Strategic Health Information Officers

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, analyse 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

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active WHO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to WHO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: Serve as WHO focal point for strategic health information through generating data and statistics, analytics, and knowledge in specific countries of the region to ensure health intelligence and evidence is available and used for decision making

• 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.

The core competencies required of the candidates include:

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.

Expected functional Skills and Knowledge

The incumbent should be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

(i) Elements of health information systems governance and how they can be applied to improve statistics, analytics and knowledge use for decision making

(ii) Common sources of health data and statistics including facility-based registry systems, community registration systems, health surveys, and surveillance systems amongst others

(iii) 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

(iv) Review of data quality, in particular the health data system and approaches to improve data quality

(v) Analysis and synthesis of health data and interpretation of results through a high level of analytical skills at all levels of the health system

(vi) 6.Advanced ability to design, manage, analyze and coordinate complex information system projects, computer-based applications and databases, web-based tools

(vii) Processes and mechanisms for effective dissemination of health and decision-making such as spreadsheet applications, CSPro application, Tableau, Power BI, STATA and others

(viii) 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.

Values:

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication: proven interpersonal skills • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Serve as WHO focal point for strategic health information through generating data and statistics, analytics, and knowledge in specific countries of the region to ensure health intelligence and evidence is available and used for decision making.

Essential : · At least 3 (three) years’ practical experience working in generating and using strategic health information, specifically in generating health data / statistics, analysis of data including conducting of sector wide Monitoring and Evaluations, development of knowledge products such as health policy briefs.

· 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.

· Support to information systems in health at the national and sub national (district) levels in multiple countries

Desirable: · Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.

· Experience of working in countries of the WHO African Region

The UNV will be based in Moroni in Grande Comore with travel possibilities in the other islands (Anjouan or Mohéli) if necessary. Inter-island travel is by plane and at the expense of the project. Two accommodation options: at the hotel whose price varies between 30 and 50 USD or private house rental for an average cost of 400 USD (furnished).

The cost of urban transport by collective taxi costs 1 USD and interurban between 1 and 3 USD. Official travel will be provided by the project vehicle.

Comoros is in phase 2, a security clearance request is mandatory (DSS.un.org).

The standard of living is quite high because the Union of the Comoros imports most of the basic products (rice, sugar, milk, etc.). The average cost of a restaurant meal is $ 15.