Programme Assistant- SSA

Programme & Policy

Overview

Support vaccination project administrative functions and ensure smooth operations.

You have:

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Contract

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

COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China (SARS-CoV-2), was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. In Mozambique, the first positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed on March 22, 2020. Through Decree No 11/2020, March 30, a State of Emergency was declared, for reasons of public calamity throughout the national territory. Since then, the country has been experiencing an increase in cases of COVID-19 counting to January 23, 2021, a cumulative number of 31,628 cases, with 297 deaths and 20,002 recovered by COVID-19 on a projected population of 30,832,244 (Pop. Census INE 2017).

The urgency for a vaccine against COVID-19 has required unprecedented efforts from the global scientific community to accelerate the process of research and development of vaccines that are safe and effective in a short period of time. The speed at which vaccines are being developed requires that strict criteria be defined and implemented for introducing COVID-19 vaccines in Mozambique.

Vaccine introduction represents a national priority to alleviate the health and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vaccination against COVID-19 is designed to respond to two distinct problems: first, to reduce the viral infection and the transmissibility of the virus within a population (the condition of reaching a vaccination coverage still to be defined); second, to prevent the onset of severe disease and its consequences, thus avoiding the current pressure imposed on the health system. Currently, several countries around the world have launched vaccination campaigns to protect their population at risk of complications and avoid deaths and hospitalizations. These campaigns are strictly monitored by real life pharmacovigilance services.

Vaccination is a complementary measure for the prevention of COVID 19 because it provides partial protection. Therefore, non-pharmacological prevention measures such as the use of masks, hand washing, disinfection, and physical distancing should be maintained.

To obtain vaccines against COVID-19, Mozambique has defined two approaches. On one hand, the country has joined the COVAX initiative which will make available vaccine doses to cover 20% of its most at risk population and key workers in the country.

WHO is working in close partnership with countries and other partners to develop needed policies, strengthen regulatory capacity, training courses, and guide countries in all the needed preparations for a programme to deliver COVID-19 vaccines. WHO is supporting the country in preparing for COVID-19 vaccine introduction.

In this context, the World Health Organization in Maputo City is seeking a Program Assistant to work collaboratively on NDVP funded by GAVI which aimed at priority implementation of vaccination against COVID-19 in a safe and effective manner, ensuring equity and quality in the supply of vaccination.

Job organizational context:

The Generic Job Profile for the Programme Assistant at the G-5 level is to be used in a WHO office, in one of the programme sections.

This GJP covers a broad range of functions, however, depending on the context, the incumbent may focus on all, some, or only one or two areas with great depth. In addition, there may be additional functions not mentioned in the GJP. If this is the case, this can be made clear in work plans and/or individual performance plans.

Purpose for the job:

Under the close supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the programme assistant supports the respective section (s) by carrying out a range of procedural, administrative, and operational tasks, to help develop, implement and monitor their country programme, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with WHO rules and regulations.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Facilitating the processing of contracts for consultants, vendors and external partners that support the office in programme delivery. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading TOR’s in VISION, and making necessary logistical arrangements. Keeps vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters up-to-date.
• Collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter processing in GSM.
• Preparing and maintaining records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of project/programme implementation and financial expenditures.
• Supporting the management of administrative supplies and office equipment.
• Maintaining office calendar and arranging meetings. Taking minutes of meetings and keeping the correspondence of the team well organized.
• Providing travel assistance to staff members in section for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaising with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.
• Maintaining and updating a system which monitors the absence of staff.
• Preparing and maintaining records pertaining to programme planning and development for his/her respective section.
• Carrying out transactions in GSM ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per National Deployment Vaccination plan (NDVP), and makes amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Supporting capacity development activities, meetings and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts; arranging times through liaising with participants over availability; liaising with budget focal points and section over costs and needs; and preparing background materials for participants.

Impact of results

S/He supports the section in the compilation and coordination of key work products, ensuring deadlines are met and that established rules and procedures are followed. The support provided by the programme assistant therefore creates the strongest possible administrative platform from which the country programme can then be delivered. The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the country office and success in the implementation of project/programme activities.

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Communication (I)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (I)

Functional Competencies:

• Analyzing (I)
• Learning & Researching (I)
• Planning and organizing (I)
• Following Instructions and Procedures (I)

Education:

Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.

Experience :

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required.

Languague Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int