PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response programme, at the regional and ESA sub-region level, the incumbent will act as the WHO Advisor for One Health and ensure that the One Health approach and principles are well-integrated into and implemented in emergency preparedness and response. The incumbent will also support the coordination and collaboration with the Tripartite (WHO, OIE, and FAO) agencies in advocacy and promotion of One Health and in the support to countries to adopt one health approach in emergency preparedness and response.

Description Of Duties

In order to support the implementation of emergency preparedness and response strategies and tools for disease/infection prevention, control and monitoring using the One Health principles, the Technical Officer will undertake the following duties:

• Advocate for and promote integration of one- health approach in emergency preparedness and response by all stakeholders at regional, sub-regional and country level.
• Strengthen Member States capacity in preparedness, management and control of infectious hazards including VHFs, through providing strategic guidance on the use of the One Health approach and principles. Information.
• Support Member States to establish and/or strengthen coordinated inter-linked surveillance and information sharing systems by promoting the One Health approach and its use in early warning systems.
• Develop/update risk assessment for zoonotic diseases and strategic prevention and control tools and support risk assessment in ESA countries using the standardized tools.
• Support countries to develop and/or review preparedness and response action plan(s) for highly pathogenic zoonotic diseases in line with the One Health Approach/ Agenda and policies.
• Monitor and evaluate of the implementation of the action plan(s) and provide appropriate recommendations and technical advices, accordingly.
• Support on the preparation of regular information products including progress reports on integration and application of One Health Approach and daily situation reports on the evolution of the zoonotic disease outbreaks, ongoing and planned activities.
• Coordinate and establish effective mechanism for collaboration and communication with related partners e.g. (OIE, FAO, UNEP, etc..), to implement One Health agenda, in preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases outbreaks.
• Contribute to field and laboratory investigations of zoonotic diseases and promote prevention and control strategies in animals, to prevent animal-human transmission.
• Perform any other assignments as delegated by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Essential: Advanced University degree in veterinary or human medicine, with a master’s degree in public health or Epidemiology.
• Desirable: Advanced training in One Health, Emergency preparedness and Response, and experience in zoonotic diseases epidemiology or public health related emergency management.

Experience

• Essential: Minimum of 7 years' experience in the area of epidemiology and/ or public health of infectious disease surveillance, outbreaks investigations and emergency responses. Relevant experience in WHO policy and operational procedures for emergency response, including; health emergency information, risk assessment and infectious hazard management and One Health Agenda.
• Desirable: Experience in implementation of public health surveillance and outbreak investigation and response, with special focus on zoonotic diseases and application of One Health principle, would be an added advantage. Experience working in an international organization and/ or in developing countries. Experience on assessment of public health events and simulation exercise.

Skills

Skills, proficiency and knowledge in operational planning, coordination, advocacy and broad technical knowledge in epidemiology and/or Public Health in the context of improving the health of populations and/or health security. Experience and ability to design, evaluate and monitor multi-partners work plans. Good writing skills and ability to draft, evaluate and edit technical reports and publications. Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and consultative skills.

Use Of Language Skills

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of French