Health Cluster Coordinator

Job Profile Summary

The objectives of WHO's health emergency programme are to design and implement programmes that prepare the health cluster to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. Within the framework of the United Nations Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and cluster approach, the WHO Health Emergencies programme ensures that WHO's critical functions, as outlined in the Emergency Response Framework (ERF), are fulfilled.

The Health Cluster Coordinator (P4) leads an effective and coordinated health-sector response with the national and international community, focusing on vulnerable and marginalized populations. The Health Cluster Coordinator oversees the health needs’ assessment and health-response, strategy development, implementation and monitoring including of the joint incident management system. The position contributes to relieving suffering and saving lives in humanitarian emergencies, while advancing the well-being and dignity of affected populations.

Key duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of WHO Country Office, the incumbent will lead and coordinate the health sector response at both national and subnational levels, ensuring effective collaboration with national and international partners. The incumbent will focus on vulnerable and marginalized populations, providing strategic guidance, data management, and capacity building to enhance emergency preparedness and response as described below:

At National Level

1. Leadership and Coordination:

• Lead an effective and coordinated national health-sector response with the national and international community, focusing on vulnerable and marginalized populations, under the supervision of the Head of the WHO country office and within the framework of the United Nations Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and cluster approach.
• Ensure the alignment of health cluster activities with national health policies and strategies.

2. Data Management:

• Lead the country office’s data management strategies and operations.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and dissemination of health data to inform decision-making and policy development.

3. Health Information Coordination:

• Coordinate and work closely with the country office’s health information management teams and focal points.
• Ensure the integration of health information systems with national databases.

4. Policy and Advocacy:

• Advocate for the inclusion of health priorities in national policies and plans.
• Engage with national stakeholders to promote health cluster objectives and secure necessary resources.

At Subnational Level

1. Coordination with Local Authorities:

• Coordinate health cluster partners’ activities with the Ministry of Health and Provincial Health Authorities, focusing on data and information management throughout the emergency cycle.
• Engage with local authorities, UN partners, NGOs, and non-health actors to establish strategic partnerships for multi-dimensional health cluster coordination.

2. Implementation and Monitoring:

• Support the implementation of health interventions at the subnational level, ensuring alignment with national strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of health programs and interventions.

3. Capacity Building:

• Provide technical assistance and training to local health authorities and partners to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacities.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions on health cluster coordination and management.

At Both National and Subnational Levels

1. Planning and Monitoring:

• Provide guidance, participatory leadership, management, and coordination of planning, monitoring, quality assurance, and reporting on health service delivery and related components of the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and contingency planning for potential new events.
• Ensure the synergy of activities with national plans, mainstreaming cross-cutting issues, and compliance with WHO norms, standards, and protocols.

2. Technical Assistance:

• Provide technical assistance for joint support missions to field operations.
• Offer guidance in national and subnational health system capacity building for emergency preparedness and response in accordance with the IASC Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) Approach and other related guidance.

3. Data Management and Information Sharing:

• Manage data, share information, monitor, and report through the Information Management strategy and functional mechanism.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of health data to stakeholders.

4. Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

• Lead advocacy efforts to mobilize resources for health cluster activities.
• Develop and implement strategies to secure funding and support from donors and partners.

5. Interagency Coordination:

• Lead an interagency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability and demonstrable leadership, coordination, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Promote the principles of partnership, collaboration, and collective results.

6. Promotion of Health Standards:

• Promote agreed national and international standards in all areas of healthcare.
• Strive for the best attainable health status for the populations served by the cluster.

7. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Identify and engage with health sector stakeholders and utilize existing coordination mechanisms, including national health authorities, national and international organizations, and civil society.
• Represent the health cluster in inter-cluster coordination mechanisms and oversee the representation of the health cluster in other relevant sectors/clusters such as WASH, logistics, nutrition, and protection, maintaining neutrality vis-a-vis all partners including WHO.

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected)

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

1. Needs assessment and gap analysis:

Manage, coordinate and be the overall lead within the health cluster or a tinter-cluster level for rapid health needs assessments, as well as participatory assessments (multi cluster/sector initial rapid assessments and humanitarian needs overviews, post-event risk assessment post disaster/post conflict needs assessment); be familiar with and ready to choose from existing tools to confirm that the health cluster covers all identified humanitarian health needs of the affected population. Collect information from all health partners on Who's Where, since and until When, doing What (4Ws), and regularly feed the database managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA). Provide consolidated feedback to all partners and the other clusters.

2.Strategic planning:

Lead the development, in cooperation with the health cluster members, of the health sector components of the humanitarian needs overview (HNO) and humanitarian response plan (HRP) as well as contingency planning for potential new events and other interagency planning, ensure proper linkages with the incident management system, disaster risk reduction, relief and recovery to complement national health sector preparedness/response plans. Ensure full compliance with national and international norms and standards, oversee that cross- cutting issues are mainstreamed in the health cluster response and implementation plans, taking into account the need for local adaptation.

3. Coordination of the health cluster:

Facilitate health partner coordination and involvement in health and other related sector assessments (e.g., nutrition, WASH), planning, information, interventions, monitoring and quality assurance, and regularly report on health services delivered to the affected population. Identify urgent technical gaps and training needs in relation to technical standards and protocols for the delivery of key health services to ensure their adoption and uniform application by all health cluster partners; identify opportunities for capacity building in collaboration with partners. Ensure appropriate links among humanitarian actions and longer-term health sector plans, incorporating the concept of building back better and specific risk reduction measures. Convene and facilitate consultative and results-oriented meetings in line with the principles of partnership. Organize and conduct joint support missions to field operations. Oversee the development of a functional Information Management strategy and mechanism for the health cluster to facilitate information sharing as well as monitoring and reporting; ensure that the health cluster produces and disseminates to partners, donors, government and other stakeholders regular updates, technical reports, bulletins and briefings on the health status of the affected people, response activities, resources mobilization, achievements, challenges and the remedial actions when necessary. Support national (health system) capacity building in emergency preparedness and response in accordance with the IASC emergency response preparedness (ERP) approach and other related guidance.

4. Resources mobilization and funds allocation:

Liaise and manage the development of resource mobilization efforts, oversee the initiation of Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and other pooled fund proposals and other funding documents, as required, in close collaboration with the Head of the WHO Country Office, and in consultation with the health cluster partners and the humanitarian country team. Establish clear and transparent prioritization criteria for vetting partners' projects for inclusion in consolidated appeals and pooled funds processes.

5. Monitoring and evaluation:

Coordinate the development, adaptation, and implementation of an indicators' monitoring framework to ensure adequate implementation of the health cluster plans; empower partners' active involvement in joint monitoring of individual and common plans of action for health interventions. Promote peer exchange of experiences and lessons learned within the cluster partnership. Undertake field mission activities in targeted areas to support Health Cluster and Public Health Information Systems (PHIS) in the assessment of provincial-level priorities/needs.

Competences:

1) Teamwork

2) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3) Communication

4) Ensuring the effective use of resources

5) Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

6) Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Functional knowledge and skills

• Mastery of rapid-response operations in public health, within emergency contexts.
• In depth knowledge of the theory, principles, methods, and techniques of the international emergency incident management system.
• In-depth knowledge of emergency relief policies and practices within the United Nations, its specialized agencies, donor agencies, national and international nongovernmental organizations.
• Political astuteness, and ability to promote consensus, lead negotiations, network and build partnerships within the context of WHOs global emergency response and other competing mandates.
• Excellent skills in the assessment of emergency situations, and the formulation of comprehensive plans to address challenges/risks, using strong strategic thinking.
• Skills to facilitate a policy process among diverse partners, including United Nations, nongovernmental organizations, national/provincial health authorities and donors.
• Demonstrated leadership and coordination skills with the ability to lead, facilitate, and direct multidisciplinary and multinational teams in emergency settings.
• Knowledge of programme management and functioning of WHO and the UN system is an asset.
• Models and maintains calm disposition in crisis situations.

EDUCATION

Required:

An advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in public health, medicine, international health, management or social sciences or related field.

Desirable:

Specialized training in emergency management and/or international aid, humanitarian, health system recovery and health cluster coordination.

EXPERIENCE:

Essential

At least seven years of relevant experience at national and international level, in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships in emergency and humanitarian relief operations, including experience in managing and coordinating health programs in chronic and acute, sudden-onset emergencies in national and international settings.

Desirable

Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations.

LANGUAGE

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of French or English with at least working knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish or Italian.

Desirable:

• Intermediate Knowledge of other UN language

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 that 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 Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• 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 staff. 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.int

• An 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.