Job Vacancies at The World Health Organization (WHO)

Objectives of the Programme

• The Federal Government of Nigeria continues to oversee the implementation of intensified Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) activities in the country. These efforts have resulted in improved quality of PEI activities as well as interruption of the wild poliovirus transmission in Nigeria. Priority Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization strategies and activities are articulated in the National Polio Eradication Emergency Plan and the Comprehensive EPI Multi-Year Plan
• The purpose of this post is to coordinate WHO technical, programmatic and managerial activities aimed at supporting the State to (a) achieve and maintain very high population immunity against polioviruses through high quality SIAs and routine immunization (b) achieve recommended surveillance performance indicators for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), other Vaccine Preventable Diseases as well as other diseases of public health priority as highlighted in Nigeria's Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy.

Description of Duties
Under the overall guidance of the WHO Country Representative, overall leadership of EPI Team Leader and direct supervision of the Zonal Coordinator, the incumbent is expected to support State authorities, partners and other appropriate stake-holders in the following specific tasks:

EPI Programme Areas (Routine Immunization, SIAs, Surveillance):

• Support timely preparation of State EPI/PEI (Polio Eradication, Routine Immunization and other accelerated control of vaccine preventable diseases) annual work-plans in line with national plans with great emphasis on the National Polio Eradication Emergency Plan (NPEEP).
• Advocate for and participate in weekly coordination meetings of the State Technical Team to monitor implementation of priority EPI/PEI activities as articulately in the State EPI/PE State plans.
• Advocate for and participate in monthly State Inter-agency Coordination Committee or State Immunization Task Force meetings to review implementation of priority EPI/PEI activities and EPI/PEI performance indicators.
• Support timely (a) collection of all EPI/PEI data (RI, SIA dashboard, Abuja commitments, surveillance, and PEI accountability framework data...etc), (b) use of EPI/PEI data for action and (c) feed-forward clean data to Zonal and National level.
• Ensure regular updating of State EPI/PEI plans to incorporate technical recommendations from ERC meetings, programme reviews including Rapid Surveillance Assessments (RSAs), National EOC action points...etc
• Collate monthly review reports from all clusters and compile a monthly state EPI/PEI review report.
• Develop innovations as solution to pertinent issues affecting quality implementation of activities in the State

Coordination of WHO State Technical Team:

• Ensure that all WHO personnel (Cluster consultants, LGA Facilitators, Field Volunteers) prepare (a) weekly work-plans in line with State EPI/PEI work-plans and priorities and (b) weekly reports of implementation of their weekly work-plans at the end of each week
• Conduct weekly in-house coordination meetings and follow up priority actions for follow up.
• Collaborate closely with other partners in the state (CDC, UNICEF, Rotary...) through joint participation in meetings with State officials and other stake-holders (State team meetings, State Task Force meetings, State EOC or Operations Room meetings...etc) as well as in partner meetings as may be required.
• Ensure timely sharing of activity reports and or plans of activities to be supported by WHO with State authorities, partners and other relevant stake-holders in the state.
• Undertake at least 2-3 supportive supervision of WHO personnel supporting high risk or poor performing LGAs.
• Ensure quality selection and training of EIM and LQAS surveyors
• Validate at least 5 – 10% of the verified AFP cases
• Ensure quarterly performance appraisals of all WHO personnel in the State.

Cross Cutting Tasks:

• Support training and capacity building of State, LGA staff as well as all WHO personnel (Cluster consultants, LGA Facilitators, Field Volunteers).
• Implement administrative, financial, security and office operations responsibilities in line with laid down WHO rules and regulations.
• Provide any support as requested by WHO Zonal Coordinator, EPI TL and/or WHO Representative.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Degree in Medicine (MBBS, MBChB, MD)
• Desirable: Post graduate degree in Public Health preferably in epidemiology or other related public health fields

Experience:

• Essential: At least Five years of experience in EPI activities after post graduate qualification in government or non-governmental organizations.
• Desirable: Experience in an international organization

Skills:

• Computer literate in Microsoft windows applications, analytical soft-wares such as EPIINFO

WHO Competencies:

• Communication;
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organisation and beyond
• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Excellent command of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN language would be an asset

Objectives of the Programme

• The objective of the EPI programme is to support national authorities to provide high-quality immunization services that will contribute to:
  • The reduction of mortality, morbidity and disability from vaccine-preventable diseases through the optimum use of available and new vaccines; and
  • The strengthening of national health systems as well as efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Evidence generation and monitoring of quality implementation of activities is indispensable for effective program implementation. This can be insured by having a strong monitoring and evaluation system at all levels with strict implementation of Accountability Framework (AF). To achieve this objective the WHO M&E officer at the zonal level will be tasked with activities at zonal and state level and provide evidence driven information for actions aimed at supporting the zone/states to:
  • Ensure availability of quality, timely, and complete information that guides the surveillance and immunization program;
  • Monitor effective and systematic implementation of the program and individual performance through the established AF;
  • Provide evidence through the timely utilization of different data available and guide the program;
  • Support the Zonal Coordinator in conducting review meetings and documentation.

Description of Duties
Under the overall guidance of the WHO Country Representative, overall leadership of EPI Focal Point, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the national level, and direct supervision of the Zonal Coordinator, the incumbent coordinates all data management, monitoring and evaluation activities at the assigned Zone and field level. The Officer reports programme progress achieved to the Zonal Coordinator and the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at national level. The officer will work closely with national authorities as well as partners. Some of the activities to be performed by the incumbent include:

• Support the WHO-Nigeria Zonal and State offices to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate work-plans in line with national priorities, strategies and plans.
• Assess trends and outcomes relating to achieving the National Plan of Action (NPA) goals in Polio eradication and other vaccine-preventable diseases;
• Support regular performance reviews of Zonal and State technical teams and the preparation of performance improvement plans wherever necessary;
• Oversee the data management protocols with an aim to improve quality, accessibility, timeliness and relevance of technical data in close collaboration with the national data management team.
• Oversee the coordination and deliverables of the Zonal WHO data management system
• Prepare quarterly programme status reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc
• Support monitoring and evaluation, and accountability framework system in the country/zone through systematic information exchange from the central level to the field regarding disease surveillance, routine immunization, and SIAs (Polio and non- Polio) along the WHO system.
• Lead the conduct of periodic surveys in the program (such as NICS, post campaign coverage surveys)
• Conduct supportive supervision and validation on regular basis.
• Systematically document technical performance of professional staff and provide periodical report to the Zonal Coordinator and central Monitoring and Evaluation unit for management decision to enforce accountability
• Support activities aimed at strengthening partnership, advocacy as well as resource mobilization in support of improving performance of immunization activities;
• Undertake periodic training need assessment and take part in capacity building activities in support of immunization operations (service delivery, vaccine supply and quality, logistics, surveillance, advocacy and communication), immunization safety and operational research
• Systematically document the capacity building activities undertaken in the zone and share the same to the Zonal coordinator and national M&E unit.
• Document and produce evidence for the resource utilization (financial and human) in line with the program deliverables to make sure that implementation of results should be tied up with the resource deployed. Include this as a critical deliverable in the quarterly report.
• Perform other activities as required by WHO Representative

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Degree in Medicine (MBBS, MBChB, MD)
• Desirable: Advanced public health degree.

Experience:
Essential:

• At least 5 years’ experience in immunization and health system strengthening.
• In depth understanding of the Nigerian health system and routine immunization program.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively coordinate organizations with good expertise in navigating and strengthening relationships among government and development organizations.
• Extensive experience with large scale health systems strengthening interventions, particularly in the public sector
• Significant experience in strategic planning, organizational development, change facilitation and process management in the health sector

Desirable:

• Experience working with government officials at all levels. Demonstrable experience working with government and partner agencies at national levels is an asset

Skills:

• Strong managerial, problem-solving skills and experience working under demanding work plans and tight budgets.
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal relationship skills;
• Strong analytical skills and high-level technical proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, with ability to use these tools to collect and analyze immunization program data.
• Good business-oriented verbal, visual and written communication skills.

WHO Competencies:

• Communication;
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organisation and beyond
• Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Excellent command of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN language would be an asset

Objectives of the Programme

• The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

Description of Duties
Reporting to the Operations Officer, and under the overall guidance of the Incident Manager, the incumbent will plan and implement budget and finance operations, including all aspects of financial management and financial reporting. The Budget and Finance Officer, reviews financial data, participates in evaluating financial risk assessment, provides inputs on financial issues, and prepares financial reports.

The incumbent ensures adherence to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards' (IPSAS), applicable emergency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and financial policies and procedures. The incumbent liaises closely with counterparts and budget & finance focal points in WHO country, regional and HQ offices, other UN agencies and Donors in carrying out their duties. The incumbent might be required to supervise a team of support staff. Some of the activities to be performed by the incumbent include:

• Organize the day-to-day budget and financial operations encompassing quality control, monitoring and clearance, financial accounting and reporting, workplan and award management including cash flow forecasting and monitoring, while liaising with relevant team members.
• Manage funding allocations and awards process, prepare necessary forms for the awards' cycle and implements all budgetary and financial actions in the Global Management System (GSM), this includes workplan funding requests, submission of award budgets, reprogramming of awards and preparation of expenditure batches, while ensuring speedy response to the incident management team's financial requests. Ensure expenditures are appropriately charged to awards in line with the conditions in agreements with donors.
• Monitor and follow-up on donor reporting deadlines; verify and provide budgetary clearance to proposals and reports for resource mobilization team, ensure compliance with relevant financial policies, procedures and emergency SOPs.
• Track and report on financing against budget: monitor implementation rates, consolidate financial data, analyze and prepare periodic/ad hoc budgetary and financial statements and returns, identify financial gaps, and recommend remedial or alternative action to mangers as appropriate.
• Develop, update and maintain an accurate tracking system of all financial activities pertaining to the emergency preparedness, recovery and response operations at the country level.
• Oversee the accurate recording of financial transactions, calculation and payment of salaries, allowances and other payments to staff, non- staff, contractors and vendors.
• Brief/debrief staff members, consultants and WHO responders, on relevant financial and budgetary rules and procedures.
• Draft audit responses, review and follow- up on any outstanding audit recommendations related to area of work.
• Perform any other related incident-specific duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: A first-level university degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Business or Public Administration or Economics with specialization in budgeting/accounting from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Desirable: An advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration. Professional qualification or licensure in Accounting/Accountancy.

Experience:

• Essential: At least two years’ professional experience, at the national and international level, in finance, budget/accounting. Demonstrated experience in accounting and consolidation of financial data using ERP systems or similar packages
• Desirable: Prior experience in supporting emergency or health outbreak operations at the field level. Relevant experience with WHO, other UN agencies or with an international Non-Governmental Organization.

Skills:

• Good command of MS office software: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and use of the Internet.

WHO Competencies:

• Technical expertise
• Overall attitude to work
• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Excellent command of English
• Desirable: Knowledge of other UN language would be an asset