Non-staff - Refugee and Migrant Health Officer - Level NO-C Step 01 - Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

The World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office is looking for a qualified and competent Ugandan national to fill the following vacant position:

1.Background and Justification

Uganda is not only known as one of the top five refugee hosting countries worldwide, but also Africa’s largest refugee hosting country and a global role model because of its progressive refugee policy that is anchored in the 2006 Refugee Act and 201 Refugee Regulations. Uganda also developed the Settlement Transformation Agenda in 2016 to include refugees in national development plans, where refugees were provided with access to services on par with Ugandan nationals, and allocated land for shelter and cultivation, considering the protracted nature of displacement and its impact on host communities. In addition, refugee-hosting districts have been provided with support from development donors, including the EU (Development Initiative for Northern Uganda, Emergency Trust Fund for Africa), Germany, Denmark (Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative), US and South Korea, among others. Despite this additional support and significant progress in attracting development funds and investments in refugee-hosting districts, significant needs remain. This translated into the development of a joint Inter-Agency Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan 20222025. The Plan articulates prioritized strategies and costed humanitarian interventions for resource mobilization.

Healthcare is the second highest priority need by refugees, with 39% of refugee households being categorized as having high health vulnerability in 2019. There is a risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases due to inadequate health systems, but also due to cross-border movements, congestion, inadequate sanitation, and geographic location of settlements. Health partners are concerned of the low vaccination uptake and the negative perceptions towards vaccines, partly due to the lack of information about its availability and effectiveness.

In order to address inequities in vaccination coverage, accelerate progress towards objectives within the IA2030 in ensuring no one is left behind, and support the country in protecting the health of refugee and migrants, it is critical to continue supporting the provision of integrated services for refugees and migrants to ensure that inclusive services are provided and to support building a resilient health system in host districts.

Purpose of the Position

The purpose of this position is to support the work of the WHO Country Office in Uganda to plan, coordinate, and implement activities aimed at improving immunization coverage in refugee-hosting districts. Priority work will include ensuring that zero-dose and under-vaccinated refugees and migrants are reached with the recommended vaccines as well as implementing interventions aimed at preparing for and responding to vaccine-preventable diseases outbreaks.

* Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives)

1. Support the establishment of a national multi-stakeholder working group with UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners who will be engaged in the different phases of a research study. This will include mapping potential working group members, coordinating regular meetings, and following up on agreed next steps.
2. Liaise with the national and district counterparts and stakeholders including technical working group members in the review/development of the Expanded Programme on Immunization plan for refugee-hosting districts and assist to strengthen the evaluation and monitoring of immunization activities.
3. Monitor the implementation of planned activities and ensure the availability of potent vaccines as well as the required equipment and injection materials.
4. Coordinate planning, development of protocol and implementation of a research study to identify and analyse barriers and drivers to vaccine uptake among refugees and migrants in Uganda.
5. Compile and share the study findings with all relevant stakeholders within the district and submit project proposals for strengthening the existing systems as informed by the research findings.
6. Map and engage partners on the ground who will be involved in the task team leading the development of a preparedness and response plan with a focus on vaccine-preventable diseases among refugees and migrants. This will include the coordination of regular task team meetings and compiling and addressing feedback from partners.
7. Support the design and roll out of a data collection exercise (e.g., through a survey) focused on gathering health data on refugees and migrants in the country, including information relevant to tailor and strengthen immunization programmes.
8. Liaise with the Ministry of Health counterparts or other health related interlocutors in the refugee-hosting district planning and organization of vaccination campaigns.
9. Participate in training and capacity building of refugee-hosting districts vaccinators in the area of Immunization and Vaccines, including outbreak preparedness and response.
10. Work with the emergency preparedness and response team and health information teams from MOH to strengthen vaccine preventable disease surveillance in the refugee-hosting districts.
11. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Competencies:

*1. Communicating in a credible and effective way

*2. Producing results

*3. Fosters integration and teamwork

Functional Knowledge and Skills:-

• Knowledge in public health, as well as an understanding of migration dynamics in Uganda.
• Knowledge and understanding of the national health system, service delivery models, immunization programmes and strategies. Knowledge of how to conduct scientific research.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals.
• Knowledge and understanding of national health system, service delivery models, and immunization service delivery.

Educational Qualifications

• Essential:-

University degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in medicine, epidemiology, public health, health sciences, or a related discipline.

• Desirable:-

An advanced university degree, master’s level or above in health (medicine or public health).

Experience

Essential

Five years of relevant experience in the field of immunization, disease surveillance, or prevention and detection of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Experience in conducting research and translating research findings to policy

Desirable

Relevant experience working with WHO or with the UN system.

Relevant experience working on refugee and migrant health and/or cross-border health interventions.

Other Considerations (e.g. Physical Workplace Condition, if other than normal office environment; IT Skills; etc.)

Will be based in Kampala office but with field visits given that the position involves field work and engagement with several stakeholders.

Remuneration

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at UGX 226,180,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.