OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Contractual Agreement: Non-Staff – International PAHO Consultant
Job Posting: May 26, 2023
Closing Date: June 15, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Primary Location: Off Site
Organization: HIM Health Emergencies Information and Risk Assessment
Schedule: Full time
PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
Objectives of the Department The objective of the Health Emergencies Department (PHE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to increase health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. PHE assists Member States to strengthen the health sector’s capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for emergencies and disasters related to any hazards (natural, man-made, biological, chemical, radiological and others) and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain disasters, including outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. PHE is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response policy.
Organizational Context The incumbent is a member of the Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (PHE/HIM) Unit, and he/she has a key role in the design, development and implementation of standardized information systems in emergencies. As part of the PHE/HIM Unit, the incumbent works with the DVA Team and helps on the process for gathering epidemic intelligence, outbreak verification, and information management; work requires interacting with National IHR Focal Points and PAHO/WHO Country Offices to gather information required for risk assessment.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
Under the direct supervision of the Advisor, Detection, Verification & Risk Assessment (HIM/DVA) and the overall guidance of the Unit Chief, Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (HIM), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following duties:
- Collaborate with the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) Initiative;
- Collaborate in training national officer from Member States in the use of EIOS and maintain a community of practice;
- Participate in conducting event-based surveillance to detect signal that require verification by the IHR Regional Contact Point;
- Prepare report on signal on public health detected on daily basis and disseminate the report internally;
- Support to the Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit’s Detection, Verification and Risk Assessment (DVA) Team and the application of the International Health Regulations (IHR) by disseminating the list of signal and event detected to PAHO Technical Experts;
- Participate in the 24/7 duty officer roster to ensure availability to conduct event-based surveillance and send urgent related communication and alerts;
- Contribute in the preparation of the Epidemiological Alerts and Updates and the Annual Report of the Epidemiological Alerts and Updates and in their internal and external dissemination.
- Develop and update resource library for DVA team utilizing SharePoint; includes maintaining important links, documents, and templates among other resources.
- Perform other related duties, as assigned.
Education requirements:
Essential: A bachelor’s degree in any of the health, social sciences, or related field from a recognized university.
Experience:
Essential: Seven years of combined national and international experience in technical cooperation in health, and health-related legislation analysis/research.
Desirable: Experience on detect, verification, alert and response and International Health Regulations (IHR-2005), and international experience in technical cooperation programs in health and health-related legislation analysis/research
Languages:
Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
IT Skills:
Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint, Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, and Project would be an asset.
Expected contract duration: One year.
Location: Washington, D.C. (offsite)
Compensation: USD $5,000
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in Stellis is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/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/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
- For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
- PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
- PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
- PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoing will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
- PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
- PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.