National Professional Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO aims to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on health systems strengthening, disease prevention, and health promotion.

Job Overview:
The National Professional Officer will work under the supervision of the WHO Representative and in close collaboration with technical staff at the country office, regional office, and headquarters. The primary objective of this position is to provide technical assistance to national health authorities in implementing health promotion programs and initiatives aimed at preventing and controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases. The role emphasizes a strong focus on diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other significant health threats. The officer will also be responsible for advocating and providing technical support for projects funded by various international donors, ensuring that efforts align with sustainable development goals related to health. This position requires a proactive approach to collaboration with various stakeholders, including governmental and academic institutions, to enhance the capacity for monitoring and evaluating public health interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical assistance to national health authorities for the implementation of health promotion programs and initiatives related to communicable and non-communicable diseases, focusing on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other significant health threats.
• Advocate and provide technical support for projects funded by the European Union, Global Fund, GAVI, and other donors to strengthen institutional capacities for achieving health-related sustainable development goals.
• Assist the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) and other health sector institutions in updating diagnostic algorithms, therapeutic protocols, patient management, risk factor identification, and disease control methods.
• Collaborate on initiatives to promote health, surveillance, prevention, and control of diseases, emphasizing the strengthening of district and regional health services based on primary health care approaches.
• Promote collaboration between MINSAP and academic institutions to enhance monitoring and evaluation capacities of public health interventions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of prevention programs and health service delivery aimed at controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases, with a focus on decentralized capacity building.
• Develop criteria, guidelines, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for organizing, executing, and evaluating programmatic activities.
• Collaborate in applying epidemiological concepts, principles, and methods for planning, programming, administration, and evaluation of disease surveillance and prevention programs.
• Provide technical advice for managing health information systems to ensure the availability of databases and information on health services. 1
• Analyze, organize, and disseminate scientific and technical information to guide the development of public policies and regulations for disease prevention and control. 1
• Promote and coordinate research on communicable and non-communicable diseases at all levels of the health system and in academic institutions. 1
• Collaborate in preparing the biennial program budget and monitor its execution in line with the Country Cooperation Strategy. 1
• Set clear work objectives for supervised staff, monitor performance, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities. 1
• Execute other tasks as requested by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Essential: A university degree in a health-related discipline from a recognized university. Desirable: A Master's degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or another related field from a recognized university. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and a comprehensive understanding of public health principles and practices, particularly in disease prevention and control.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a university degree in a health-related field from an accredited institution. A Master's degree in Public Health or Epidemiology is highly desirable and will be considered an asset for this position.

Experience:
Essential: At least five years of progressive experience in field epidemiology and public health program management, or in health service administration related to disease control, health analysis, and statistics. Desirable: Practical experience in managerial aspects of disease prevention and control programs or public health programs is a plus.

Languages:
Essential: Expert knowledge of Portuguese is required. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of English and French is advantageous. The language requirements are interchangeable, and proficiency in multiple languages will be beneficial for this role.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Guinea-Bissau will be accepted. The remuneration package includes an annual base salary starting at XOF 24,617,000, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. Employees are entitled to 30 days of annual leave. The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates may be required to undergo a written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment as part of the screening process. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.