Strategic Health Information 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.

Currently, countries are facing gaps in the availability and use of health intelligence to guide and inform decision making for countries health agenda, and in implementation of the WHOs 13th General Programme of Work. These gaps arise because of inappropriate generation of data and statistics, limited country capacities for analysis of the existing data/statistics and the lack of knowledge products that translate these information into products that decision makers can utilize. WHO has been requested by Member States and partners to prioritize this capacity in country offices. This expectation has been reflected in the WHO Country office functional review processes, where the strategic health information capacity has been identified as a core capacity needed. Coupled with this is the current drive by the WHO Regional Office to open more opportunities for technically competent persons to have an opportunity to work with the WHO Regional Office, as part of its talent search and provision of opportunities to persons building careers in public health to enhance their international experiences. The WHO is therefore seeking technically competent United Nations Volunteers to work as Strategic Health Information Officers in multiple countries across the region.

Under the guidance and overall supervision of the WHO Representative, and working under technical guidance of the team responsible for Data, Analytics and knowledge translation at the Regional Office level, the persons shall contribute to the generation and use of strategic health information in the Country. The incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities which are performed according to the needs and agenda:

1) To proactively support the development of required capacities in the country to generate intelligence for health. This involves strengthening of systems for routine health facility data collection, birth death and cause of death, surveillance data, facility and community-based surveys including demographic and health surveys. This involves the development of norms and standards, regular country capacity assessments to identify gaps and provision of support to address these gaps, and regularly provide status updates through scorecards, statistics atlas and other methods to consolidate the country status. 2) To lead work with countries and technical experts on analysis of existing data and statistics in order to discern trends and patterns, plus build attribution and prediction models for the direction of health in the country. These analytics are at facility, sub national, national and cross-country levels. The emerging information shall be consolidated in periodic publications that will need to be produced, such as state of health in a member state or the sub-region, or specific program analyses. In addition, the support to sector monitoring and evaluation processes in the sub region. 3) To support the generation of evidence to guide decision makers, through development of health policy briefs, documentation of good / best practices, writing health blogs on key events, and other methods for evidence sharing. 4) Support the work on innovative approaches to ensuring strategic health information is available, specifically focusing on functioning of health observatories in the country and harmonizing the work on digital health. 5) Facilitate strengthening of governance of health information systems, particularly in assessing state of health information systems, and supporting initiatives to address gaps in the capacity to generate, analyze and use health information for decision making; establishment and supporting data collaboratives for better use of existing health information resources’ and mobilizing resources for health information. 6) Guide the generation of institutional data, analytical and knowledge products relating to the work of WHO and partners in countries such as SDG monitoring, Global Action Plan status, and the WHO Global Program of Work impact framework within the sub region. 7) To perform other related responsibilities as assigned by the WHO Representative and/or the Data analytics and knowledge translation team.

1) Communicating in a credible and effective way 2) Knowing and managing yourself 3) Producing results 4) Fostering integration and teamwork 5) Respecting and promoting cultural differences.

generating and using strategic health information, specifically in generating data / statistics, and/or analysis of data including conducting of sector wide Monitoring and Evaluations, and/or development of knowledge products such as health policy briefs.

The incumbent should be able to demonstrate an understanding of: 1) Elements of health information systems governance and how they can be applied to improve statistics, analytics and knowledge use for decision making 2) Common sources of health data and statistics including facility-based registry systems, community registration systems, health surveys, and surveillance systems amongst others 3) Knowledge of the common tools and mechanisms for collection of health data and statistics, such as the international disease classification, DHIS 2, conduct of verbal autopsies, and others 4) Review of data quality, in particular the health data system and approaches to improve data quality 5) Analysis and synthesis of health data and interpretation of results through a high level of analytical skills at all levels of the health system 6) Advanced ability to design, manage, analyze and coordinate complex information system projects, computer-based applications and databases, web-based tools 7) Processes and mechanisms for effective dissemination of health and decision-making such as spreadsheet applications, CSPro application, Tableau, Power BI, STATA and others 8) Ability to identify and apply modern ICT methodologies to health information systems and to the use of various mechanisms including for health observatories and scorecards for the implementation of best practices in the region.

Essential: • Experience with the compilation and analysis of large datasets from multiple sources. • Proven ability to document strategic health information such as through production of country statistical abstracts, sector review reports, health policy briefs, best practice documentations, and others.

Considered as an asset: • Experience in the health sector • Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. • Support to information systems in health at the national and sub national (district) levels in multiple countries • Experience of working in countries of the WHO African Region

The Republic of Botswana is an upper middle-income country located in southern Africa. English is the official language of Botswana and widely spoken, although Setswana (also called Tswana) is spoken by most people and there are other languages spoken throughout the country. Further information about Botswana can be found here https://reliefweb.int/country/bwa. There is a wide range of accommodation options from apartments to townhouses to stand alone housing. The climate is warm, with the rainy season during the summer months. Electricity, Wi-Fi connection and water supplies are generally reliable in Gaborone, with limited interruptions. Subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Botswana is an international tourism destination and there are also tourism opportunities in neighboring countries including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Botswana is a family duty station. There are two private hospitals in Gaborone and several international schools. Gaborone is located a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo Airport, providing excellent transport connections. The business dress code in Botswana is formal. Due to COVID-19 Botswana is currently under a state of emergency and travel restrictions have been imposed. While work can proceed, the UNV should be aware that it is possible that he/she will be required to work from home from time to time until restrictions are lifted completely.