Technical Officer (Household Air Pollution)
( 2307463 )
Grade : P3
Contractual Arrangement : Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 1 yr
Job Posting: Sep 20, 2023, 7:07:50 AM
The mission of WHO’s UHC/Healthier Populations Division is to contribute to reducing health inequalities and reducing preventable disease and injury caused by environmental, social and economic determinants of health. This is achieved through a coordinated inter-sectoral approach aimed at enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, inline with the Organization’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the Sustainable Development Goals. The role of the Department for Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) within the overall work of WHO is to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and to influence public policies in all sectors to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. ECH develops and promotes preventive policies and interventions based on an understanding and an in-depth scientific analysis of the evidence base for environmental determinants of human health. The Air Quality Energy and Health (AQH) Unit provides technical support to WHO’s Member States in the development of normative guidance and tools and provision of authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources. Monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the local, national, regional and global levels is an additional key facet of this. In this context, AQH promotes interventions and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies (including energy, transport, housing and urban development), addressing key risks to health from air pollution indoors and outdoors, and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
- Contribute to the development, and piloting of WHO tools and guidance included in the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit, a set of resources designed to select and implement interventions on household air pollution and designed to support the implementation of the WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion.
- Support countries to develop, implement and monitor policies or action plans on clean household energy, using the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit.
- Contribute to the WHO global monitoring and reporting system on household air pollution and health by updating data and reporting on household air pollution exposure and related burden of disease, as well as provide guidance on monitoring to countries and other stakeholders.
- Facilitate and support research on the evidence of health impacts of indoor air quality and on the effectiveness of interventions to address them, particularly in relation to household fuel combustion.
- Contribute to the development of joint analyses/initiatives on linkages between household air pollution and specific health issues, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and child health, in close collaboration with other departments in WHO.
- Contribute to the WHO databases on household air pollution, household energy and/or related health policies and regulations and associated impacts on health.
- Actively participate in the Clean Cooking thematic groups on clean cooking within the framework of the Health and Energy Platform of Action.
- Support and provide guidance to countries on analysis and modelling of economic and epidemiological data based on the WHO databases related to household energy, particularly the policy database.
- Participate on behalf of WHO in global partnerships and initiatives on household air pollution and health, such as the Clean Cooking Alliance.
- Provide technical support to the Regional and Country Offices on matters related to household air pollution and health, including support for institutional capacity development and training activities.
- Contribute to other technical work in AQH, as appropriate: Technical support provided for the development and implementation of WHO activities on household air pollution and health as described above; internal WHO collaboration and relations with external partnerships and networks strengthened in support of this work.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: University degree in natural, environmental or social sciences.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology and/or biostatistics.
Experience
Essential:
Minimum of five years of experience working on household (indoor) air pollution and health issues, of which at least three at an international level.
Desirable:
- Experience with household energy policies and economics.
- Experience working on public health issues in the context of multi-stakeholder initiatives on energy poverty, energy access, climate change, and/or sustainable development.
- Experience working with top-level monitoring, national surveys and statistics.
- Experience in providing training or capacity-building workshops or seminars on environmental health topics.
- Experience working within the UN system.
Skills
- Substantial knowledge of the health and socio-economic impacts of household air pollution and/or household energy use
- Demonstrated knowledge of exposure assessments, in particular in relation to household air pollution from household fuel combustion.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the theories, principles, methods, and process of assessing health and socio-economic impacts from exposure to household air pollution, including by conducting cost-benefit analysis, health risk assessments or others.
- Background and/or training in synthesizing evidence through systematic reviews or meta-analysis.
- Strong scientific research and writing skills.
- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
- Good understanding of the role of WHO globally, regionally and at country level, including its supportive efforts with external partners.
WHO Competencies
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Moving forward in a changing environment
- Producing results
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.
REMUNERATION
WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 5748 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
- In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. 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/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.
- The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
- The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States ( https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.intAn impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
- WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
- Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
- Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the Professional category with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
- For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
- Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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