As part of the agenda to end diseases in the WHO African region, the disease The UHC/CND cluster in the WHO Sierra Leone country office is guided by the regional strategic agenda:“disease burden reduction through using analytics to inform tailored interventions and guide disease control investments”. Objectives pursued by UHC/CNDare to:
provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization;
contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations;
support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment;
facilitate country support - Technical assistance in deployment of WHO technical products and institutional capacity building including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities - towards improved program governance, improved interventions coverage and improved interventions quality.
Description Of Duties:
The incumbent is expected to contribute towards Leadership on coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization for disease control, elimination and eradication through:Effective coordination of communicableand non-communicable diseases programmes (EPI, Malaria, TB, Hepatitis,HIV/AIFDS, NTDs, etc.)Facilitating development, review,update, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national strategic plansfor priority diseases in the country; Facilitating effective partnerships,planning, proposal development and national resource mobilization efforts that promote delivery of disease control, elimination and eradication services; Strengthening mechanisms forcollaboration and capacity building of national public health institutes.Supporting capacity building andmentoring of staff in the clusterAdoption and adaptation and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of disease control, elimination and eradication technical products, services, and tools through;Facilitating development, review, update and monitor use of tools and guidelines in line with WHO global and regional policy guidelines, norms, standards and tools; Supporting integration of diseases control, elimination and eradication initiatives into national health sector policies, strategies, plans and primary health service packages to promote universal coverage of the three diseasesFacilitating implementation of CND programme activities in the community in coordination and collaboration with the MOHS, achieving results such as: Close follow up with the Ministry of health and other partners on the proper and timely implementation of the programme activities, including the administrative procedures; visiting the communities and sites where target population are residing and reporting on the findings; attending field health coordination meetings; and preparation of regular sit-reps on health condition of target populations.Supporting health emergency preparedness and response including: providing technical assistance in preparedness, response and recovery to emergencies and disasters with focus on refugees' crisis; providing facilitation to the team in the implementation of the activities planned for Crisis Response; and ensuring continuity of essential services during emergencies, recovery and beyond.Generation of analytics-driven strategic information for disease control, elimination and eradication agenda setting and interventions through; Facilitating generation of evidence for improving the impact of interventions of disease control, elimination and eradication including investments in surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, operational research and documentation of best practices. Ensuring collection and compilation of data on various target populations, including analysis and interpretation ofdata; Facilitating management of information systems and timely dissemination of WHO updated information (e.g. reports and website) on a regular and prompt basis;Coordinating design and maintenance of databases of indicators relating to public health activities in the country office; Facilitating development of a research agenda for ending diseases in the country;Other related tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors. Required Qualifications:
Education:
Essential: Postgraduate degree in epidemiology, public health or communicable disease control.
Desirable: Post graduate training or qualification in public health and/or training in strategic planning.
Experience:
Essential: At least 7years of experience in communicable diseases control, elimination and/oreradication at national or subnational level in developing countries. Practical experience in programme review and strategic plan development.
Desirable: At least 5years international experience in working with UN and/or international NGOs,bilateral and multilateral agencies; Familiarity with the Policies &Procedures of global health initiatives like Global Fund, GAVI and other multilateral and bilateral disease initiatives; Planning and programme management;Humanitarian settings experience
Skills:
Extensive knowledge and experience in disease control, elimination and/or eradication; prevention and control programme management and implementation at country level; knowledgeand working in humanitarian settings; Knowledge of health systems management and strategic planning at national level; Ability to develop and facilitate the development of disease management guidelines and effectively monitor progressin use of guidelines. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to cooperate and negotiate with technical and funding agencies, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff. Excellent communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to write strategically and speak clearly.
