs for refugees, Public Health including Reproductive, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition services remains crucial and significant making it one of the key sectors of UNHCR refugee operation. This is in addition to other basic services including Shelter, water and sanitation facilities and etc. It is important to ensure effectivities delivery of health services and also ensure that refugees received the required services and are involved in delivery and management of services. In view of this, the incumbent will need to support the Public Health Officer to good coordination among the stakeholders in the health programme to minimize avoidable illness and mortality rates through proper programming. The incumbent will also work closely with the Ministry of Health, Health partners and other UN agencies on matters related to the entire health programmes of the refugees. In addition, he/she would identify and address issues of public health importance to all UNHCR programmes including care and maintenance, reception of new arrivals, resettlement, and repatriation. The incumbent will be based in Kasulu Field Office and directly cover Nyarugusu Camp.

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of Head of Field Office, Kasulu or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Public Health Officer will:

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. •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

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. •Coordinate the medical referral activities from the camp health facilities to the district and regional referral hospitals and insure adherence to the referral SOP and UNHCR referral guidelines. •Support the implementation of proper drug management system according to UNHCR guideline and work with the IPs in the preparation and finalizing the essential drug list. •Update the epidemic contingency plans for the common epidemics in the area and insure availability of supplies stock in the camp. •Actively participate and engage with Community Services unit and NGO implementing partners in organizing and conducting participatory assessments with persons of concern to UNHCR to assist in analyzing the service delivery gaps identified in Health and nutrition and involve refugees by age and gender to brainstorm in finding solution options for the problems.

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.

•Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; •Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviors; does not abuse power or authority. •Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; •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. •Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; •Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary. •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCRs mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

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. Excellent knowledge in written, spoken and comprehension of the English language. Knowledge of French/Swahili will be a definite advantage. Computer skills: Working knowledge of word, Excel and basic data analysis skills (e.g. Stata, Epi Info, Health Information System) required. A good knowledge of computer applications (minimum: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point and Internet.

The incumbent is expected to live in a remote isolated location with only basic and minimum facilities with the rest of the international community. His/her duties and responsibilities entail traveling between the offices of Kasulu and Kibondo and other refugee locations. The duty station is not conducive for families (particularly families with children). However, the security situation is overall good with access to transportation services. The airport travel is almost 1 and half hours away from the duty station.

Tanzania is a unique country and Tanzanian Operation 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.

Conditions of Service

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.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.