National Professional Officer (Polio Eradication)

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. With over 7,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, WHO works to eradicate diseases, improve health systems, and respond to health emergencies. The organization is committed to achieving health equity and ensuring that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.

Job Overview:
The National Professional Officer (Polio Eradication) position is crucial for the eradication of polio in Afghanistan. The incumbent will be responsible for liaising with various partners involved in polio eradication and ensuring the commitment of national and local authorities to the program's goals. This role involves providing technical support to the National emergency-operation" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) for the implementation of the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication (NEAP). The officer will also engage with religious leaders, community elders, and key influencers to strengthen the community's involvement in polio eradication activities. The position requires collaboration in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of supplementary immunization activities for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), ensuring that data is analyzed timely for corrective actions, and providing technical support for surveillance activities to maintain certification standards. The officer will also be involved in training and supervising surveillance staff, organizing advocacy meetings, and ensuring proper case investigations and follow-ups. Regular analysis of surveillance data and monitoring indicators will be part of the responsibilities, along with contributing to the development of transition and legacy plans for the use of polio eradication resources.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Professional Officer include:

• Liaising with various polio eradication and vaccine-preventable disease partners to ensure ongoing commitment from national and local authorities.
• Providing technical support to the NEOC for the implementation of the NEAP.
• Strengthening the engagement of community leaders and influencers in polio eradication efforts.
• Guiding supplementary immunization activities for VPDs, including microplanning, training, and monitoring.
• Analyzing data promptly and using it for corrective actions.
• Supporting surveillance activities for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and VPDs to meet certification standards.
• Participating in planning and implementing active surveillance and routine reporting.
• Reinforcing training and supervision of surveillance staff.
• Organizing advocacy meetings for healthcare providers. 1
• Ensuring thorough case investigations, follow-ups, and classifications. 1
• Regularly analyzing surveillance data and monitoring indicators. 1
• Contributing to the development of transition and legacy plans for the use of polio eradication resources. 1
• Overseeing the activities of national support staff involved in polio eradication. 1
• Submitting monthly reports detailing progress, constraints, and proposed actions.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the position include:

• Essential: A university degree in Medicine.
• Desirable: A postgraduate degree or training in Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Administration, Organization of Health Services, or Control of Communicable Diseases.
• Essential: At least 5 years of relevant experience in developing and implementing immunization programs at the national or sub-national level.
• Desirable: Experience working with UN and/or other international organizations.
• Skills: Sound technical knowledge of epidemiology and surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, prevention and control measures, and preparedness and response. Ability to establish harmonious working relationships with national counterparts and international colleagues is essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in Medicine as essential, with a postgraduate degree or training in relevant fields such as Public Health or Epidemiology being desirable. Candidates must have their qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 5 years of relevant experience in the development and implementation of immunization programs at the national or sub-national level. Experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations is considered an asset.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position include expert knowledge of English and the local language. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning only applications from nationals of Afghanistan will be accepted. The remuneration for this position starts at an annual base salary of USD 53,759, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. The position offers 30 days of annual leave. The vacancy notice may also be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test or asynchronous video assessment may be part of the screening process. WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or tobacco users.