NCD Programme 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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical expertise on public health for NCD programme activities in the Caribbean region in support of the mandate of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). CARPHA is the Caribbean region’s collective response to strengthening health systems and addressing public health challenges which threaten development. Within the delegated authority and under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator, or his designated representative(s), the NCD Programme Officer, based within CARPHA will be responsible to:

National NCD Capacity Building

• Develop a 10-year strategy and costed action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs in Caribbean, with clear actions to achieve sub-regional, regional, and global mandates towards the reduction in premature NCD mortality in the Caribbean.
• Strengthen multi-sectoral groups, ensure wide representation, information exchange and support regular meetings and reporting against the implementation of the NCD Strategy and Costed Action Plan.
• Lead relevant epidemiological, economic, and service delivery studies/research to inform both policy development and various multisectoral planning for NCDs.
• Lead technical assistance to support policy analysis for NCDs and support new policy development for NCDs in the Caribbean, including coordination structures and multisectoral monitoring frameworks that improve data availability for better analysis.
• Review, map and establish a database of existing policies for the prevention and control of priority NCDs in the Caribbean.
• Lead the development and refinement of tools and methods on NCD programme implementation in the region.
• Lead in the monitoring and evaluation of the national NCD strategy and costed action plan.
• Lead identification and development of training and institutional capacity strengthening needs in terms of human resources to manage NCDs at all levels of the health services and develop and implement plans to address them in a phased manner in the Caribbean region.
• Promote use of technology/digital tools for e-learning/skill development of primary health care workers and implementation of decision support systems for service delivery for NCD management.
• Responsible for mobilising resources from national and international donors and investors to fund the NCD Strategy and Costed Action Plan.
• Join the efforts of teams in the various Defeat-NCD country programmes to develop institutional operational modalities and frameworks.
• Develop collaboration with national and international universities, research institutions, and think tanks to support implementation of national plans for prevention and control of NCDs.
• Lead global knowledge-sharing by documenting lessons learned on capacity building in the Caribbean.
• Review reports and any evaluation documents of the CARICOM Strategic Plan of Action for the prevention and control of Non-communicable Diseases for countries of the Caribbean Community 2011-2015, including but not limited to, the Evaluation of the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration on NCDs.
• Ensure that the Strategic and Action Plan integrates comprehensive responses to emergencies and health crises, taking the COVID-19 pandemic context into account, including continuity of essential NCD prevention, diagnostic, treatment, support and care services during crises.
• Facilitate technical support and knowledge exchange between the organisations to advance the implementation of the Action Plan

Community Scale-up for NCD Services

• Lead in designing and implementing nationwide NCD screening programme with proper referral pathways and data collection mechanisms across the Caribbean region.
• Identify innovations and interventions to increase the provision of NCD services to communities in a cost-effective manner including last mile delivery and improved patient self-care. Drive institutional processes to transform some of these interventions as investible services to that can attract venture or private equity capital.

• Analyse existing or proposed primary health care systems and services on their inclusion of NCDs; identify needs for improvement and the methods and resources to accomplish such improvements.

• Develop new programme proposals and proactively explore opportunities to raise new funding and capital to scale up the effort of NCD services at community level.

• Actively participate in annual planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with governments and other counterparts.

• Build and strengthen close working relationship with all health sector counterparts in the region.

• Lead development of NCD services for people affected by disasters, conflicts, and crises, with a particular focus on pandemics such as COVID-19.

• Document current interventions and lessons learned in the prevention and control of NCDs in Caribbean Member States to facilitate mutually beneficial lessons learnt and to identify innovative interventions that are scalable or can be replicated.

• Lead the development of grants and agreements with identified implementation partners for managing the grant out activities in accordance with UNITAR rules and regulations.

Affordability and Accessibility of Essential NCD Supplies

• Build a strong working relationship and provide technical assistance to improve public, faith-based, and private sector procurement and supply chains for accessibility, availability and affordability of essential NCD medicines, diagnostics, and equipment in the Caribbean.
• Assess and provide assistance where needed to develop/improve the electronic forecasting, inventory, stock and logistics management information system and roll out trainings on their efficient use.

• Promote The Defeat-NCD Marketplace to relevant stakeholders as a procurement tool to help make provision of quality NCD supplies simpler and more cost effective in the region.

• Assess NCD drugs and supplies quality assurance practices and the countries’ approved suppliers, and pre-qualification process.

• Lead the documentation and tracking of improved affordability and accessibility of NCD drugs, diagnostics, and medical devices in the Caribbean through the development of the reginal market monitoring studies, and global State of the World’s Essential Medicines and Diagnostic Supplies for Noncommunicable Diseases report.

Sustainable NCD Financing

• Lead the management of The Defeat-NCD pooled fund in the Caribbean and ensure appropriate fundraising, grant management and donor reporting for the fund.
• Lead the development of innovative financing instruments for funding the Costed Action Plan for the prevention and control of NCDs
• Provide continuous analysis of health financing needs to implement the costed action plan on NCDs.
• Ensure continuous engagement and knowledge sharing across relevant stakeholders and governments departments ensuring the flow of funds to NCD care and documentation of best practices.

Reporting

• Develop progress reports for the implementation of the NCD programmes.
• Manage timely reporting to the donors for their contributions to The Defeat-NCD pooled fund in the Caribbean.
• Prepare briefing notes and/or presentations as requested for CARPHA and officials in the Caribbean to showcase the work on tackling NCDs nationally, regionally, and internationally.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Master's degree or equivalent in public health and a Graduate degree in Medicine, from an accredited and recognized academic institution is required.

Required experience:

60 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional work experience for Public health, Government facility, large International organisation, etc.
• Strong demonstrated track record in programme monitoring, evaluation, and reporting is required.
• Relevant work experience in at least two of the following areas: health policy development, health system strengthening and transformation, primary health care, project planning and management, capacity building and health innovation.
• 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 public health, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
• Knowledge in using project management tool Asana (https://asana.com) on a daily basis is required for this assignment. Certification as an Asana Certified Pros (https://academy.asana.com/series/certified-pro-courses) or Asana Ambassador (https://academy.asana.com/series/asana-ambassador-courses) is preferred. Completion of relevant courses on Asana Academy (https://academy.asana.com) in order to enrol on the Asana Ambassador programme is required within one month of starting this assignment.
• UNITAR prefers the volunteer to be self-sufficient and arrange to be equipped with the requisite professional tools and equipment to carry out this assignment such as laptop with standard Adobe and Microsoft Office software, and a mobile phone.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Spanish(Optional), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Public health, Monitoring and evaluation

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

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

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 5 January 2021