Health Emergency Officer

**Grade**: NO-C

**Contractual Arrangement**: Fixed-term appointment

**Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)**: 2 years

**Job Posting**: Jan 10, 2025, 5:00:00 PM

**Closing Date**: Jan 25, 2025, 4:59:00 PM

**Primary Location**: Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur

**Organization**: WP_MYS Malaysia

**Schedule**: Full-time

**OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME**:
The incumbent will provide technical assistance to the health authorities and other relevant stakeholders, supporting WHO programmes on epidemic and emergency preparedness and response and so strengthening national preparedness, response and core capacities under International Health Regulations (IHR), for emerging infectious diseases. This will contribute to the mission of WHO Health Emergencies (WHE), which is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHO provides guidance and technical support in organizing the humanitarian health response following multi-hazard emergencies and in revitalizing the capacity of the health sector to rebuild and recover from multi-hazard emergencies in an appropriate and sustainable manner.

**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.
- Work in coordination with all technical focal points at the regional and headquarters levels, under the guidance of the head of the WHO country office.
- Provide technical assistance to national authorities in, and coordinate selected aspects of, the WHO Health Emergencies(WHE) programme, at the country level, to enhance the national capability in preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases, outbreaks and health emergencies from all hazards in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
- Technically support the concerted approach of WHO in the areas of emergency risk management, country preparedness and International Health Regulations, risk & situation assessments, and infectious hazards management.
- Utilize national insights to collaborate with and support relevant ministries and other stakeholders to undertake gap analyses in relevant areas of work for emergency preparedness and management and support the development/revision of national strategies and a national multi-hazard, health emergency preparedness and response plan.
- Prepare a national risk profile, assessing and mapping existing and emerging national health risks as well as populations vulnerable to, or affected by, prioritized risks, their coping capacities and health needs.
- Identify resource needs and funding gaps for health-sector risk reduction, preparedness, and response for vulnerable/affected populations, advocating with and mobilizing required resources from partners and donors.
- Support the assessment of capacities and national, competency development systems, and recommend, plan and facilitate the implementation of appropriate measures and training for strengthening core capacities under International Health Regulations (2005) and its revisions, including to manage identified risks, effectively monitor and evaluate processes, outcomes and the impact of response and recovery interventions.
- Support the national health authorities (MYS, BRU and SIN) and partners in the establishment or strengthening of emergency health care systems to ensure the provision of a range of critical emergency health care services.
- Represent WHO in inter-agency meetings and external forums related to WHO epidemics and emergency preparedness and response.

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education**:
**Essential**: A university degree (bachelor's) in epidemiology, public health or another similar medical field.
**Desirable**: A Doctoral level (PhD) or Masters Degree in Public Health and/or Training in applied epidemiology.

**Experience**:
**Essential**: A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in public health; planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of epidemic and emergency preparedness response activities in a developing country and/or at regional level; strengthening country capacities and response to emergencies and disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks, at the national level. Experience in working partnerships for health policy and strategic and operational interventions in emergency preparedness, response or recovery, especially in a developing country setting.
**Desirable**: Experience in or knowledge of WHO mandate and goals and/or experience with United Nations funds and programmes.

**Skills**:

- The principles and programmes of epidemic and emergency preparedness and response
- Knowledge of International Health Regulations (IHR)
- The development and coordination of health policy, strategic and operational interventions in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery with a range of actors.
- Technical knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, and evalua