The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacities of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead andc oordinate the international response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Programme supports countries and coordinates international action, to prevent, prepare for,detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The objectives of the Country Readiness Strengthening Department include the development and strengthening of core national capacities necessary to mitigate and respond to emergency risks and vulnerabilities. The Department prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low capacity countries.The Community Readiness and Resilience Unit aims to support Member States to strengthen readiness and build resilience for health emergencies in communities towards minimizing the impact of the crisis or risk, and towards a sustained recovery.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
To advance the strategic vision and workplan for the Community Readiness and Resilience Unit through evidence-informed practice and knowledge management
Leverage the outcome of the global consultation of community centred approaches to health emergencies to provide evidence-informed insight to strategic development and work planning by proposing key deliverables, for example, through rapid evidence reviews
Directly support rapid evidence synthesis to define measurement of community readiness and resilience (rapid evidence synthesis and critical analysis)
Actively review and contribute to the developing strategy and workplan for CRR through inclusion of evidence-informed approaches and knowledge management.
Attend key meetings and deliver presentations,including to seek feedback on developing work areas.
On behalf of CRR, act as the focal point for the COVID-19 Research Roadmap (social science in outbreak response), and similar initiatives, to define and align related programme of work with the strategic vision and work plan of CRR
Ensure delivery, dissemination and meaningful follow up of outputs from the global consultation on Community Centred Approaches to Health Emergencies, in terms of advancing WHO work via CRR.
Consider legacy outputs from previous funded work under the COVID-19 Research Roadmap and ensure relevant outputs can contribute to the ongoing work of CRR.
Represent the social science in outbreak response thematic area as part of the wider COVID-19 Research Roadmap (or similar initiatives), ensure requests and deliverables (e.g. for reporting) are delivered on time and following due processes for WHO review.
Support coordination of the COVID-19 Research Roadmap social science in outbreak response expert working group (or similar initiatives) and leverage this technical expertise as needed to support CRR as well as to identify trends and evidence gaps with and for the wider international community (operational partners, practitioners, civil society organisations, social science researchers, donors etc.).
Coordination and exchange with other partner agencies and relevant mechanisms, e.g. via GOARN and the Collective Service,for example, via attendance and actively participate in relevant COVID-19 meetings (e.g. GOARN, IOA (Integrated Outbreak Analytics) Collective Service, EPI-WIN, regional calls etc)
As part of the global trial team, to lead community engagement and good participatory practice (GPP) for multi-country implementation of epidemic and pandemic related clinical trials such as the Global Solidarity Trial ofCOVID-19 Vaccines
Support in-country teams to prepare, plan and deliver good participatory practices with local populations to ensure local trial implementation plans are informed by local and contextual knowledge and to ready local populations for their participation in the trial.
Coordinate development of tools and materials, including an online training package, based on the WHO Good Participatory Practice Guidelines for Emerging-Pathogens (2016) for in-country teams.
Coordinate development of tools and materials to prevent, anticipate and response to crises using communications for in-country teams.
Participate in relevant meetings (e.g. global trial team meetings, in-country partner meetings) to represent and ensure integration of GPP.
Review trial documents and endure appropriate integration of GPP across workstreams as appropriate.
Identify how bespoke materials developed for the trial can be converted to generic materials after the trial to produce a suite of materials for rapid adaptation in future emergency scenarios.
Consider the wider lessons and implications for in-country readiness and resilience for engagement in clinical and other forms of research Generic Duties
Oversee and coordinate work plans and budgets for the relevant technical work area including resource mobilization for the work programme and monitor the implementation of planned activities.
Lead and coordinate research on best practices and partners' experiences as required.
Coordinate and implement programs for capacity building as required.
Promote and establish activities to facilitate the building and expansion of networks.
Advocate, coordinate, and build partnerships and networks with multiple stakeholders and technical departments at HQ and negotiate with donor and development partners (UN and bilateral) as needed.
Represent WHO at various meetings.
Perform all related duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Advanced level university degree (Masters level or above) in health, behavioural or social sciences.
Desirable: Postgraduate degree in epidemiology, public health or related field.
Experience
Essential: At least 10 years of working experience in public health, clinical or similar research fields managing research portfolios with multiple partners in different settings including multidisciplinary experience with biomedical and clinical trial teams.
Desirable: Health related social or behavioural science research experience specific to public health emergencies or infectious disease outbreaks. Experience working with WHO clinical trials in public health emergencies to advance good participatory practices for emerging pathogens (GPP-EP) at international and national levels.
Skills
Strong management and coordination skills;
Ability to anticipate and prioritise evidence needs and translate evidence to inform strategy and advance policy;
Ability to develop innovative approaches and solutions;
Ability to conceive and conduct social and behavioural research and analyze results, identify issues, formulate opinions,make conclusions and recommendations;
Ability to develop WHO research commissioning documents, critically review proposals including financial aspects and manage process of commissioned research;
Ability to review and revise policies and objectives of assigned program and activities;
Ability to build networks and effective partnerships;
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy;
Proven knowledge of technical aspects in the field of specialty;
Public speaking techniques;
Excellent drafting and communication skills;
Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work;
Team leadership, team spirit and time management skills.
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of other WHO language(s).
