National Professional Officer, Maternal & Perinatal Health at World Health Organization (WHO)

Ref Id: 1901156
Location: Nigeria-Abuja
Grade: NO-C
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract duration: 24 months
Organization: AF_NGA Nigeria
Schedule: Full-time

Objectives

• The World Health Organization's Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) includes the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP).
• HRP is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health programmes.
• The Department draws on research and global expertise to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Description of Duties
The incumbent will collaborate with staff of related HQ Departments, WHO Country Office staff, and WHO Regional Office staff to provide advice and to plan, integrate, and coordinate work on specific project(s). The incumbent will also liaise with staff of partner agencies, such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNAIDS and the World Bank, as well as with research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and government stakeholders.

The incumbent will represent WHO in meetings as needed, and participate in relevant activities, related to sexual and reproductive health. The demands on the incumbent will be multiple and frequently changing. The position calls for political sensitivity, as the agendas are complex and not clearly aligned:

• Support the development, approval, initiation, implementation and monitoring of WHO/RHR research project on the establishment and management of a nationwide electronic maternal and perinatal database to support the WHO Quality, Equity, and Dignity (QED) Project in Nigeria, working closely with the project lead and coordinators in 60 collaborating institutions, WHO/RHR and WHO Country Office team members and the Team Coordinators. Carry out site visits of prospective and on-going HRP research projects.
• Provide technical support to collaborating institutions obtain required local approvals, including ethics approvals or exemptions as needed.
• Organize a national stakeholders’ meeting for official launching of the electronic data platform.
• Support project implementation through technical assistance to collaborating institutions (including but not limited to training, site visits and resolution of queries)
• Prepare technical reports for donors on grant implemented, working in collaboration with WHO Country Office team members, the Team Coordinators, and Project Managers (WHO/RHR).
• Contribute to advocacy and communications activities relating to the implementation of the project. Liaise on an on-going basis with Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria and WHO advocacy staff and Country Project Lead to ensure that there is country buy-in for the project and that the work is appropriately reflected on the designated web site(s), newsletters, and other information channels.
• Draft research protocol(s) to evaluate the quality of care around the time of childbirth in the network of 60 hospitals.
• Contribute to operational planning and reporting for the teams as required for WHO Country Office, Nigeria and WHO/RHR working closely with other team members and Project managers.
• Carry out site visits of prospective and on-going WHO/RHR research projects.
• Support the Federal Ministry of Health to implement the Maternal and perinatal death surveillance response (MPDSR)
• Contribute to the quality of care improvement implementation in selected WHO learning Sites
• Carry out other tasks as required by the WHO Country Office Team Coordinator, Project Managers (WHO/RHR), and WHO Representative, Nigeria.

Requirements
Education (Qualifications):

• Essential: A university degree in one of the following fields: Public Health, Epidemiology, Women's Studies, Gender and Development, Social or Political Sciences; or Health Sciences (medical or nursing) with advanced training or experience in one of the above fields.
• Desirable: Medical degree or Ph.D. in a related field.

Experience:

• Essential:
  • At least 5 years' work experience in sexual and reproductive health research or a related health field.
  • Knowledge of maternal, perinatal, sexual and reproductive health. Research, analytical and programme management skills, as evidenced by experience in conducting or coordinating multicentre projects in a low-resource setting.
• Desirable:
  • Experience in UN organizations or agencies, other similar institutions or foundations in support to developing countries; field experience in conducting health research in developing countries.

Use of Lanuage Skills:

• Essential: Excellent Knowledge of English

Skills:

• Proficiency in the use of health information management softwares.

Competencies: Functional

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences,
• Teamwork,
• Communication
• Technical competence,
• Producing results