Programme Officer, Competencies for One Health Field Epidemiology (COHFE)

Objective of the programme:

WCO Bangladesh supports the government of Bangladesh to strengthen health security, including the development of a skilled workforce for preparedness and response.Field Epidemiology is one of the invaluable skills for health security especially adopting a one health approach. The Competencies for One Health field epidemiology (COHFE) framework addresses the increasing and urgent need to strengthen collaboration among the public health, animal health and environment sectors to tackle health threats at the human-animal-environment interface.

The framework, jointly developed by FAO, WHO, and WOAH, aims to integrate human, animal, and environmental health sectors through defined core and sector-specific competencies. WHO Country Office Bangladesh is supporting this initiative to strengthen the country’s One Health capacity.

In alignment with global and regional health security agenda, Bangladesh is undertaking the implementation of the COHFE framework to enhance its multisectoral field epidemiology workforce.

To guide the phased rollout of the COHFE framework, a Programme Officer is required to coordinate and provide technical support for needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, development and incorporation of the COHFE curriculum into the FETP B curriculum mentorship training, and program management.

Description of duties:

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader- Health Security and Emergency Response (HSE), The incumbent will provide support through performing of the following duties (not limited to):

1. Coordinate with multisectoral working group and conduct a desktop review of existing documents and policies on national One Health governance and framework, NAPHS, and sectoral workforce development strategies across the human health, animal health and environment sectors

2. Organize and facilitate national consultation workshop with decision-makers from the human, animal, and environment sectors to identify workforce needs and agree on a shared implementation approach and budget for capacity building through a multisectoral field epidemiology training program.

3. Coordinate and lead the incorporation of the COHFE curriculum into the FETP Bangladesh curriculum

4. Support the review and adaption of relevant knowledge, skill, and competency (KSC) areas of the COHFE framework to be included in national framework and curriculum.

5. Support development of guidelines for identification and onboarding of mentors

6. Draft a comprehensive mentorship training plan including evaluation methodology and certification requirements. And implement training

7. Support the establishment of a management and quality assurance system to ensure high quality trainings

8. Submit monthly activity and quarterly achievement report

9. Perform other duties or tasks or activities assigned by the supervisor

Required Qualifications:

Education:

Essential: Four years in a bachelor’s degree in public health, epidemiology, medicine, veterinary medicine, or related fields and Postgraduate/Master’s degree in relevant field

Desirable: Specialized training in in public health surveillance, field epidemiology or response to diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 5 years of experience working in public health surveillance, field epidemiology or response to diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential.

• Demonstrated experience in One Health related work

• Demonstrated experience in advising field epidemiology training programs including resource-limited countries.

• Experience in curriculum development and training program evaluation.

• Demonstrated experience in developing national and/or international guiding documents.

• Experience in FET Programme

Desirable:

• Experience working with WHO Health Emergencies Programme

• Experience working in One Health

Functional Knowledge and skills:

• Advanced knowledge and skills related to field epidemiology.

• Good understanding of FETP in resource-limited settings, especially in the Asian context.

• Advanced ability for training/capacity building for Member States in disease surveillance and field epidemiology.

• Advanced understanding on One Health related activities

• Excellent presentation and communication skills, including writing skills, in simple and clear language.

• Proven ability to work in a team and produce results under time pressure.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills.

• Proven ability to work in multicultural environments and with multisectoral stakeholders.

Competencies:

• Teamwork

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Communication

• Producing results

Languages:

Excellent writing/reporting, communication and editing skills in English

Duty Station: Dhaka

Computer Literacy: Proficient in using computer software applications (MS-Office Particularly)

Salary & others benefits:

• WHO offers locally competitive packages such as:

• Monthly salary: BDT 159,996.00 (SSA – 8, Step I) (non-negotiable)

• Insurance, Leave and Holidays as per WHO rules.

Additional Information:

1. This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.

2. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

3. A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening.

4. If your candidature is retained for 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.

5. For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

6. The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce 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.

7. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. 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 for WHO jobs.
   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

8. 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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

9. WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.

10. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

11. Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition.

12. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

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

15. Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.

16. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.