Medical Officer, Essential Immunization

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 141,367 USD and 182,264 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Justification

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate to each targeted population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind. The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the VPD programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

Purpose of the Post

The incumbent will be the focal person for essential Immunization within the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, which supports the achievement of universal immunization coverage in the African Region, as part of broader efforts to strengthen primary health care and achieve universal health coverage, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the incumbent has first line responsibility for all aspects of essential immunization activities, guided by the Global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA 2030), the Regional Strategic plan on Immunization (RSPI), the Addis Ababa Deceleration on Immunization targets including but not limited to facilitating coordinated approaches; proactively contributing to the development & adaptation of WHO strategies and policies; reviewing and adapting existing guidelines; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities, support the coordination and contribution to provide transformational leadership in the implementation of the UCN/VPD programme. The incumbent. duties include supporting member states and leading the efforts but not limited to; facilitating development of National Immunization Strategic plans aligned with the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Regional Strategic Plan on Immunization, monitoring implementation of annual operational plans, coordinating innovative approaches and strategies to control, eliminate and eradicate targeted VPDs ; proactively contributing to the development of strategies and policies, including reviewing and adapting existing guidelines ; supporting strengthening of governing bodies and technical advisory groups, coordination with partners, ; conducting and contributing to capacity building activities. Context Under the overall direction by the Director of the Universal Health Coverage-Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases Cluster, and supervision by the VPD program team leader, the incumbent is an Immunization expert who will lead, and facilitate, the essential immunization area in the development, implementation, and monitoring of WHO AFRO’s regional immunization strategies, polices, plans, programmes, and interventions to reduce the burden of VPDs towards attainment of UHC and the SDGs in the WHO African Region. The incumbent will facilitate coordinated and integrated approaches contributing to the needs of the Member States of the Region. S/he will oversee capacity building and training based on technical norms, standards, best practices and Standard Operating Procedures. S/he will have delegated authority to establish and accomplish work goals, identify problems, and provide broad guidance for resolving challenges and for possible redesign of existing policies and integration of such policies into other programme areas within the framework of WHO Staff Rules and Regulations, financial rules, and AFRO accepted procedures. Contacts Duties require ongoing contacts and consultation within VPD and UCN in the Regional Office, ISTs and WHO/HQ as well as staff in Country Offices as appropriate, to promote cross-cutting activities and ensure full collaboration and coordination of activities. Successful results also involve regular contacts to establish and strengthen communication and partnerships with national and regional officials, health professionals, representatives of multi- and bilateral agencies as required, including for resource mobilization and evidence guided advocacy. The coordination includes supporting the Sub regional Immunization working groups, National Immunization technical Advisory Groups, regional Immunization Technical Advisory Groups including and based on need coordination with academia, intergovernmental organizations and institutions and NGOs; within the delegated authority, the incumbent represents VPD/UCN at regional and national meetings on immunization and related activities.

Summary of duties

The incumbent contributes to the following 1. Coordination, Governance and leadership support to the immunization program through

• Facilitating alignment of the implementation of the AFR Regional Strategic plan on Immunization with appropriate regional policy frameworks including the Immunization Agenda 2030, the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization, and the resolutions of the regional committee and world health assembly; proactively advising and guiding regional and national partners on routine immunization at the regional and country levels; • Supporting development, monitoring and evaluation of VPD work plans and budgetary proposals; • Coordinating elaboration and implementation of immunization resource mobilization and advocacy strategies; . • Facilitating coordination with RITAG, ICC, NIATGs and partners; • Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of recommendations of WHO governing bodies; • Updating existing guidelines, policies and standard procedures for implementation of Immunization and VPD surveillance at the regional, sub-regional and national levels for vaccination along the life course, • · Supporting the development and implementation of harmonized, costed national strategic plans and protocols for routine immunization (for control, elimination and eradication of targeted VPDs) including ensuring forecasting and maintenance of vaccine stockpiles for emergency vaccination.

2. Periodic assessment of Immunization programs through • Coordinating the mid-term and/or end-term evaluation of national immunization strategies within member States of the region; • Facilitating conduct of appropriate immunization monitoring and evaluation activities including periodic vaccination coverage surveys, comprehensive program reviews;

3. Development and implementation of WHO technical products through • Publication of periodic reports including: feedback bulletins in close collaboration with team members (at the regional, sub-regional and country levels); contributing to annual global progress reports; and maintaining up-to-date regional and national databases on routine immunization; • Facilitating deployment of innovations in national immunization programmes including innovations in the tracking of under and un-vaccinated people, use of electronic Immunization registers, and deployment of electronic logistics management systems; • Coordinating country support to members states including: technical support as may be required and in pursuit of enhanced programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and institutional and human resource capacity building.

Required profile

Excellent organization, technical and analytical skills together with extensive knowledge of data analysis tools; Sound judgement and the ability to resolve issue related to data management problems in the proactive manner; Broad knowledge and understanding of theoretical and practical statistical techniques and knowledge of research methods and technical and techniques; Proven communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to explain technical issues with tact and diplomacy; Track record of keeping abreast of available technology; Ability to write in a clear and concise manner.

Education (Qualifications)

• Essential

Degree in medicine with post-graduate degree/training in public health or health policy, complemented by post-graduate training in epidemiology with specialization in infectious diseases or communicable diseases OR PhD in public health, epidemiology or related field with a specialization in infectious diseases

• Desirable

Specialization in vaccinology, immunology, infectious diseases, pediatrics

Experience

• Essential

A minimum of seven years progressive experience in developing, designing, and implementing public health programmes, especially managing routine immunization system especially planning, implementation and/or M&E of immunization programmes, with a minimum of 5 years inclusive at the international level in low and/or middle-income countries. · Experience in overseeing implementation, review and updating existing policies, strategies and guidelines and recommending new initiatives and innovative approaches · Experience in the development of capacity building tools and databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes, introduction process of new vaccines, monitoring of VPD programme including demand generation through inclusive community engagement approach · Experience in vaccine logistics management, · Experience in facilitating coordinated approaches to effective programme management, implementation; monitoring and evaluation, national strategic plan development · Experience in resources mobilization and working with variety of partners coordination at international level; · A track record of research, with publications at senior authorship level in peer reviewed journals

• Desirable

Experience in policy formulation, quality management, strategic and policy planning as well as facilitating consultations. Experience in implementation of national immunization programme would be an asset.

Use of language

Essential

Excellent Knowledge of English and/or French/Portuguese, (depending on location)

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of other UN official languages.

Other Skills

Proven ability to use standard office software packages, Conversant with common IT software including eHealth tools.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. • A written test may be used as a form of screening. • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. • WHO is committed to workforce diversity. • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged. • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates. • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant. • WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.