UNV Associate Public Health Officer 86 views0 applications

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in longestablished, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office and the technical supervision of the SPHNO based in Pretoria, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Coordination and technical standards

Ensure, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that public health, reproductive health, HIV and nutrition services provided to refugees are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
Ensure that national and/or internationally accepted and relevant standards and policies are applied and adapted in close coordination with the host country and relevant UN agencies and partners in order to guide the provision of essential public health services (preventative and curative primary health care including maternal and child health services and essential lifesaving referral care.
Ensure UNHCR internal guidelines and procedures to streamline inputs and improve efficiency of programme activities through integrated public health response also taking into account crucial services such as nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene.
Promote inter-sectoral coordination outside and within UNHCR in all matters related to public health programmes Chair coordination meetings with health/nutrition implementing partners

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitor and evaluate public health and nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner. Involvement in all aspects of programme monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on checking levels of implementation and impact vis-à-vis resource inputs to measure cost-effectiveness and re-orient the programmes as appropriate Monitor public health programmes with emphasis on:

Application of standard guidelines and protocols
Comprehensiveness of public health interventions
Organisation and use of UNHCR’s Health Information System
Apply various mechanisms and tools to ensure proper monitoring: site visits, regular flow of data and information (reporting), data analysis and interpretation, etc.

Provide technical support and guidance to partners where required

Needs Assessment and public health prioritisation

Undertake needs and resources assessments with government, UN and NGO partners in order to establish priority needs, identify gaps and overlaps in public health programming, Accordingly develop work plans to address public health priorities.

Capacity building

Support health and nutrition focal points and coordinators to develop training plan, act as resource persons in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (coaching).

Share with local and international partners on the ground relevant guidelines and information materials on refugee health including reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and nutrition materials.

Advocacy and information management

Advocate, inform, and communicate amongst stakeholders to ensure that refugee health and nutrition issues are documented and addressed.

Ensure regular updates and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant government, UN and NGO partners.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerismby reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNVactivities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms ofvolunteerism in the host country
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they areundertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNVpublications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, orencourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV OnlineVolunteering service whenever technically possible.

Required Degree Level: Master degree or equivalent

Type of Degree: Clinical degree in health care with a Masters-level qualification in public health or related field.

Required experience: 36 months

Experience Remark: at least 3 years of relevant experience in progressively responsible functions, including in an international capacity. Knowledgeable of the latest developments and evidence in Public Health, Nutrition, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS. Technical and managerial competence in emergency public health programming.

Language Skills:

• English (Mandatory) , Level – Fluent
• Portuguese (Mandatory) , Level – Fluent
• French (Optional) , Level – Working Knowledge

Area of Expertise :

• Public health Mandatory
• General human medicine (with clinical experience) Mandatory