Public Health Officer UNHCR

By Sulafa Jafar Last updated Mar 31, 2023

Public Health Officer

Job Description

Organization	UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Job Title	Public Health Officer
Location	El Gedaref, Sudan
Hardship Level	E (most hardship)
Job ID	JR2315933
Salary Grade	PR3
Family Type	Non Family with Residential Location
Closing Date	April 20, 2023

About UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a UN agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founder: United Nations
Founded: December 14, 1950
What is the role of the UNHCR?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mandate is to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and to resolve the refugee problems worldwide. Its main purpose is to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees.

Who created UNHCR?
United Nations

Standard Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Public Health Officer is a member of a multidisciplinary team and will ensure that UNHCR’s public health programmes meet minimum UNHCR and global health standards in order to minimise avoidable morbidity and mortality among populations of concern (POC) and towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The incumbent provides strong and timely technical guidance to UNHCR senior management and partners including on the design and scope of UNHCR¿s responses in health and nutrition, catalyses the engagement of other actors, supports resource mobilisation efforts, including with the private sector, and monitors the response. S/he has close contacts with internal and external stakeholders such as government counterparts, UN Agencies and embassies/donors.
The Public Health Officer should also ensure consultation with communities seeking the diverse views of men, women, girls and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, LGBTI persons, persons with disabilities , including people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, in assessing needs, designing, implementing and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR’s policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming.
Public Health programmes include primary health care, secondary health care, community health, reproductive health (including HIV), nutrition, MHPSS and health information systems. In addition to public health staff, major operations may also have dedicated staff focusing on any of these components but public health officers are expected to be very conversant with reproductive health programming and ensure that minimum standards are met. Depending on the size of the operation the incumbent may be expected to have major responsibilities for nutrition and MHPSS responses. The Public Health Officer will work with the (Senior) Programme Officer (or other designated staff member) to support operational collaboration and joint programming with WFP on nutrition and food security.
The Public Health Officer is normally supervised by a Senior Operations/ Assistant Representative (Operations) unless supervised by a Senior Public Health Officer. The incumbent has a functional line with the Public Health Section in Geneva regarding authoritative guidance and support in technical matters and is expected to maintain regular contact with the PHS and the Regional Bureau.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

Coordination, Leadership and Partnership

Co-ordinate public health, reproductive health, nutrition and HIV activities in support of the government¿s responses and in conjunction with other UN agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners, including development actors to ensure delivery of public health and nutrition services to beneficiaries (POC and host community) meet UNHCR and /or nationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
Support the Operation to define the level and scope of UNHCR’s involvement in public health and nutrition responses in terms of overall and operational objectives during emergency situations and beyond.
Support the Operation¿s engagement in the public health-related aspects of contributions of major donors to refugee responses, including the World Bank; taking part in assessments, design of projects, monitoring and evaluation.
In line with the Global Compact on Refugees work with governments, humanitarian and development partners to ensure a whole-of-government (i.e. relevant national and local authorities for health and nutrition response) multi-stakeholder approach and planning to harness the comparative advantages of different partners to meet the health needs of POC.
Represent UNHCR in public health coordination and other meetings including relevant inter-sectoral groups such as Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for MHPSS and nutrition, reproductive health, community health, among others.
Engage in relevant partnership fora, including in line with UNHCR’s role as a UNAIDS co-sponsor of the Joint Programme on AIDS and co-lead with WFP of the Division of Labour area of HIV in Humanitarian Settings.
Support operational collaboration with WFP including the implementation of Joint Assessment Missions and corresponding Joint Plans of Action in line with global commitments on targeting of assistance to meet basic needs and data sharing to support assistance distribution (in collaboration with programme and protection colleagues).
Support robust and timely emergency responses to new refugee influxes or disease outbreaks or other public health-related emergencies in line with UNHCR’s Public Health Emergency Toolkit, Emergency Handbook and the SPHERE Handbook.

Strategic planning and development

Contribute to development and/or implementation and monitoring of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Public Health and adaptation at country level.
Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, returnees and other POC’s access to local public health, reproductive health (RH) and HIV, MHPSS, nutrition (including food assistance where relevant) and water and sanitation services and lobby for inclusion of refugees, returnees and other POC as a specific group in government policies and plans related to health, RH and HIV as well as major donor programmes such as the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria.
Provide guidance and make recommendations on the overall strategy and focus of public health and nutrition programmes within the Area of Responsibility (AOR), including ensuring public health strategic approaches are developed in a multi-sectoral and co-ordinated manner in co-operation with government, UN agencies, NGOs and other humanitarian partners with due consideration to the approaches outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees and in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG3.
Provide up-to date assessment and identification of needs for public health strategies, recognise and support the contributions of governments and other actors align with and support national health system as much as possible; include curative, preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and palliative care; recognise the different approaches required for the stage of the humanitarian response (preparedness, emergency, stabilisation and longer term inclusion) as well as for settlement or camp-based POC and those in urban or non-camp situations.
Contribute to public health strategies addressing known gaps in health and nutrition programming based on country/field-specific needs assessments with due consideration to neonatal and maternal health care, TB, HIV and viral hepatitis, non-communicable diseases including mental health, palliative care, health services for LGBTI individuals, health and protection services for persons selling sex and programming for persons with disabilities including access to assistive technologies and appropriate associated services, adolescents and the elderly.
Support the development and monitoring of country specific medium to long term inclusion plans in support of the Ministry of Health and other relevant Ministries (e.g. Social Welfare) and in partnership with development and other actors.
Work with stakeholders, including Ministries of Health, UN agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, POC and other relevant partners in the development of public health preparedness and response plans associated with refugee movements (including in repatriation programmes).
Maintain and update contingency/ preparedness and response plans within the AOR for potential public health events including disease outbreaks and public health aspects of refugee and returnee movements.

Technical integrity and risk mitigation

Update and disseminate standard practices on public health, MHPSS, nutrition, HIV and reproductive health among partners.
Support the prioritization of primary health care (including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care)
Ensure, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, that health care services provided to POC are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies.
Establish and/or adapt UNHCR internal operating procedures to ensure they are in line with UNHCR and/or international standards and improve efficiency of programme activities; this includes – but is not limited to – referral health care, medicines and medical supplies procurement and management, medical resettlement and resettlement of persons with health needs, cash-based assistance for health care coverage and referral between units and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Monitor and support compliance with, and integrity of, all Public Health standard operating procedures in conjunction with Project Control and Programme staff and in line with delegated authorities, including flagging to senior managers when these are not in line with global guidance or not being followed.

Collaboration

Work closely with UNHCR programme, technical, 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.
Support linkages of public health to WASH programmes throughout all stages of the programme cycle including in outbreak preparedness and response, emergency responses to refugee influxes, WASH in health facilities, community health education and menstrual hygiene management.
Support inter-sector collaboration throughout all stages of programme cycle between public health and nutrition with WASH, education, energy, environment, shelter, and protection in order to promote synergies and maximise impact.
Participate in the review and analysis of relevant project proposals and budgetary submissions presented by UNHCR partners within the context of the UNHCR programming cycle.
Ensure that project plans or proposals submitted to UNHCR for funding adhere to internationally accepted standards, and are based on a comprehensive PHC strategy, rights based and meet the needs of vulnerable persons.
Ensure consultation with communities seeking the diverse views of men, women, girls and boys, adolescents, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities and LGBTQI in assessing needs, designing, implementing and monitoring responses in line with UNHCR’s policy on age, gender and diversity mainstreaming.
Ensure implementation of the UNHCR Health Information System and other relevant data collection tools including the balanced scorecard, maternal and neonatal death audits, Health Access and Utilisation Survey and other corporate tools where relevant; support the analysis, interpretation, dissemination and use of public health data.
Advocate for the inclusion of refugees and other POC in national surveys such as demographic and health surveys, multi-indicator cluster surveys, AIDS indicator surveys including where possible a separate sample/oversampling to include refugees thus allowing for comparisons and trend analysis over time.
Support national health systems to disaggregate data by refugee and nationals in key areas based on country specific needs in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Monitor public health and nutrition programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicators, to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive, cost-effective and efficient manner.
Support the planning, implementation, analysis, dissemination and use of nutritional surveys (Standardized Expanded Nutrition Surveys, SENS), health-related surveys and post-distribution monitoring exercises (in collaboration with WFP).
Promote applied research and programme evaluation to enable the identification of gaps in programme implementation and standards, and to further promote evidence-based activities and guidance.
In line with policies for Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) ensure POC have access to feedback and accountability mechanisms relating to public health and nutrition services including the collection and analysis of data on their satisfaction with regards to public health and nutrition services.
Prepare regular sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports as required by the office at country level.
Ensure adequate and accurate reporting, timely updates and briefings to donors and management.

Capacity Building

Support capacity strengthening of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address public health, nutrition, reproductive health, HIV, MHPSS programming in a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral way and disseminate relevant guidelines and information materials.
Undertake and/or support capacity building needs assessments of UNHCR staff and partners and develop approaches to address capacity gaps including identifying internal and external training opportunities.
In conjunction with the Public Health Section in HQ, Global Learning and Development Centre, bureaux and external actors support development of capacity strengthening tools and materials including webinars, e-learning materials and online learning tools and contribute to relevant communities of practices.
Plan, organise, facilitate and participate in workshops in conjunction with Bureaux, Public Health Section in HQ, Global Learning and Development Centre and external actors.
Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Medicine, Medical Science, Medical Doctor, Nursing, Public Health
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Epidemiology
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
Knowledge of public health, reproductive health and nutrition in humanitarian situations. Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles. Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills.

Desirable
Additional qualifications in Nutrition and WASH and a thorough understanding of the linkages with public health and food security. Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Public Health.

Functional Skills

MD-Reproductive Health
EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
PG-Programme Monitoring
PH- Public Health Epidemiology
PH-Community Health-Health Data Collection/Analysis/Interpretation
CO-Strategic Communication
UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
FO-Complex field emergency operations
MD-HIV/AIDS situation management
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile

Experience in complex emergency setting with a multitude of actors. Knowledge of public health, reproductive health and nutrition in humanitarian situations. Experience in emergency preparedness and response (including outbreak of infectious diseases). Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills. Strong knowledge of
Nutrition and WASH and a thorough understanding of the linkages with public health and food security. Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of Public Health.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Desired languages

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The political context in Sudan remains complex, diverse, and fast-changing necessitating high levels of political sensitivity and solid coordination and communication skills. The operations in Sudan includes emergency response, regular refugee programmes, IDP support (emergency, durable solutions), voluntary repatriation, statelessness, and special projects, for example peacebuilding support funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund. UNHCR Representation in Sudan has presence in five main regions of Darfur, Kordofan, East Sudan, White Nile Kosti, Blue Nile. The Representation Office in Khartoum provides the overall strategic guidance and implementation of the operations, security, policies, and liaison with key Government stakeholders, donor communities, UNAMID/UNITAMS, UNCT/HCT and NGO partners. The Representation Office in Khartoum provides an oversight of activities in Sudan being supported by 15 offices; four Sub Offices, eight Field Offices and three Field Units.

The incumbent will be based in Gedaref and will report to the Head of Gedaref Operation in the region, where Gedaref Sub-Office was reactivated in November 2020 to respond to the new arrivals in the newly established camps Um Rakuba and Tunaydba. The incumbent will ensure that UNHCR’s public health programs in Gedaref meet minimum UNHCR and global health standards and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The incumbent is expected to have a pro-active mature attitude and be able to perform well under stress, albeit in less-than-ideal living and working conditions. It requires more commitment than elsewhere to make life affordable in Gedaref. Therefore, flexibility and the ability to live and operate in hardship conditions (including dust, heat, shared living quarters, limited water supply) are essential. The Gedaref region is in a state of humanitarian emergency, and environment requires a mature level of cultural awareness.

The incumbent should demonstrate:

Experience in emergency preparedness and response (including outbreak of infectious diseases).
Proven experience in developing, reviewing and implementing Public Health Strategy.
Proficiency in integrated Refugee Health Information System (iRHIS), Medical Referral database, Balance Score Card Assessments.
Proven capacity in managing Public Health programs and complex or challenging health Partnership Agreements, and experience in working in challenging political context.
Integrity and zero tolerance to SHA/SEA.

Living and Working Conditions:

Gedaref is classified as E non-family duty station. The Gedaref Sub-office covers 3 refugee camps in eastern Sudan: Um Gargour in Kassala state, Um Rakuba in Gedaref state and Tunaydbah in Gedaref state with an additional fourth site planned for opening very shortly. Gedaref also has two transit centers Hamdayet in Kassala state and village 8 in Gedaref state. Gedaref field office which was decommissioned in 2019 and reactivated Nov 2020 to support staff responding to emergency in Ethiopia emanating from the conflict in the Tigray region. These respond to needs of the new arrivals which were settled in the newly established two camps Um Rakuba and Tunaydbah, to ensure continuous access for PoC, monitoring activities in the camps, and facilitating liaison and coordination with local authorities. Gedaref Sub-office has two guesthouses with about 26 international staff including the emergency response team and about 60 national staff. Both guesthouses are equipped with satellite TV and with a common room has a 55 inch flat TV screen and BeIn satellite decoder. Gedaref have two approved UNDSS hotels Al -Rabwah hotel and Almotwakil hotel. Food stuffs are readily available in local markets and you can eat/buy at two restaurants usually in the evenings. Bottled water and water dispensers are recommended as the quality of the tap water in Gedaref is hard and salty therefore bodywash and soap that can lather in hard water are recommended. There is a resident UNHCR doctor in Gedaref, and a backup doctor to support when away, t as government hospital and private hospitals in Gedaref state are not of the established UN standards. In case of emergency the UNHCR doctor will support with evacuation processes to this end the Sub-office will shortly acquire an ambulance. There are no recreational activities in Gedaref and internet connectivity even though stable but can be erratic at times. All the guesthouses have UNHCR internet connections and the office is working on having a consistent fiber internet connection. Inflation rate continues to fluctuate, and standard of living is high. Gedaref is usually hot but cold during the raining season with possible of flooding. Staff are strongly recommended to bring with them books, sun screen, windbreakers, gumboots, mosquito nets as well as Malaria medication.
Additional Qualifications

Skills

MD-HIV/AIDS situation management, MD-Reproductive Health, MD-Tropical and Infectious Diseases, NU- Nutrition, PH-Community Health-Health Data Collection/Analysis/Interpretation, PH- Public Health Epidemiology

Education

BA: Medicine (Required), BA: Nursing (Required), BA: Public Health (Required)
Certifications

Epidemiology – Other
Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium
March 2023 Compendium – Part B
Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance

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