Public Health Officer (Health Promotion and Determinants) Vacancy-Job Ref: JKRWWHO/2404/202414

Public Health Officer (Health Promotion and Determinants) Vacancy-Job Ref: JKRWWHO/2404/202414
Kigali (Rwanda)
JOB DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The WHO Country Office is working with the government and relevant stakeholders as part of the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) to actively support the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions to reduce the burden of diseases, to address health determinants, to promote health across sectors through partnerships, advocacy, intersectoral action, strengthen public health and enhance policy coherence to support health and well-being of the population. Health promotion and social determinants of health is a core function of WHO AFRO to implement regional strategies in prevention and control of priority burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, support health system strengthening, and public health emergencies, as well as to implement the Global Plan of Action to Promote Healthier Populations.

Health promotion and social determinants of health is a cross-cutting program that supports all WHO programs. The National Professional Officer (NPO), Health promotion and Social Determinants of health will coordinate with other programmes to implement WHO guidelines and relevant documents to strengthen national strategies to promote health and well-being, and strategically address the determinants of health while ensuring the interventions are reaching the needed population particularly the hard-to-reach groups. The incumbent will coordinate with government, partner agencies, and stakeholder to generate strategic evidence and utilize the evidence for policy advocacy, designing appropriate interventions for health promotion, prevention, and protection, and addressing its determinants.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The incumbent will perform all, or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office. Strengthen institutional capacity to develop Health Promotion policies, strategies and implement appropriate programmes. Maintain partnerships and networks to strengthen multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration to combat communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors including nutrition and promote healthier life styles.

Increase the capacity of National institutions to use Health Promotion (HP) strategies to address the broad determinants of health and assist communities gain control over, and improve their health through integrated action. Analyze and undertake research on the public health topics to support the country teams in the development and implementation of multisectoral national plans for the prevention and control of communicable and noncommuable diseases and their risk factors.

Technically assist in the monitoring of work plans and budgets, including resources mobilized for the work programme and following up on the implementation of planned activities. Technically support the promotion of health in all policies, including for the development of healthy cities, other healthy settings and the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity. Analyze information on best practices in public health and health systems and report findings to responsible officer.

Utilize understanding of national and subnational cultural norms to inform community outreach activities concerning the extension of health-care networks. Contribute to the drafting of public health reports and act as a focal point to public health topics in the area of work and strength media engagement Ensure collaboration, and work with international and national partners to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors. Technically assist the ministry of health and its partners in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, strategies and action plans, in line with the Global Action Plans Contribute to the development and implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in emergencies and public health events.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
Essential: A university degree (bachelor’s) in a relevant field (such as health, public health, social sciences, communication).Training in epidemiology or social epidemiology and/or good knowledge of theory and the practice of health promotion and the determinants of health
Desirable: Master’s in Communications, Health promotion or other related field.

EXPERIENCE
Essential: A minimum of two years of work experience relevant to the position (in public health and disease-control programme management, working with national/international organizations involved in health promotion, public health or communication).
Desirable: Experience in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of major disease control programmes, and experience with the United Nations or international non-governmental organizations

SKILLS
Policies, strategies and guidelines in the field of public health, particularly in health promotion and the determinants of health and risk communication and community engagement.
• The prevention of communicable disease outbreaks and health protection through community engagement and multisectoral action.
• Good understanding of country office needs, priorities and policies,along with WHO’s policies, practices, guidelines and procedures in the related areas and ability to apply them in the country office setting.
• Basic understanding of Risk Communication and Community Engagement(RCCE).
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Ability to maintain relationships and network with national authorities and other stakeholders in relevant sectors.
• Conducting research and analyzing results, identifying issues,formulating opinions, drawing conclusions and recommendations for strengthening health care systems.
• Ability to draft policies and objectives of assigned programme and activities.

WHO COMPETENCIES
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Producing results

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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