Refugee Health and Communicable Diseases Programme Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The war in Ukraine has sparked significant displacement and movement of refugees escaping conflict into EU and non-EU border countries. From January 2023, over 8 million Ukrainian refugees have been registered across Europe, including over 1.5 million in Poland, making it by far the country with the highest number of refugees from Ukraine with 995,402 Ukrainian citizens have temporary protection status in Poland.

Based on the statistics from Ukraine, the WHO Regional Office for Europe estimates that 1 in 100 refugees are HIV-positive, and 57% of them will be on antiretroviral treatment and will need to continue with their antiretroviral therapy (ART). Depending on the number of people staying in the country, the number of people living with HIV could be between 10,000 (if 1.3 million people remained in Poland, as per third-party proxy data) and 26,000 people (if those who crossed the border all stayed in Poland). As of 10 August 2023, about 3,700 patients are in the Polish healthcare system to receive ART, pointing to a potential unmet need for ART due to different factors. Additionally, many of those estimated to be living with HIV may not be aware of their HIV status or may not have received ART treatment in Ukraine. Thus, they will need HIV testing and counseling services, linkage to clinical care, and tuberculosis screening for all People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

WHO estimates around 800 patients with TB might be among those who left Ukraine for Poland, including 200 patients with RR-TB. The Ukrainian TB program is aware of at least 74 patients with TB who are already in Poland; 40 of them have RR-TB. However, only 160 TB patients reached Polish TB institutions for treatment continuation. Considering the fact, that TB notification rate is about 61% of the estimated TB incidence, there will also be multiple cases of undiagnosed TB among refugees, who need to be taken care of.

It is key to facilitate linking refugees to the Polish health care system and the civil society organizations across the continuum of care without creating parallel systems within the Polish response structure.

Note on novel coronavirus – COVID-19. The rapidly changing nature of novel coronavirus COVID-19 has placed significant and increasing restrictions on the freedom of movement of people across the globe, within countries and across borders. Such restrictions make it very difficult for international UN Volunteers to begin their assignments at their assigned duty station and UNV cannot guarantee assignments will proceed as normal.

Under the overall supervision of the Country Representative Office in Poland, and technical guidance of the Refugee Health Response Project Coordinator, The UNV will work in close collaboration with the Country Office Team, Technical Advisors in the EURO region and in HQ, as well as with other health partners.

The UNV will undertake the following tasks. 1. Stakeholder mapping and analysis; 2. Collection of data needed for project formulation and implementation (from open sources); 3. Technical support to the partner organizations in formulating project proposals, workplans, budgets reporting forms, other relevant documents; 4. Ensuring timely authorization processes for partners and projects (capacity assessment, etc.) in line with WHO rules and regulations; 5. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects implementation; 6. Ensuring accuracy and timely submission of programmatic and financial reports by the partnering organizations; 7. Preparation of project data needed for donor and/or WHO internal reporting; 8. Participating in management of complex projects in the area of tuberculosis, HIV, other infectious diseases which might be relevant for country context; 9. Coordination of stakeholders during the implementation of projects; 10. Coordinating and organizing capacity building events; 11. Support and organization of field visits of RO and HQ personnel, external consultants for the respective disease area.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: - Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); - Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; - Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. - Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; - Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; - Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs - As an active World Health Organization team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to World Health Organization and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: - Strengthened collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders in addressing issues of access to services in the area of communicable diseases, with focus to refugee population. - Projects in the area of communicable diseases are timely implemented with due quality. Project results are duly recorded and reported. - Capacity building/awareness raising events in the area of communicable diseases are conducted timely and with due quality. - Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment - A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to World Health Organization; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to World Health Organization procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and World Health Organization in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

-Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards World Health Organization’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Bachelor's degree in a relevant area, e.g., Public Health, Medicine, or social sciences area related; - At least 2 years of professional working experience at the national and/or international level in project management/coordination in humanitarian/NGO/international organizations, experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset; - Desirable: Proven work experience with proven knowledge in the area of communicable diseases (HIV, TB, VH, STI) - Desirable: Proven work experience with proven knowledge in the area of refugee response.

Other Skills -Good computer skills in Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Information: • 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 an 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. • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. • WHO is committed to workforce diversity. • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to putting them 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. • This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

Allowances: • Entry lump sum: USD 400 • Relocation costs: USD 200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) • Volunteer living allowance: PLN 7391.74* • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): PLN 615.98* for each month served, paid on completion of contract * subject to exchange rate changes and can vary slightly every month.

• Insurance Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts for the UN Volunteer and health insurance coverage for up to 3 eligible dependents. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment.

Leave entitlements: • Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos