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WHO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMME – TECHNICAL OFFICER (WATER, SANITATION, HYGIENE AND HEALTH)

admin December 15, 2021

4 minutes read

WHO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMME - TECHNICAL OFFICER

Apply for the WHO Young Professionals Programme – WASH

DEADLINE: 19 January 2022

The Young Professionals Programme

WHO Headquarters offers opportunities for young professionals from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to engage in WHO’s work and build skills and competence in key public health areas. This is a structured programme which incorporates additional exposure and experience at country level and career support.

Young Professionals will be assigned to regular WHO positions and will be fully immersed in WHO’s technical work. Young Professionals will benefit from career support, networking, mentoring and tailored learning opportunities throughout this period to support them in achieving their personal career goals. To enhance their knowledge and widen their professional network, the YPP may be posted in a different WHO office on short-term learning assignments.

Eligibility criteria

The following eligibility criteria in addition to the minimum requirements of the position will be used to shortlist candidates:

To be no older than 35 years on 31 December of the year of application.
To be a national of a country eligible for the Programme: List of Eligible Countries.
To hold a relevant university degree obtained in your home country or other eligible country.*

*Exceptions will be considered where no institute of higher education exists offering the degrees required for eligibility to this Programme as per the World Higher Education Database.

Purpose of the Position

The purpose of the position is to support the implementation of hand hygiene in community settings and WASH and waste management in health care facilities within the Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health unit, within the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.

Objectives of the Programme

The mission of WHO’s UHC/Healthier Populations Division is to contribute to reducing health inequalities and reducing preventable disease and injury caused by environmental, social and economic determinants of health. This is achieved through a coordinated inter-sectoral approach aimed at enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, in line with the Organization’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The role of the Department for Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) within the overall work of WHO is to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and to influence public policies in all sectors to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. ECH develops and promotes preventive policies and interventions based on an understanding and an in-depth scientific analysis of the evidence base for environmental determinants of human health.

The Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (WSH) Unit aims to substantially improve health through the safe management of water sanitation and Hygiene services in all settings. The Unit focuses on improving-water quality and safety by providing objective information on human health risks associated with water quality contaminants and working to promote effective risk management and independent surveillance. The Unit aims to improve the safety of sanitation and wastewater management, maximizing health benefits of sanitation interventions, making wastewater management part of the circular economy and improving recreational water quality. The Unit promotes WASH in health care facilities (including health care waste management) by supporting the development of country standards and policies, monitoring, facility-based improvements. WSH Unit also undertakes regular comprehensive global analysis of investments and the enabling environment for WASH and reports on progress towards universal access to safely managed drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene. WSH Unit aims to integrate WASH with health and other programmes such as AMR, cholera, climate change, emergencies, IPC, MNCH, NTDs, nutrition, and UHC.

Organizational context

Under the supervision of the Unit Head, WSH, the Technical Officer supports the work of the teams to scale up hand hygiene in community settings, together with support for improving WASH and waste services and practices in health care facilities.

Summary of Assigned Duties

Support the development, revision and dissemination of normative guidance and good practice tools on WASH in health care facilities, health care waste management and hand hygiene in community settings.
Contribute to coordinating aspects of WASH with WHO Regional and Country Offices.
Assist in coordinating global advocacy initiatives and learning related to WASH in health care facilities and hand hygiene in community settings, including global Task Force on WASH in Health Care Facilities, WASH in health care facility knowledge portal (www.washinhcf.org)and the Hand Hygiene for All global initiative.
Compile and prepare progress reports and analysis, particularly focused around the thematics of WASH in health care facilities, health care waste, hand hygiene.
Support training, follow-up and learning on the implementation of V 2.0 of Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT).
Support other general project management duties, as required including technical meeting preparation (both physical and virtual), travel, preparation and provision of contracts as required, and liaison within WHO to advance work in accordance with defined administrative processes.
Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference

Communication

Producing results

Knowing and managing yourself

Fostering integration and teamwork

Functional Knowledge and Skills

Ability to think strategically; to express ideas clearly; to work independently and in teams.
A strong commitment to international public health; an interest in adapting to varied physical and professional environments; and a desire to work with people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds.
Sound skills in managing administrative processes.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
Excellent writing skills.
Demonstrated ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment.

Essential

An advanced university degree in environmental engineering, environmental science, public health or another related area and a relevant first level university degree. A university degree in a relevant subject must have been obtained in your home country or other eligible country.

Desirable

Training in project management.

Experience

Essential

At least 2 years of professional experience working in the area of water, sanitation, hygiene and health and experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder groups.

Desirable

Experience in working with WHO and/or other UN agencies. Some experience in programme management, procurement and/or logistics. Experience in translating science to practice.

Use of Language Skills

Essential

Intermediate knowledge of English.

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of French and Spanish.

Other Skills

Basic IT skills required to set-up and assist with virtual meetings. Excellent knowledge of Microsoft applications (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.,) with an emphasis on Excel or similar workbook applications.