World Health Organization (WHO)
DUE: 18 MAR 2024
Closing Date : Mar 18, 2024, 12:59:00 AM
Primary Location : Zimbabwe-Harare
Organization : AF/UCN UHC/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases
Schedule : Full-time
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Programme is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicablediseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole-of-society,people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole-of-society approaches to disease control involve: (a) coherent implementation of triple response – technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systemsin disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders;(b) disease control partnership of publicand private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health servicesdemand creation and accountability by local health stewards. Thepeople-centered, integrated approaches to disease control involve: (a) integrated guidance on disease controlfor each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alonedisease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologiesand analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups to develop and deploy comprehensivepackages of interventions appropriate to each targeted population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the VPD programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and(iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent is expected to contribute towards:-Leadership on disease control coordination, partnerships and resource mobilization through: Servicing as front-line focal point forthe analysis of data collected to determine timeliness and completeness of data, and provide suggestions for any new and/or innovative tools that improve data collection and warehousingFacilitating partnerships and networks for immunization data management and analytics in thesubregionDevelopment of WHO disease control technical products, services, and tools through:Participating in the development, monitoring and revision of data management policies, SOPs and practices to improve, maintain and ensure data integrity and a cohesive approach in linewith WHO policies.Participating in the development of tools and systems for improving data management efficiency in the sub-region Generation of analytics-driven strategic information for disease control agenda setting and interventions tailoring through: Facilitating development and deployment of functional e-platforms including operational manuals, for sub national stratification of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and annualdisease control agenda setting and investments’ guidance (publication of respectivecountry annual disease outlook with district disease profiles);Facilitating development of commongeo-registers and metadata and harmonization of current multiple data platformsas necessary;Facilitating provision of advanced analysis support to UCN Teams in the data processes and as relevant to other clusters in the Regional and Country offices;Strengthening the capacities of UCN Teamsin the data-to-action processes;Assembling global ancillary data (climatebiodiversity, genomics, socio economic etc.)Supporting disease and health programmeteams to implement analysis for subnational tailoring of public healthinterventions in countries;Facilitating development of annual disease outlook reports that implement country deep dives aligned with the African Health Observatories and various WHO global reports;Facilitating community surveys, programmereviewsTechnical support and institutional capacity building for disease control support through: Facilitating country capacity building foruse of analytics to drive diseases control agenda setting and guide investments including use of triangulated data on disease occurrence (incidence and mortality), interventions coverage, health services access, and determinantsinformation for disease stratification and tailoring of national policies and operational responses in member states;Facilitating country capacity strengtheningfor country surveillance systems;Facilitate data collection, quality control and management for publication of insightful reports and information; Supporting automation and generation of customized reports weekly, monthly, quarterly and annualFacilitating capacity building for national data managers aimed at improving data quality, ensuring proper collection,analysis, recording and feedback.Facilitate validation of administrative data through organizing and supportingImmunization Information System Assessment, data quality reviews and any othersuch platforms Other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and back stopping forothers as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: First University degreein Health Informatics, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Data Management, Data Science, Public Health, or related fields.
Desirable: Master in health information systems, health statistics, epidemiology, or other relevant field.
Experience
Essential: At least five (5) years of experience in data management and analytics or infectious disease epidemiology/surveillance.
Desirable: Experience working with National VPD programmesExperience working with WHO or other UN organizationis an assert
Skills
Strong knowledge of principles and practices of communicable disease epidemiology with specific experience in VPD surveillance and data management; Proven experience in using Business Intelligence tools like PowerBI or Tableau software, SQL server Reporting (SSR) tools. Experience working withDHIS2 or other HMIS. Proven skills in using advanced Excel or R for data management and analytics; Proven skills and knowledge in automating data ETL(extract transform load) using SQ or any scripting language including, R orPython; Presentation skills and competencies in communication; Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to solve and explain technical issues and take part in training activities with tack and diplomacy. Ability towrite in a concise manner and to present factual information on data baseapplications, Knowledge of WHO/AFRO practices and procedures is an advantage.
WHO Competencies
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Moving forward in a changing environment
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Intermediate knowledge of French.
Desirable:
The above language requirements are interchangeable.
REMUNERATION
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 61,694 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.