Closing date: Wednesday, 5 April 2023
General
Description of assignment title: Programme Officer
Assignment country: Congo
Expected start date: 06/01/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Host entity: WHO
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Brazzaville
Details
Mission and objectives
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization established in 1948. The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions: 1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed; 2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge; 3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them; 4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies 5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way; 6. Monitor health status and assess health trends.
Context
The Tropical and Vector-borne Disease (TVD) team is one of the six teams of the UCN Cluster and is responsible for implementing Regional frameworks for the eradication, elimination and control of Tropical and Vector-borne Disease (TVD) which include Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Vector-borne diseases. Tropical and vector-borne diseases contribute significantly to the global burden of communicable diseases. The WHO African Region bears a heavy burden of these diseases, with 234 million malaria cases including 593000 deaths, 38 million lymphatic filariasis cases, 15 million onchocerciasis cases, 12 million schistosomiasis cases; hundreds of thousands of dengue fever cases and other arboviruses or vector-borne diseases reported in 2020. WHO AFRO established the Tropical and Vector-borne Disease program to accelerate attainment in a coordinated manner, reductions in the burden of tropical, neglected and vector-borne diseases. Support is given through the provision of high-quality guidance, capacity building and technical support to Member States in the adoption, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of appropriate national multisectoral policies and strategies. The WHO AFRO “Framework for the control elimination and eradication of tropical and vector-borne diseases in the African Region,” endorsed by Member States in August 2022, provides a viable pathway towards member states attaining the stated goals. Three objectives to be achieved by implementing the framework approach include: (i) Support the strengthening of health systems needed by Member States to deliver integrated services for tropical and vector-borne disease; (ii) Support the scaling up of implementation of targeted, integrated tropical and vector-borne disease interventions; (iii) Strengthen the prevention and control of tropical and vector-borne disease outbreaks in epidemic-prone Member States. The TVD team provides leadership and vision to the above and related areas of work in the WHO African Region and facilitates planning, programming, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of services in an integrated approach. The team is responsible for joint actions with other teams of the UCN Cluster and other related Clusters to respond to the needs of the population through the integrated delivery of interventions and services The TVD Team runs several Projects and Programs that contribute to the attainment of it’s goals. In order to improve the performance of this Unit and efficiently combat the diseases, a UNV will be recruited to support the TVD Team Lead in providing guidance and recommendations on management of grants and programmatic performance.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme and Administrative Officer and direct guidance of the TVD Team Leader, the UN Volunteer will provide the following: 1. Monitor funding proposals, grants implementation rates and reporting deadlines in accordance with donors’ specific reporting schedules and requirements. 2. Support generation, analysis and dissemination of strategic information to all team members and partners on the approval of the Team Leader. 3. Monitor respect and alignment to standard policies and procedures for grant management, compile information on best practices and lessons learned. 4. Monitor interventions and programmes funded by grants to ensure compliance with established WHO rules and procedures and donor requirements. Identify gaps in the process and recommend corrective actions. 5. Update and maintain the related grant and finance tracking systems to monitor deadlines for submission of proposals and reports to donors. 6. Produce financial analyses and summary reports of grants implementation and per the specifications of the Team Leader. 7. Provide guidance to the technical units in terms of Grants implementation to ensure compliance with the Donor requirements 8. Liaise with finance focal points to ensure award activation, funds distribution, workplan funding and budgeting in the system 9. Perform other related duties including replacing and backstopping as required.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in
- At least 3 years’ experience in project management and administration as well as in grant proposal, report writing and financial/grant tracking or similar experience in a relevant field.
- Extensive practical knowledge of grants management principles and techniques
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable French, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in
- Project management and administration as well as in grant proposal, report writing and financial/grant tracking or similar experience in a relevant field.
Competencies and values
- Communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Commitment to continuous learning
- Judgement and decision-making
- Planning and organising
- Professionalism
- Integrity
- Teamwork
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The Republic of Congo is a low-middle income country, located in Central Africa sub-region. The country shares boundaries with Gabon in the South-West, Cameroon and Central Republic Africa in the North and North East, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the East, Angola and Atlantic Ocean in the South. Since 2014, the Republic of Congo is experiencing an economic downturn, affecting the economic growth (-5 per cent in 2017). Because of the persistent drop in the price of oil, this situation drove to the decline of the gross domestic product per capita, from $3,196 in 2013 to $1,658 in 2017. Nevertheless, the country is globally stable and safe in the main urban and rural areas. Frequent disruptions are recorded in the electricity supply, particularly in Brazzaville (political capital) and Pointe-Noire (economic capital). The living cost is relatively affordable, but some concerns with the cost of decent housing should be noted. The population enjoys dressing in style and loves music both profane and religious. According to United Nations security standards, life and travel in Brazzaville and in the other areas major are secure. The Republic of Congo is a unique country. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy.
