Expression of Interest: WASH Officer to support WHO and The GTFCC in their Cholera response

Context

By the end of 2024, more than 30 countries are experiencing cholera outbreaks. This dramatic number, which affects the poorest countries, is driven by intense climatic events and post-covid impacts where health systems have been strained. In response to this alarming situation, WHO has established an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) at global level to respond to this acute emergency.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The WHE Response division (WRE) is responsible for rapidly detecting and responding to health emergencies while leveraging relevant national and international partnerships, ensuring that emergency-affected populations in acute and protracted emergencies have access to essential health services and that systems are maintained and strengthened in fragile, conflict and vulnerable settings while implementing at scale, proven prevention strategies for priority pandemic/epidemic-prone diseases.

The HEI Department is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services, ranging from humanitarian interventions, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Fragile, Vulnerable and Conflict Affected Settings (FCVs) to key high impact epidemic diseases including Cholera, Meningitis, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) and Yellow Fever. The Department prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low-capacity countries.

Purpose of the position

Given that cholera is a water-borne disease, this position is critical. It aims to coordinate WASH activities and ensuring seamless integration across cholera control efforts, particularly in regions with ongoing outbreaks. The incumbent will act as the WHO WASH focal point of the WHO Cholera Programme, and the Cholera WASH focal point of the GTFCC. The incumbent will: 

• Provide technical and programmatic advice to support the management of internal and external coordination mechanisms of the WHO cholera programme on every Wash-related matter. The incumbent will provide capacity building for the regional office to strengthen coordination and linkages between emergency and development activities as well as between WASH and health efforts within WHO and among key partners (e.g., UNICEF). The incumbent will provide direct support to countries facing outbreaks through the cholera IMST emergency response framework.
• As lead of the GTFCC’s WASH Technical Group, the incumbent will coordinate the WASH technical working group, work in tandem with the Chair of the working group and, lead technical inputs on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities. The incumbent will act as the technical expert lead reference for the Country Support Platform, countries and partners to implement the Ending cholera Roadmap, with a focus on the WASH pillar. 

Requirements

Kindly note that preferred candidates have been identified.

• English lanuage is essential and French is an asset;
• A first university degree in engineering, health of humanitarian logistics or other related field from an accredited/ recognized institute, with specialization in water and sanitation;
• An advanced university (Master's level or above) in public health water, sanitation, and hygiene and/or degree or training in computer applications in water and sanitation project design and related database systems is desired;
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in the design and implementation of water and sanitation assessment and/or the design and management of related projects in emergency situations. Experience in developing and promoting collaborative actions with national authorities;
• Sound knowledge of WHO mandate and goals, relevant work experience in UN organizations/agencies, international institutions, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or NGOs. Skills Demonstrated knowledge of emergency response situations in the field of water and sanitation with proven ability to identify and solve technical problems in difficult circumstances. Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with proven ability to elaborate and implement projects. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to promote cohesive actions and convince officials with tact and diplomacy. Ability to write in a clear and concise manner, and to present information. Knowledge of WHO, the UN System or NGO work in the field of response relief and/or of their practices and procedures as related to the work;
• Good command of Computer Application Systems.

Planning

The expected starting date for this assignment is as soon as possible, adn the position is remote. The duration of the assignment will be six (6) months, with a mid-term evaluation after three (3) months.

Interested? Kindly share a short motivation and an updated CV as soon as possible, but before Wednesday, December 18 at noon CET to drrs@rvo.nl.