Fresh Jobs at World Health Organization (WHO)

Background and Objectives

• The World Health Organization (WHO) will be supporting Nigeria through their Ministry of Health to undertake this health co-benefits assessment. WHO will collaborate with partners which have experience already collaborating in Nigeria on the elaboration of SLCP inventories and GHG studies.
• The WHO will be establishing a Health Co-benefits of Climate Mitigation Expert Working Group that will provide expert guidance to the study as required and provide a peer review of the study findings.
• WHO is seeking a national (institution/consultant) to work in cooperation with an international environmental health specialist, the WHO (AFRO/HQ/WCO) team and other experts to develop a study on “A Study of the Health Co-benefits of Climate Mitigation in Nigeria Through Transitioning to Clean Fuels and Technologies for Residential Use”.
• This study will primarily investigate the health implications of Nigeria’s commitment to reduce GHG and SLCP emissions with a focus on the residential sector. The aim will be to consider a series of clean technology and fuel transitions for cooking and quantify their associated costs, emissions and air pollutant reductions, health gains and social benefits.

The proposed objectives of this study will be to:

• Analyze the spatial distribution of pollution problems in the country and the regional effect on children.
• Propose a series of transitions to clean fuel and technologies in the residential sector and associated emissions and air pollutant reductions with a consideration of equitable access
• Estimate the government and individual costs of these transition scenarios
• Estimate the avoided air pollution-attributable deaths/daily from these interventions;
• Estimate the social benefits from these interventions;
• Integrate study findings into Nigeria NDC revision process and provide recommendations on opportunities to use findings to raise NDC ambitions.
• Throughout the report preparation, the selected national consultant will be supported by trainings and guidance of international specialists and the WHO Nigeria team.

Proposed Timeline

Concise Outputs:

• Estimate avoided mortality and morbidity attributed to ambient air pollution associated with the emissions reduction’s scenarios being considered in Nigeria’s revised NDC;
• Estimate the associated health savings from these avoided air pollution-attributable deaths and diseases
• Reporting and advocacy of findings. Integration of study findings into Nigeria’s NDC revision process and provide recommendations on opportunities to use findings to raise NDC ambitions.

Deliverables (Description of Activities/Tasks to Achieve Output(s)

• Deliverable 1: Study on the methodology of the study on Assessing Health Co-Benefits of Nigeria’s NDC Household Air Pollution Reductions
  • Brief document (max 1-2 pages) outlining final study methodology, with emphasis on the health analysis and socioeconomic analysis– document should highlight recommendations/decisions on the customization of the methodology, tool (BARHAP) and national data inputs for Nigeria.
  • Document covering the final approved indicators and data with endorsements from the reporting institutions/entity
  • Compiled and cleaned datasets for analysis in accordance with finalised list of core data inputs.
• Expected deliverable date: 21st May 2022
• Deliverable 2: Preparation final report for Assessing Health Co-Benefits of Nigeria’s NDC Household Air Pollution Reductions
  • Policy brief covering the policy recommendations for NDC revision, reviewed and endorsed by relevant entities.
  • Contributions to global guidance, case study development and capacity-building on health co-benefit of climate mitigation assessments, exact outputs to be determined with WHO.  
  • Translate key findings and lessons learn into draft publishable journal article(s).
• Expected deliverable date: 4th June 2022.
• Deliverable 3: Dissemination of study’s findings:
  • Identify opportunities for integration of findings in NDC planning, implementation & related documentation/initiatives
  • Identify opportunities for integration of data with Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance Systems (INESHSS) and other existing public health surveillance.
  • Contribution of study’s findings to material produced in the frames of COP26
• Expected deliverable date: 20th June 2022.

Technical Supervision
The selected candidate will work under the direct supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

• Dr Edwin Edeh - Technical Officer, PHE, Nigeria.
• Dr. Kelias MSYAMBOZA - Cluster Lead, UHP, Nigeria
• Mr. Guy Mbayo - Technical Lead, Climate Health and Environment (CHE)/ AFRO
• Ms.Tara Neville - Technical Officer, Environmental Health HQ

Manager:

• Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo - WR/Head of Mission

Educational Qualifications, Professional Expertise and Key Skills Required
Education:  

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences or Public Policy.

Qualifications and Skills required:

• Understanding of energy policy decision-making processes in Nigeria, and engaging/advising governments or other stakeholders on policy options;
• Understanding of the challenges and intricacies of multi-sectoral policies and decisions in Nigeria
• Demonstrated data collection and analysis;
• Demonstrated strong research and analytical skills;
• Familiarity with WHO normative products, specifically the WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion;
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and oral.

Experience:

• 5 or more years working to develop and/or evaluate energy policies and programmes;
• Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of policies and programmes in Nigeria, related to household energy value chain;
• Conducting a needs assessment/situational assessment and/or stakeholder mapping in a low or middle-income country, preferably in Nigeria,
• Modelling of policy scenarios to estimate population health and environmental impacts;
• Preparing workshops, consulting and interviewing stakeholders, including those working in the government, within the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the socioeconomic, behavioural and cultural factors influencing household decision-making, particularly related to household energy use and how this can be harnessed to enhance the effectiveness of policies and programmes.

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Objectives of the Programme

• The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to help countries, and to coordinate international action to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.
• The unit of Infectious Hazards Management is responsible for supporting countries for prevention and control of high threat diseases of both epidemic and pandemic potential through development and dissemination of evidence-based strategies, policies, tools,norms and standards to manage infectious disease hazards

Description of Duties

• Under the supervision and guidance of the WHE Team Lead, the incumbent supports the prevention and control of diseases with a high threat of pandemic and epidemic potential through coordination of prediction, outbreak investigation, characterization of infectious diseases and/or risks, and implementation of evidence-based strategies to manage outbreaks and risks.
• More specifically, the incumbent will: Lead and coordinate the work within the Infectious Hazards Management (IHM) team with particular emphasis on prevention and control of infectious hazards and threats, specific preparedness and readiness measures necessary to mitigate and prevent these threats.
• Ensure development, coordination and implementation of a strategic programme to respond and control threats with potential of country/regional/global spread Develop the technical guidelines and preparedness plan in collaboration with other disease programs and the preparedness groups in WHE and foster research for new tools and approaches to prevent and control infectious hazards with pandemic potential.
• Provide the IHM contribution to the surveillance and risk analysis and risk communication of infectious hazards with pandemic potential in close collaboration with the risk assessment and information group and other groups in WHE.
• Develop new policies, concepts, tools and strategies and their implementation in High Threat Pathogens.
• Plan, manage and monitor the activities of the team so that activities reflect the administrative and budgetary standards, guidelines, priorities and directions of WHE/IHM Develop work plans and performance indicators, monitor, identify gaps and coordinate the work of the team and its interaction with other teams so that the work is technically excellent, effectively and efficiently conducted, and completed to a high standard.
• Lead and coordinate the work on developing guidelines for surveillance, field investigation, detection and response to the transmission of high threat pathogens in community and healthcare settings;
• Collect timely data on evolving risk as well as to guide appropriate response to prevent spread;
• Build partnerships with the various counterparts and international partners to implement appropriate interventions, including strategic planning, tactical and project planning, facilitation, instruction, and information and documentation development.
• Proactively flag to the supervisor of situations which might pose a threat to WHO or its reputation and propose solutions to address the problems. Represent the Unit at international meetings and conferences, when required.Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: University Degree in Medicine with a Master's Degree in Public Health.
• Desirable: Specialized training in field epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak investigation.

Experience:

• Essential: At least 7 years of combined national and international level experience in public health specially in the control and prevention of infectious diseases. Proven experience inmanaging finances, budgets and staff and clear proof of responsibility for management of work plan activities.
• Desirable: Proven primary responsibility for managing cross-cutting initiatives involving different departments or organizational entities in a multinational context such as the UN, WHO or similar. Proven primary responsibility in developing strategies in prevention and control of infectious diseases

Skills:

• Expert level knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly in region specific infectious hazards and threats, specific public health preparedness measures for its control.
• Solid managerial skills including proven ability to move from design of a strategic concept, to its operational implementation, to its successful completion, and sound knowledge of planning, human resources, budgeting and financing aspects of management.
• Proven understanding of the management of acute and urgent public health responses,including infectious disease outbreaks in humanitarian emergencies. Demonstrate deffectiveness in building sustained partnerships and working with others in international settings.

WHO Competencies:

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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 75,602 (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 3194 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.