L’UNICEF recrute un Spécialiste de la santé d’urgence – Coordinateur de la réponse à la MVD, Bata, Guinée équatoriale

L’UNICEF recrute un Spécialiste de la santé d’urgence – Coordinateur de la réponse à la MVD, Bata, Guinée équatoriale

 

 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Safe Environment

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT:

The epidemiological event in question began in the district of Nsok-Nsomo, in Kié-Ntem northeaster province, bordering Cameroon and Gabon. On 7th February 2023, Nsok-Nsomo health district authorities reported to Ministry of Health (MoH) 9 deaths of patients with unusual haemorrhagic symptoms which occurred between last weeks of 2022 and February 7, 2023, in the two villages: Ngum-Esatop and Evusoc-Mokomo in Nsok-Nsomo district. The latest Marburg virus disease (MVD) officially confirmed death was reported on 10th February in Ebibeyin district (a 54-year-old man), who is a direct contact of 4 people who died in Ngum-Esatop village, Nsok-Nsomo district. There is an established epidemiological link between the 9 initial deaths. On 13th February 2023, the Government of Equatorial Guinea officially declared its first ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) following the laboratory confirmation at Pasteur Institute in Dakar, of one case and nine related deaths in Kié-Ntem, an eastern province in the continental part of the country.

The Equatorial Guinean government, with the support of WHO, UNICEF and other partners developed an Emergency Response Plan to the MDV outbreak targeting the affected province. The plan aims to interrupt the chains of transmission, prevent deaths, and limit the secondary impact of the outbreak in Equatorial Guinea through the implementation of outbreak response interventions, structured around the key strategic pillars of coordination, case management, epidemiological surveillance, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), infection prevention and control (IPC), supply and logistics, and continuity of essential services in the affected areas.
As of 6th April 2023, a total of 14 cumulated confirmed cases, including ten deaths have been officially reported. The outbreak’s spread is concerning and since end March it is observed in four provinces in the continental region of the country (Kie-Ntem; Wele-Nzas; Littoral and Centro-Sur); prompting WHO on 30th March 2023 to upgrade the level of the emergency to grade 3 (national Very High risk). More than 1100 contacts were followed during the period mid-February to early April in the 4 affected provinces.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, UNICEF Equatorial Guinea Country Office has been providing technical assistance, particularly in infection, prevention, and control (IPC-WASH), risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), psychosocial support, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and in ensuring support for the continuity of essential services in all affected districts.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Equatorial Guinea Representative; the Emergency -Health Specialist for Marburg Response and Coordination Support will support the internal coordination for the overall implementation of the UNICEF CO ‘Marburg Response Plan”, according to standard  response operational procedures in alignment with the National Marburg Response Plan. She/he will support the collaboration work with the Ministry of health (MoH), WHO, other UN agencies and partners. She/he will work in close collaboration with the UNICEF Equatorial Guinea Senior Management Team (SMT), the Program and Emergency staff, Section Program Heads, the focal technical staffs assigned to the Marburg Response. She/he will also coordinate across all UNICEF technical areas to facilitate the outbreak planning adaptation and implementation, in coordination with the respective sections of Regional Office and Headquarters PHE and EMOPS, as needed.

MAJOR DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

PILLAR 1: Support Coordination of the Marburg Response

KEY ACTIVITIES – Key Activities and deliverables:

• Support the EQ. Guinea CO in the internal coordination and overall implementation of the UNICEF CO Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak response plan, in collaboration to the national response plan.
• Coordinate the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, operational and human resources plans for the UNICEF MVD response in line with the UNICEF core commitments for children in humanitarian action (CCCs); and in particular for the following pillars and programmatic components of the MVD outbreak response: Coordination; RCCE-SBC; IPC-WASH, PSEA, MHPSS (including GBV), Logistics, and continuity of essential health, nutrition, and social services.
• Support the coordination with all UNICEF CO Section Program Heads, with the focal technical staffs assigned to the Marburg Response to update and upgrade to scale of Marburg Response interventions, and the respective planning for human resources deployments and budget.
• Support the interaction and coordination with the Ministry of Health, the WHO and other partners involved in the response to the Marburg outbreak.
• Support the identification of programming and operational bottlenecks of the MVD response and contribute to corrective actions.
• Support the CO, RO, and HQs work to identify funds for immediate response to the MVD emergency.
• Identify staffing needs, coordinate the mobilization of the required human resources. Provide guidance, and performance management of staff and experts, take concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all UNICEF responders.
• Up on request made by the CO SMT, represent UNICEF in front of the national counterparts, external stakeholders, including donors and partners, with respect to the UNICEF CO MDV outbreak response.
• Monitor UNICEF’s response and operational readiness activities, and lead the adjustment if new needs arise and/or the situation changes requiring a revision of the operational plan

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Education: An advanced university degree in public health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Work Experience: 5-8 years progressively responsible experience in public health programming, with significant experience in public health emergencies preparedness and response.
• Language requirements: Fluency in Spanish is preferred. French and English are considered a strong asset and are also accepted.
• Competencies: comply with For every Child UNICEF’s values of Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS), and with the core competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
• The functional competencies and required levels for this post are: Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (3) Innovates and embraces change (2) Manages ambiguity and complexity (3) Thinks and acts strategically (3) Works collaboratively with others. (3) Nurtures, leads and manages people (3)

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.