Snr Regional Public Health Officer

Senior Regional Public Health Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Regional Public Health Officer will ensure that UNHCR¿s health and nutrition programmes meet minimum UNHCR and international standards and minimise avoidable mortality and morbidity among populations of concern. The incumbent plays a crucial role in programme coordination, planning, monitoring including data analysis and evaluation, promoting capacity-building of UNHCR personnel and partners, and advocacy, information and communication on public health and nutrition-related issues. 

The Senior Regional Public Health Officer liaises with UNHCR country offices, Public Health and HIV Section, Regional Bureau/Desk. S/he supports and provides guidance to the network of UNHCR health and nutrition focal points and officers as well as to Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, Ministries of Health, UN agencies, and refugee and other persons of concern to UNHCR¿s communities.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR¿s country operations in the region are technically sound and thus better able to meet the needs of refugees.
- Immediate respond to refugee emergencies is ensured.
- Public Health programs provided to refugees and other PoCs are based on UNHCR and internationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.

Responsibility
- Support the prioritization of the Primary Health Care strategy focusing on preventive and essential curative health, including mental health, reproductive health, HIV and nutritional components.
- Ensure that there is a viable standard Health Information System in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.
- Ensure nutritional survey and other assessments for food and nutrition are adequately conducted and implemented.
- Guide and support country offices in developing up-to technical programmes, based on international and UNHCR standards for quality public health programming.
- Provide technical assistance to UNHCR country offices and partners in development, integration and mainstreaming of appropriate and cost-effective public health, reproductive health and HIV prevention, treatment and care, mental health and nutrition.
- Ensure technical standards are being met in country operation and where required, support development of multi-year country sector strategies and programme plans adapted to the context.
- Undertake direct monitoring and quality assurance missions to ensure that sector programming is sound and cost-effective.
- Ensure active involvement in all aspects of programme monitoring and evaluation with a main emphasis on checking levels of implementation and impact vis-à-vis resource inputs to measure cost-effectiveness and re-orient the  programme as appropriate.
- Support UNHCR country staff in co-ordinating Public Health and HIV activities in line with UNHCR¿s role as UNAIDS co-sponsor and ensure that decisions are implemented as agreed upon.
- Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority health issues and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met. 
- Update and disseminate good practices on public health, nutrition, mental health, HIV and reproductive health among partners.
- Ensure implementation of UNHCR health information systems and support countries with analysis of public health data.
- Support linkages of public health to WASH programmes in the region.
- Share relevant guidelines and information materials on refugee HIV, reproductive health, general health and nutrition with local and international partners.
- Support country-level health focal points to promote the establishment of Refugee Committees to enable their active participation in the process of health planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Ensure effective coordination with regional bodies, governments, UN partners and represent UNHCR in regional fora related to refugee health and nutrition.
- Deliver training, capacity building, coaching for UNHCR and partners to strengthen response in emergencies, support synergies and integration into national health, water services and deliver technically sound programmes.
- Ensure that UNHCR is meeting the role as UNAIDS co-sponsor by coordinating and advocating for HIV and refugee issues with National AIDS Control Programmes, UN Joint Teams on AIDS, and major HIV donors.

Authority
- Enforce regional compliance with UNHCR Global Public Health Strategies, protocols and guidelines.
- Approve recommendations and advice on the technical capacity required of UNHCR and its partners in the region.
- Be the first point of call for emergencies and respond adequately.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- A clinical background (nurse or MD) with postgraduate training in Public Health or Social Science.
- Minimum 10 years of previous job experience relevant to the function and in national/multinational organizations.
- Knowledge of public health, nutrition and HIV in humanitarian emergencies and development context including at least 5 years experience with an international humanitarian organization dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations
- Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles.
- Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Word and Excel.
- Excellent knowledge of English and French (written / oral / comprehension). 
- Advanced drafting skills in English and French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Additional qualifications in Nutrition and WASH and a thorough understanding of the linkages with public health.
- Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, its programme cycles and reporting standards.