Header

Advisor, Health Situation Analysis and Health Policy Development Grade: P4

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
Promote, coordinate and implement technical cooperation activities to reduce health, social and economic burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, focusing in the surveillance, prevention and control, in ways that are technically sound and appropriate for the culture and society and strives to achieve sustainable impact through strengthened country capacity and effective inter-country collaboration, and to strengthen the coverage and quality of the health and vital statistics in the Region as the national capacity to monitor their health situation.
Description of duties:
Under the general supervision and technical guidance of the Senior Advisor, Health Information and Analysis (HSD/HA)m in collaboration with Country Focus Support, and the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative, the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

a) Provide technical advice and cooperation in the area of health situation analysis to the country for the incorporation of relevant data and information in the following products: a) basic health indicators; b) country cooperation strategy, c) biennial work plans as well as, other products that are considered relevant in the context of planning and implementation of the Organization's activities/interventions in the country;
b) Provide technical support on mechanisms to incorporate health situation analysis, and context analysis, including socio-political and economic perspective into health policy and national health development analysis, based on data and evidence oriented to support health policy development;
c) Design and set-up a health situation room in the Country Office directed at promoting comprehensive technical cooperation;
d) Develop and foster national technical expertise in health situation analysis and comprehensive health development response to socially excluded populations and groups, such as indigenous, rural and others, applying a gender approach.
e) Provide technical support, through proposals and actions, to strengthen health information systems, vital statistics, and their interaction with social data resulting from existing census and surveys;
f) Develop and continuously update an international cooperation in health intelligence political map to orient the development of the PAHO/WHO country cooperation strategy and fund-raising activities;
g) Advise and collaborate in the harmonization and alignment of international cooperation in health at national and sub-regional level;
h) Provide technical advice to the Secretaría Ejecutiva del Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamerica y República Dominacana (SE-COMISCA) for developing sub regional expertise in health situation and trends analysis, based on robust data and evidence within the framework of equity in health;
i) Plan and implement capacity-building activities jointly with SE-COMISCA on the application of health situation analysis for equity oriented health policy development through the promotion and set up of communication networks, knowledge management, and health situation rooms in the Central American and Dominican Republic (CAR/DOR) countries;
j) Foster the setting up of communication networks, knowledge management, and health situation rooms in the sub-region, including the update of websites that ensure adequate diffusion of relevant technical and scientific information;
k) Develop follow-up mechanisms to monitor the recommendations and resolutions of the different political and strategic development initiatives as mandated by the sub regional institutions, including, Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), Reunión de Salud para Centroamérica y la República Dominicana (RESCAD); Foro Centro Americano y de República Dominicana de Agua Potable y Saneamiento (FOCARD), SE-COMISCA, etc., in collaboration and coordination with the Office of Country Focus Support and other Country Offices in the sub-region; identify opportunities for cross-sector interventions aimed at improving the development and living standards of the Central American and Dominican Republic sub region, within the framework of the Central American Health Agenda and Strategic Plan;
l) Provide technical advice and support the preparation, implementation and follow-up of the annual operative plans for Central America and Dominican Republic, in accordance with the framework of the sub regional strategic plan;
m) Provide technical support to strengthen health information systems at Central America integration level, including development of health metric network, vital statistics, and other relevant data resulting from existing census and ad-hoc surveys;
n) Support and follow-up the implementation of the Agenda and Health Plan of CAR/DOR countries; contribute and facilitate health and context analysis reference documents for the sub region.
o) Collaborate in the preparation of biennial programs and budgets, semiannual work plans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects;
p) Cooperate and collaborate with other projects to achieve efficient coordination of activities, systematic utilization of resources and comprehensive development of study, research and analytical capacities required for the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases;
q) When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
r) Perform other related duties, as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
A university degree in a health-related profession and a master's degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, health policies and planning, public health administration or other public health related field from a recognized university
Skills:
Key Behavioral Competencies
Intra-institutional Action: Operates in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Ensures that the mission and the values of the Organization as well as the setting in which projects will be carried out are the drivers in one's technical work. Understands the results required and performs to that standard. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads one's area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one and two years ahead.
Information Management: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work.
Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures.
Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization: Demonstrates initiative and managerial capacity in obtaining alternative sources of financing and in mobilizing extrabudgetary resources for interventions. Acquires adequate funding, based upon the resources allocated in intervention plans.
Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks.
Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions: Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction.
Resource Mobilization: Works in an objective manner to obtain and apportion resources (financial and non-financial) according to need. Supports and advises technical areas to enable best use of resources are aligned with the mission and vision of the Organization. Is able to work in a multicultural environment. Is flexible and has the ability to work well under pressure. Is able to give feedback to partners within and outside the organization about the use of the resources and the results acquired.


Technical Expertise
- Theoretical and practical knowledge at the highest level of epidemiological methods and biostatistics and their relation to communicable diseases; public heath in health situation and trends analysis and health development.
- Demonstrated ability in the application of epidemiological techniques and procedures for analyzing the magnitude of diseases or conditions affecting the health of the population, determining factors which influence the magnitude of these diseases or conditions and applying and evaluating selected interventions designed to reduce the magnitude of these diseases and conditions.
- Knowledge of health systems development and strengthening; essential functions of public health; primary health care approach; health management processes, health policy; monitoring and evaluation.
- Ability to set up and promote communication networks, health situation rooms for capacity-building activities
- Managerial skills for the development, implementation, and analysis of technical cooperation programs and activities, including budget programming and control.
- Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrate ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize and provide recommendation on key political, technical and administrative issues
- Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

IT Skills
Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio and Project would be an asset.
Experience:
Nine years of combined national and international experience in activities and/or projects related to technical cooperation for health policy development and analysis, the application of epidemiological principles and methods of surveillance, health care planning, and integration processes. It should also include progressively responsible experience in managing complex health programs/health information systems and health strategic planning.
Languages:
Very good knowledge of Spanish or English, with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese will be an asset.
Additional Information:
PAHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, assignment grant, rental subsidy, and home leave. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW WILL BE HELD FOR THIS POST. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US$ 67,395 at single rate
US$ 72,373 with primary dependants
Post Adjustment: % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.