Climate Change and Health Specialist

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.

Viet Nam is one of the 20 most vulnerable countries to climate change, driven by a heavy reliance on fossil fuels for current energy needs. The health impacts of climate change in Viet Nam are significant: extreme weather events caused by climate change are a risk to health and life; changing weather patterns caused by climate change will likely increase the frequency and severity of outbreaks of diseases such as dengue; air pollution is a serious health hazard, especially in the north of Viet Nam: the average level of PM2.5 is 5 X higher than the levels recommended in the WHO air quality guidelines, and air pollution causes approx. 60,000 deaths every year. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), including in health care facilities, remains a significant challenge: in 2019, 46% of healthcare facilities had only limited water services. However, there is strong political commitment in Viet Nam to addressing climate change: at COP26, the Prime Minister committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The health sector has a key role to play in supporting both climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Addressing the health impacts of climate change as part of the Government’s climate change agenda can also help to amplify the broader benefits of this policy agenda. WHO aims to provide technical, policy and strategic support to the Ministry of Health on (1) strengthening the capacity of the health sector in raising public and healthcare workers’ awareness on health impacts from climate change, (2) strengthening advocacy for efforts and interventions to address health impacts from climate change, and (3) providing technical support in improving national policies and strategies, and implementing national actions to ad-dress the health impacts of climate change, as well as to support the transition towards a low carbon health system. The UN Volunteer (Climate change and health specialist) will work closely with Technical Officer in Environmental Health under supervision of the UHC-HLE Team Coordinator.

Under the direct supervision of the UHC-HLE Team Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Task 1: Providing technical support in improving national policies and strategies, and implementing national actions to address the health impacts of climate change, and support efforts to transition towards a low carbon health system, including: • Reviewing national policies, strategies, action plans and intervention solutions to identify gaps for improvement based on international experience;
• Proposing recommendations in implementation of the national action plan for air pollution.

Task 2: Strengthening advocacy for efforts and interventions to address health impacts from climate change, including: • Using international experience to recommend measures for improvement of the national approach and methodology of evidence collection and research on health im-pacts of climate change; • Support WHO efforts to address health impacts of air pollution, including meetings and stakeholders’ consultation workshops to share international experience and practice in advocacy on health impacts from air pollution and recommendations for the improvement of advocacy on the health impacts from air pollution.

Task 3: Providing technical support to the implementation of raising public and healthcare workers’ awareness on the health impacts from climate change, including: • Providing technical support to implementing partners in the implementation of activities in the WHO workplan for 2024-2025 related to climate change and health; • Joining training, workshops and field trips for monitoring and evaluation of WHO’s workplan implementation.

Task 4: Performing other duties as requested/required by the WHO Viet Nam Country Office.

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 in-stance 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 participation in ongoing reflection activities; • 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.

Competencies and Values: ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Integrity ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Working in Teams

environmental or occupational health, environmental management, medicine and public health, communication, or other projects and programmes related to climate change, environmental issues and health, at the national and/or international level. Experience in community engagement, strategic communication and/or public awareness raising on environmental health issues would be a strong asset. Experience working in the WHO or other UN/international development organization would also be advantageous. • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong analytical skills; • Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners and authorities at different levels and in a culturally diverse environment; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision and to tight deadlines; • Have affinity with or interest in the mission of promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The incumbent will live in Ha Noi, which has most of the economic and social amenities at a reasonable cost. Depending on living arrangements, housing can be expensive. Security is good. Ha Noi has a humid, tropical climate and monsoons. Summers, between May and September, are very hot with plenty of rain, while winters, from November to March, are cold and relatively dry. Living conditions in Hanoi are relatively good by developing country standards. Viet Nam is a middle income country which has witnessed rapid economic growth with impressive results in poverty reduction over the past twenty five years. The country has deepened its integration into global and regional institutions such as the WTO, the UN institutions and ASEAN. Its current path of development is guided by the Socio Economic Development Strategy 2011-2020 which was endorsed at the 11th Communist Party Congress in 2011. Viet Nam was recently ranked as one of the more secure and stable places to live and do business by outside research groups. In line with further improvements in the availability of goods and services, health facilities, and housing, the level of hardship in the duty station has recently been upgraded from C to B. Security is also reasonably good relative to other developing country large cities.