Organization: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Kenya
Closing date: 31 Jul 2013
Duties and Qualifications
Senior Public Health Officer
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Public Health Officer will ensure that UNHCR's health programmes meet minimum international UNHCR and international health standards; the incumbent plays a crucial role in programme coordination, planning, and monitoring including data analysis and evaluation, capacity building of UNHCR personnel and partners, and advocacy, information and communication on public health-related issues.
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- There is a viable standard Health Information System in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.
- Nutritional survey and other assessments for food and nutrition are adequately conducted and implemented.
- Immediate response and guidance is provided to refugee health and related concerns.
- Provide technical guidance and support to the Nutrition and WASH officers.
Responsibility
A. Coordination and Strategy:
- Facilitate coordination of health, nutrition and WASH actors, so that public health, nutrition and WASH programme planning and implementation is streamlined, resources are optimally utilized.
- Work in a multi-sectoral and co-ordinated approach in co-operation with government, UN agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners, including refugees.
- Work with stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGO's, Ministries of Health and academic institutions for development of disease control plans associated with refugee movements.
- Take a lead role in co-ordinating Health and Nutrition activities and ensure that decisions are implemented as agreed upon.
- Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority health issues and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met.
- Update and disseminate standard practices on public health, nutrition, HIV and reproductive health among partners. Support the prioritization of the Primary Health Care strategy focusing on preventive and basic curative health, including mental health, reproductive health, HIV and nutritional components.
- Support the prioritization of the Primary Health Care strategy focusing on preventive and basic curative health, including mental health, reproductive health, HIV and nutritional components.
- Ensure that project plans or proposals submitted to UNHCR for funding adhere to internationally accepted standards, and are based on a comprehensive PHC strategy.
B. Technical Assistance:
- Provide technical assistance in needs and resources assessments together with the government and partners in order to prioritise needs and activities in the provision of services to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Emphasise prevention and treatment of diseases with heaviest burden and promotion of comprehensive reproductive health programmes
- Prioritise HIV/AIDS prevention and education activities, including provision of voluntary testing and counselling and prevention of mother-to-child transmission, as well as behavioural surveillance surveys and HIV sentinel surveillance.
- Ensure, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that health care services provided to refuges are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies.
- Maintain and update contingency plans for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movements.
C. Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Ensure implementation of the UNHCR Health Information System and support the analysis of public health data.
- Support nutritional surveys.
- Active involvement in all aspects of programme monitoring and evaluation with a main emphasis on checking levels of implementation and impact vis-à-vis resource inputs to measure cost-effectiveness and re-orient the programme as appropriate.
- Monitor technical aspects of the health and nutrition programme with emphasis on:
- Organization and use of UNHCR's Health and WASH Information System in order to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
- Application of standard guidelines and protocols.
- Comprehensiveness of health and nutrition programme.
- Use of Health Sector Monitoring Forms.
D. Capacity Building:
- Support focal points to develop a training plan, organise, and act as resource person in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (mentoring).
- Share with local and international partners on the ground relevant guidelines and information materials on refugee HIV, reproductive health, general health, and nutrition.
- Support health focal points to promote the establishment of Refugee Committees to enable refugees actively participate in the process of health planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
E. Advocacy:
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, returnees and other persons of concern access to local public health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV/AIDS services and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other persons of concern as a specific group in government policies related to health, RH and HIV/AIDS.
- Promote information sharing on all aspects related to refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR and the UNHCR role in advocacy for the welfare and rights of refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Ensure regular update and share information within UNHCR as well as with the government, UN and NGO partners and donor communities on the health status and needs of the refugees.
Authority
- Provide guidance and make recommendations on the overall strategy and focus of Public Health, Nutrition and WASH programmes.
- Represent UNHCR in Health Coordination and other fora concerning refugee health and nutrition for Dadaab refugee camps.
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced degree in medicine or nursing with a Masters-level qualifications in public health; Training / experience in nutrition; infectious diseases/tropical medicine /community medicine/anthropology/other relevant skills an advantage.
- Minimum 10 years of previous job experience relevant to the function in national/international organization.
- Knowledge of public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies.
- Very good communication and computer skills.
- Fluency in English.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Working experience with international organization in the field of health, HIV and nutrition.
- International experience.
- Knowledge of French.
How to apply:
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home. Go under 'employment' (down the page); click on 'International Professional Category'.