Public Health Officer

Overview

Provide technical support for public health responses in Sudan.

You have:

• At least 5 years of experience in public health in emergencies or managing outbreaks.
• Excellent oral and written skills in English.
• Experience working with UN or other international organizations is an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications.
• Ability to work in challenging and multicultural environments.
• Interest in public health and health in emergencies.

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.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Sudan works to strengthen the country's health systems, improve disease prevention and control, and respond to health emergencies.

WHO in Sudan provides technical support and expertise, helping to manage outbreaks of diseases like cholera, malaria, and COVID-19, and to address long-term health challenges, such as maternal and child health, nutrition, and access to essential medicines. Additionally, WHO collaborates with the Sudanese government, NGOs, and international partners to improve healthcare infrastructure and access for all Sudanese people.

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), at the country level, the incumbent will provide technical advice for all WHO strategic categories and related public health programmes, including: i) Strengthening emergency response/resilience and preparedness activities to reduce mortality, morbidity especially due to the impact of outbreaks and or public health emergencies. ii) Advising national and international actors on public health issues related to emergency response. iii) Strengthening the health system, enhancing health equity, tackling the social determinants of health and envisioning the achievement of universal health coverage. iv) Underpin the response to the major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors among affected population. v) Advocate the utilization of reliable information, evidence, innovation and knowledge for improving population health outcomes, throughout the full cycle of the emergency response. vi) Liaising with other sectors in providing a public health response in emergencies and outbreaks vii) Providing technical public health input for strategic planning, project management and reporting

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Regional Hub Coordinators the UN Volunteer will:

• Assess threats to human life and health, damage to health infrastructure for primary and secondary care, the state of health referral and support systems, including cold chain, laboratory, essential drugs and health information systems, and the vital needs of the affected populations. • Coordinate with national authorities and health partners to coordinate and implement public health response activities as part of the health cluster’s strategic response; analyse existing coordination mechanisms, designing and recommending improvements. • Provide analysis of the public health risks, needs and capacities and advise on priority interventions for WHO and partners; challenges and operational course correctors, as applicable. • Monitor progress towards achievement of set key health indicators and their impact on the incident management system, including identifying inequities, gaps in the delivery of health services or emergency interventions, recommending appropriate actions and innovative approaches to improve the situation. • Facilitate the implementation of effective, evidence-based public health programmes and interventions in the respective region supported, this might include response to disease outbreaks, essential services including maternal and new born health, NCDs, risk communication and other related areas. • Secure information from a broad range of health sectors, analysing such and consolidating health data in trends and trends assessment, with particular attention to surveillance, monitoring and early warning. • Provide input to communications and information products (Sitreps, health cluster bulletins, outbreak bulletins etc.) as required. • Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Communication • Creativity • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Knowledge Sharing • Managing Performance • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

at the national and/or international level in public health in emergencies, or managing outbreaks and health emergencies and/ health consequences and crises. • Experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset, as is experience in capacity building programme planning/development, project management, monitoring and evaluation. • 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 and health in health in emergencies, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Sudan is a unique country facing a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. Allowances The purpose of allowances for international UN Volunteers specialists is to enable the international UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for volunteer work. Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): All international UN Volunteers specialists are entitled to a monthly volunteer living allowance of USD 3,764.43 The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the international UN Volunteer. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. The monthly allowance rate is a fixed rate for the duty station as established by UNV headquarters.

Potential interview questions