CLOSED: National professional officer, climate change and health

The WHO Country Office supports the Member State to shape its health policy in line with WHO's principles and values and advocates for an integrated approach to health development. By means of a single, unified and functionally integrated country representation, WHO facilitates the implementation of the BCA with the Member State and its corresponding country work plan

As part of the overall BCA priorities, and within the context of the strategic objective to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health (SO 8), the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health aims to strengthen the capacity of Member States to identify and address within relevant national health policy and evidence based strategies and tools within health system concepts and strategies the challenges related to protect health from the harmful effects of climate change.

The European Centre for Environment and Health actively participates in the WHO/Europe environment and health process, which is marked by a series of ministerial conferences. It aims at strengthening the capacity of Member States to identify and address the challenges related to the environment. The WHA declaration on climate change, in May 2008, further describes the activities to carry out. Its main activities are:

* help strengthen institutional capacity;
* assist in the development of national or sub-national climate change health adaptation plans and strategies;
* create mechanisms for systematic information and intelligence sharing, in particular technical guidelines and educational materials for programme managers, policy-makers, nongovernmental organizations, donors and health personnel involved in climate, environmental health activities;
* provide ethical and evidence-based policy options supporting Member States by guiding them in policy development and technical operations;
* help technicians, primary health care staff and health care managers to develop the technical and managerial skills to implement, evaluate and protect health from climate change, by organizing national and international workshops and conferences;
* monitor and survey climate environmental health issues;
* develope, translate and disseminate.

Description of duties:

Support the national project's implementation "protecting health from climate change" by maintaining the project budget and project expenditures, contracting project personnel, experts and sub-contractors, undertaking procurement, and providing other assistance as need be;

Monitor the project's implementation and achievement of project outcomes, and will ensure the proper use of funds. Financial transactions, reporting and auditing will be carried out in compliance with WHO rules and procedures for national project execution, and prepare detailed reports on the implementation of the project as well as the first year evaluation report and end of project report;

Ensure coordination and facilitate knowledge sharing between the project implementation facility coordination unit and the national participants;

Support the Ministry of Health in developing, implementing and evaluating national strategies for climate change environmental health at national and local level, including but not limited to: updating and adapting guidelines, materials and tools, and carrying out training needs assessments, organizing and implementing training activities for the prevention and control of climate change related impacts; collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on all aspects of climate change, environmental health, including institutional and human resources development, appropriate technology, hygiene education, community involvement, gender issues in environmental health, etc; as well as collecting, reviewing and verifying the data/information on climate change, environmental health service coverage/issues and prepare status reports and sector profiles;

Contribute to the dissemination of training and guidance material as well as organize a national training workshop during the first three months;

Ensure translation of material into local languages and provide information on the web-based information platform; inter-country meetings; project newsletters;

Provide support in the implementation of activities in the area of environmental health, including on climate change and health, air quality, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness and response and infectious diseases, healthy settings and healthy public policy initiatives within the overall framework of the BCA between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan;

Liaise with the Ministry of Health and counterparts joint actions such as working groups, roundtables, meetings to facilitate implementation of priority programme areas at national and local levels, with emphasis on documenting experience for later review;

Facilitate smooth information flow of BCA activities between the Ministry of Health and other involved institutions through sharing of reports, meetings etc.;

Deal with and facilitate the missions for WHO staff and external consultants addressing food safety, monitoring and following- up their recommendations;

Jointly with Ministry of Health counterparts, to undertake regular monitoring of the implementation of the BMU project and the BCA;

Facilitate partnership and coordination between the Ministry of Health and partners such as other UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and NGOs involved in environmental health;

Draft/write regular reports and updates to the WHO Country Office and EURO supervisor or delegate;

Provide technical assistance in other areas as required.

Required qualifications

Education:
Essential:An advanced medical degree with specialization in Public Health.

Desirable:
Post graduate degree in a related science.

Skills:

Competencies:
1. Producing results:
The incumbent takes full ownership of assigned tasks demonstrating a systematic and efficient approach to work that yields high-quality results and workable solutions to surmount critical challenges. The incumbent initiates actions and monitors progress towards achievement of planned objectives.

2. Ensuring the Effective Use of Resources:
Ability to plan, identify and organize approaches and tools to effectively manage financial and human resources needed to achieve results.
Ability to promptly reallocate resources and align priorities in response to unexpected events.
Ability to establish measures to monitor resources and progress of activities as planned.
Monitor costs using the most cost effective methods ensuring proper accounting and reporting for all resources as per WHO and donor guidelines.

3. Communicating in a credible and effective way:
The incumbent speaks and writes clearly and conveys information and opinions in a structured and credible way that is cognizant of the communication style and needs of the intended audience. The incumbent also encourages others to share their views; takes time to understand and consider these views and ensures communication of appropriate messages to other unit staff. Informs key contacts, including the Head of Country Office, Ministry and Regional office counterparts and others of critical issues.

4. Fostering integration and teamwork:
To promote information sharing, ensuring that all concerned are aware of specific situations, problems and needs with a view to achieve results and meet objectives. Willingness to share workload with others. Flexibility and adaptability.

Functional Skills and Knowledge:

The incumbent must possess good skills in working with counterparts and partners, as well as colleagues in relevant programmes within the WHO Kyrgyzstan office and the Regional office for Europe. Knowledge of issues related to food safety. The incumbent must also possess good analytical and problem solving skills. Flexibility and adaptability to a rapidly changing organizational environment is important.

Experience

Essential:At least five years' experience in environmental or public health implementing project activities on environment and public health in the country, working close with the PH Department of the MoH, having good knowledge of the PH system of the country.

Desirable:Experience in the implementation of environmental health programmes and experience in working with WHO or other international organizations.

Languages:
Essential:Excellent knowledge of English and local language (both spoken and written).

Desirable:Knowledge of one or more WHO EURO official languages (Russian, French or German).