Community Health Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

Over the last few decades Viet Nam health care system is constantly in a changing and transforming process. In this process, more resources have been made available for health, however, new, and unprecedented challenges are also emerged such as the system fragmentation with hospital centric trend, cost escalation, inadequate quality, and safety, and weak, underfunded primary care system. The country currently faces growing burden of NCDs and rapid ageing population. NCDs patients and older people will need more primary care.

In 2017, the Party issued Resolution 20 which specified that primary care or grassroot healthcare system (as it is called in Viet Nam) will be a priority for the government in implementing and achieving universal health coverage. The purpose of this UNV post is to be part of the Universal Health Coverage team in the country office and provide technical and administrative assistance to the team in responding to the government request for WHO technical assistance in health systems and primary health care.

The proposed UNV’s work is in line with WHO’s 13th Global Program of Work (GPW 13) and contributing to its triple billion goals. Specifically, this activity will contribute to the achievement of GPW 13’s Output 1.1.1 - Countries enabled to provide high quality, people-centred health services, based on PHC strategies and comprehensive essential service packages.

Within the delegated authority and under the overall guidance of WHO Representative and the direct supervision of the Universal Health Care Team Coordinator, the UN Volunteer Community Health Specialist will:

Provide programmatic assistance in primary healthcare system strengthening:

Contribute to the transforming of primary care system in Viet Nam by working as part of health system team in the WHO’s country office and with government counterparts.

Support the WHO team in development of strategies and models for community engagement especially in addressing disease, illnesses, and social determinants of health such as gender, age, migration, and other social-economic factors

Support UHC team in engaging with the UN teams working under the thematic priority of social equity and inclusion, including support to programmatic coordination, monitoring and reporting.

Perform other duties as requested/required by the WHO Viet Nam office, such as interpretation, writing/editing report, liaising with national and local governments and agencies, participation in the work and initiatives cross the UN system in Viet Nam.

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.

13. Results/expected outputs

As an active WHO Viet Nam Office’s team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to WHO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

Technical documents (such as activity proposals, concept note, etc.) for related areas of work that meet WHO quality standards and are submitted in a timely manner,

Meeting reports of the consultation workshops on relevant health system topics

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 assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO 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 WHO in daily activities and behaviours 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 behaviour; 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 WHO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

l in relevant programme areas; with the experience and knowledge of the health sector in Vietnam as a strong asset, as is experience working in UN or international development organization;

Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

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; ability to work with tight deadlines;

Sound security awareness;

Have affinity with or interest in the mission of promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially the goal on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with a principle of leaving no one behind, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

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.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.