PAHO seeks a candidate to support its Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit for 7 months to work remotely on all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including event-based surveillance, verification, risk assessment, monitoring, and information-sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency. Candidates must have three years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
Deadline: 4 May 2022
Objectives of the Department
The objective of the Health Emergencies Department (PHE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to increase health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. PHE assists Member States to strengthen the health sector’s capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for emergencies and disasters related to any hazards (natural, man-made, biological, chemical, radiological and others) and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain disasters, including outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. PHE is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response Policy.
Objective of the Unit
Within PHE, the Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment (HIM) Unit focuses on data collection, verification, database management, data analysis and risk assessment. The information gathered through HIM helps in PHE’s response to natural disaster events and epidemic disease events of potential public health concern. Currently, the HIM Unit focuses its efforts in providing the most accurate data and analysis regarding the COVID-19 pandemic specifically focusing on the Americas.
Responsibilities:
Under the general supervision of the Health Information Management Unit Chief, and direct supervision of the Detection, Verification and Risk Assessment, Advisor, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to the following assigned duties:
- Contribute to all aspects of early detection of acute public health events, including but not limited to event‐based surveillance; verification and risk assessment; monitoring; and information‐sharing on events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern; the analysis linked to the formulation of briefing documents and materials; situation analyses; and convening multi‐disciplinary risk assessment, as appropriate.
- As delegated, participate in activities such as but not limited to:
- Support the further development and maintenance of WHO Event Management System (EMS) and Event Information System (EIS) and other event‐based surveillance systems.
- Monitoring and evaluation of performance and results of epidemic intelligence activities.
- Elaboration of information-sharing products.
- Participate in trainings with Country Office colleagues to carry out the detection, verification and risk assessment functions.
- Collaborate with organizing technical meetings, conferences, and strategic events by preparing and/or consolidating materials and reports, as well as consolidating various partners’ contributions and liaising with countries, including responsibilities related to agenda contents and logistical matters.
- Ensure that projects managed by the Team are executed according to action plans, semester work plans and within established dates.
- Collaborate in the preparation of the Epidemiological Alerts and Updates and the Annual Report of the Epidemiological Alerts and Updates and in their internal and external dissemination.
- Assist in updating contact information changes received from States Parties and liaising with IHR Secretariat to ensure the WHO HQ has the same information.
- Collaborate in the drafting and reviewing of internal and external Situation Reports on acute public health events.
- Support translation and revision of sensitive internal and external communications as well as materials prepared for publication.
- Develop and update resource library for DVA team utilizing SharePoint; includes maintaining important links, documents, and templates among other resources.
- Daily monitoring of natural hazards events.
- Daily monitoring of media for humanitarian crises’ related events.
- Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.
Education requirements (Qualifications)
Essential: A bachelor’s degree in health-related science from a recognized university.
Desirable: A master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, or related discipline would be an asset.
Experience requirements
Essential: Three years of combined national and/or international experience in public health-related topics.
Languages
Essential: Very good knowledge of English and/or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language.
Desirable: Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Location:
The incumbent will work remotely from his/her place of residency.
Expected contract duration
7 Months: Through 31 December 2022 with the possibility for extension subject to performance and funding. This consultancy is expected to entail a full-time commitment.
The application must include:
- Cover letter and most up to date CV
How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and most up-to-date CV which reflects work experience related to these terms of reference by 23:59 EST on Wednesday, 4 May 2022 to graciaric@paho.org.