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.

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.

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

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. • 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. • Advanced use of MS Office, particularly spreadsheets, data visualization and analysis tools, and databases • Design and management of information systems • Familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS) • Skill in use of one or more statistical analysis programs (e.g., R, STATA, SAS, SPSS) • Understanding of the necessary public health programs, • Excellent organizational skills.

The Republic of Congo is a low-middle income country, located in Central Africa sub-region.

The country shares boundaries with Gabon in the South-West, Cameroon and Central Republic Africa in the North and North East, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the East, Angola and Atlantic Ocean in the South.

Since 2014, the Republic of Congo is experiencing an economic downturn, affecting the economic growth (-5 per cent in 2017). Because of the persistent drop in the price of oil, this situation drove to the decline of the gross domestic product per capita, from $3,196 in 2013 to $1,658 in 2017. Nevertheless, the country is globally stable and safe in the main urban and rural areas.

Frequent disruptions are recorded in the electricity supply, particularly in Brazzaville (political capital) and Pointe-Noire (economic capital). The living cost is relatively affordable, but some concerns with the cost of decent housing should be noted. The population enjoys dressing in style and loves music both profane and religious.

According to United Nations security standards, life and travel in Brazzaville and in the other areas major are secure.

The Republic of Congo is a unique country. 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.