World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

POSITION : National Surveillance Officer/State Coordinator

Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Duration of contract:  12 Months

 
Objectives of the Programme

• The objective of the EPI programme is to support national authorities to provide high quality immunization services that will contribute to (a) the reduction of mortality, morbidity and disability from vaccine preventable diseases through the optimum use of available and new vaccines and (b) the strengthening of national health systems as well as efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Description of Duties
Under the overall supervision of the WHO Country Representative, and direct supervision of EPI Team Leader, the incumbent coordinates WHO's technical, programmatic and managerial activities at State level. He/she supports State authorities, partners and other appropriate stake-holders in the following specific tasks:

• Support timely preparation of State EPI/PEI (Polio Eradication, Routine Immunization and other accelerated control of vaccine preventable diseases) annual work-plans in line with national plans.
• Advocate for and participate in weekly coordination meetings of the State Technical Team to monitor implementation of priority EPI/PEI activities as articulately in the State EPI/PE state plans.
• Advocate for and participate in monthly State Inter-agency Coordination Committee or State Immunization Task Force meetings to review implementation of priority EPI/PEI activities and EPI/PEI performance indicators.
• Support timely (a) collection of all EPI/PEI data (RI data, SIA dashboard data, Abuja commitments data, surveillance data, PEI accountability framework data....etc), (b) use of EPI/PEI data for action and (c) feed-forward to zonal and national level.
• Ensure regular updating of State EPI/PEI plans to incorporate technical recommendations from ERC meetings, programme reviews including Rapid Surveillance Assessments (RSAs), national EOC...etc
• Collate monthly review reports from all clusters and compile a monthly state EPI/PEI review report.
• Ensure that all WHO personnel (Cluster consultants, LGA Facilitators, Field Volunteers) prepare (a) weekly work-plans in line with State EPI/PEI work-plans and priorities and (b) weekly reports of implementation of their weekly work-plans at the end of each week
• Conduct weekly in-house coordination meetings and follow up priority actions for follow up.
• Collaborate closely with other partners in the state (CDC, UNICEF, Rotary...) through joint participation in meetings with State officials and other stake-holders (State team meetings, State Task Force meetings, State EOC or Operations Room meetings...etc) as well as in partner meetings as may be required.
• Ensure timely sharing of activity reports and or plans of activities to be supported by WHO with state authorities, partners and other relevant stake-holders in the state.
• To undertake at least 2-3 supportive supervision of WHO personnel supporting high risk or poor performing LGAs.
• Ensure quarterly performance appraisals of all WHO personnel in the State. Cross Cutting Tasks
• Support training and capacity building of State, LGA staff as well as all WHO personnel (Cluster consultants, LGA Facilitators, Field Volunteers).
• Implement administrative, financial, security and office operations responsibilities in line with laid down WHO rules and regulations.
• Provide any support as requested by WHO Zonal Coordinator, EPI TL and/or WHO Representative.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: University degree in public health, medicine or other relevant field
• Desirable: Post Graduate training in public health or epidemiology from recognized academic institution.

Skills:

• Ability to work effectively with colleagues at national and international levels;
• Ability to provide leadership, monitor progress and design studies;
• Fully conversant in word-processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, epidemiological (Epiifo) and mapping software.

Competencies: Functional (Describe the competencies specific to the post)

• Producing results;
• Fostering integration and teamwork;
• Ensuring the effective use of resources;
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Promoting WHO's position in health leadership

Experience:

• Essential: At least five years public health experience and two years field experience in planning, training and implementation of SIAs
• Desirable: Technical expertise in public health, epidemiology, disease control and immunization

Languages:

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of the other UN languages

Additional Information:

• WHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave.
• Annual salary: (Net of tax) at single rate

Note:

• "In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position.
• WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually".
• Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.