The World Health Organization’s mission: to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. Working through offices in more than 150 countries, WHO staff work side by side with governments and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The Programme seeks to promote and uphold the humanitarian and public health principles by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response together with the national and international community, with specific attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, through effectuating WHO’s commitment to work within the framework of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster approach. The incumbent will be responsible for performing a dedicated coordination, health needs assessment, strategy development and resource mobilization, supporting the implementation and, monitoring the joint incident management system and advocacy function.

An exceptional three-season drought sequence has struck the Eastern Horn of Africa due to the poor rains in October-December 2020 and March-May 2021 followed by an extremely dry October-December 2021 season. In Ethiopia, millions are estimated to be in need of life saving humanitarian assistance affecting Somali region, Oromia and SNNP and southwest regions. To reduce excess morbidity and mortality resulting from the public health consequences of the drought-related humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, WHO will be working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Emergencies Institute (EPHI) and health partners to respond to this emergency while building on existing health sector development programmes, enhancing preparedness for further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, boosting capacities and integrating risk reduction and resilience building components to foster long-term development solutions to the crisis.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the Drought Response, the incumbent will provide technical expertise to the incident management system in planning, monitoring, evaluating, coordinating the environmental health interventions with a focus on provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, hygiene, and infection control. Provide technical advice and on-site support to develop national technical and institutional capacities for the implementation of primary prevention interventions, particularly those related to safety of drinking water, safe sanitation, waste management, and chemical management.

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 6 Months

Description Of Duties

Working under the oversight of the Incident Manager and the direct supervision of the Field Coordinator, the IPC/WASH officer will perform the following tasks:

• Provide leadership and guidance on IPC/ WASH strategies in line with WHO core mandates on health and water quality monitoring, sanitation and hygiene at National, Regional and sub-regional level.
• Support FMOH/RHBs in developing/adapting updated IPC guidelines, training package and assessment tools,
• Provide technical support to ensure the recommended IPC practices are implemented and managed effectively in HCFs and at community level in accordance with the National and WHO updated IPC guidelines,
• Using standard tools periodically assess/monitor IPC performances in healthcare facilities, high-risk workplaces, special settings and community level. Provide technical support/guidance, orientations and materials to improve the IPC practices and prevent transmission of infections,
• Conduct need assessment and prepare requests of procurement of required IPC supplies for, drought response, emergencies and outbreak situations,
• Support risk assessment in affected and high-risk areas. Based on the evidence support development of action plan, its implementation and monitoring performances,
• Support IPC training for staffs directly involved in the response at community and health facilities levels
• Facilitate the collaboration/integration between health and other sectors for integration of IPC and emergency public health and nutrition response.
• Support collaboration with other technical teams including infection prevention and control, risk communications and case management as part to the integrated health and emergency response.
• Provide technical support to the FMoH, RHB and other drought affected regions response actors on relevant components of IPC/WASH as part of preparedness and response. Provide technical support to the IPC/ WASH cluster as part of the integrated response activity for health and nutrition.
• Provide technical support in environmental surveillance of public health and nutrition emergencies.
• Provide technical support for integration of emergency IPC/ WASH and emergency public health and nutrition response
• Provide technical support for environmental sample collection
• Provide relevant documentation and feedback to FMOH/RHB, other response actors and provide report to the WCO.
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor and Incident manager.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Essential

• First University degree in Environmental health, Nursing, Public health or related field.
• Training/certification in basic IPC/TOT by recognized organization (MOH/EOC/RHB)

Desirable : Master’s degree in public health, environmental health or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE : At least two years of relevant experience in the environmental health including IPC/WASH with national authorities. Experience in IPC program implementation.

Desirable : Working experience with humanitarian emergency settings in the related field including community-based WASH projects. Experience working with UN/WHO and other large international organizations would be an added advantage.

Functional Knowledge And Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of emergency response situations in the field of water and sanitation with proven ability to identify and solve technical problems in difficult circumstances.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with proven ability to elaborate and implement projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to promote cohesive actions and convince officials with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present factual information.
• Knowledge of WHO, the UN System or NGO work in the field of response relief and/or of their practices and procedures as related to the work

Who Competencies

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Producing result
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills : Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of the local language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT Skills) : Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.