Laboratory Assistant

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is part of and contributes to the work of the Universal health coverage/Communicable and non-communicable diseases (UHC/UCN) cluster in the WHO African region. The strategic agenda of the cluster is to reduce disease burden in the WHO African Region, by guiding disease control agenda in Africa, and using analytics to inform strategic investments and tailored interventions for disease control”. This approach is underpinned by the guiding principles of comprehensive whole of society, people-centered, integrated approaches to disease control. The comprehensive whole of society approaches to disease control involves: (a) coherent implementation of triple response - technical response: implementing diseases specific normative guidance, promoting intervention mixes and deploying medical commodities; health systems response: building capacities of district service delivery systems in disease mapping and stratification, interventions tailoring, and sector/subsector planning; and multi-sectoral response: addressing socio-economic and environmental determinants of diseases through mobilizing non-health sectors, communities and stakeholders; (b) disease control partnership of public and private sectors, health and non-health sectors; and (c) community involvement in targeted high risk communities, focused on managing determinants of diseases, health services demand creation and accountability by local health stewards. The people centered, integrated approaches to disease control involves: (a) integrated guidance on disease control for each health service delivery platform, a move away from stand-alone disease specific guidance; and (b) integrated and efficient disease control investments in strengthening the capacity of appropriate health services delivery platforms through deployment of appropriate technologies and analytics to guide stratification of disease risks across population groups in order to develop and deploy comprehensive packages of interventions appropriate for each population group and health service delivery platform, as well as monitor population access, coverage and impact to leave no one behind.The specific objectives of the UCN cluster to which the ESPEN programme contributes, are to: (i) provide leadership on disease control coordination, partnership and resource mobilization; (ii) contribute to the development of WHO disease control technical products, services and tools including adoption of new technologies and innovations; (iii) support generation and use of strategic information for action and decision making including optimizing investment; and (iv) provide or facilitate provision of technical support in deployment of WHO technical products and services and institutional capacity building, including support to national disease programmes and regulatory authorities.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the ESPEN Team Lead, and the direct supervision of the ESPEN Laboratory Head, the incumbent will be expected to undertake the following duties:

1. Receive, check for compliance, and record blackfly samples received from countries.
2. Perform pre-analytical processing of blackfly's samples.
3. Contribute to the implementation of O-150 PCR testing of S. damnosum s.l. adults by molecular biology techniques available in the laboratory.
4. Contribute to the quality control and results interpretation through technical validation.
5. Contribute to in country laboratory training activities.
6. Support Laboratory tasks of general interest (maintaining a sterile environment, organizing logbooks, setting up, calibrating and troubleshooting molecular biology equipment to ensure accurate testing, management of the sample repository, socks management, waste disposal).
7. Performs all related duties as requested by supervisors in the operation of the laboratory and the ESPEN project.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Completion of secondary school education; or its equivalent in technical or commercial education.
Desirable: A Bachelor's degree in biological sciences/ molecular biology and certifications/attestations of training in laboratory quality management systems would be an asset.

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of relevant professional experience including work experience in performing the O-150 PCR test using the pool screening method for blackflies.
Desirable: Working experience with WHO on onchocerciasis and other NTDs would be an asset. Capacity to work with people of different cultures.

Skills

• Good hand-eye coordination, especially when using needles and microscopes during collection and preparation of specimens for analysis.• Attention to detail and good organizational skills.• Understanding of electronic and computerized equipment in laboratories.• Able to follow instructions and strictly follow procedures.• Good level of computer literacy; the ability to analyze and manage electronic information.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of French.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English.

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the General Services category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at XOF 16,003,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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.

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• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.

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