Environment Officer – NOA Kampala, Uganda

Purpose of the Post:

In the context of the WHO at the country level, the incumbent will provide support with planning, monitoring, evaluating, coordinating the environmental health interventions with a focus on provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, hygiene, infection control and climate change. Provide technical advice and on-site support to develop national technical and institutional capacities for the implementation of primary prevention interventions, particularly those related to safety of drinking water, safe sanitation, waste management, chemical management, and climate change.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

The objective of the Environment and Health program is to contribute to the reduction of the environmental burden of disease, through regular assessments of the environmental risk factors to human health and the deployment of cost-effective preventive interventions in the context of the Libreville Declaration on health and environment in Africa and in pursuit of attaining Sustainable Development Goals.

Organizational Context

The incumbent will be working as an NPO for Environment and Health under the direct supervision of Cluster Lead for SMO Cluster. The incumbent will work with all Clusters in close collaboration with other disease prevention and control programmes and on cross-cutting climate change areas to ensure the effective consideration and inclusion of primary prevention interventions in their strategies. He will closely interact with AFRO to streamline the work related particularly to the normative functions. He will also relate to other partners working on health and environment issues to coordinate country support efforts. The incumbent will also provide support for coordination of all WHO activities in the environment and health projects.

Under the supervision of the Cluster Lead – SMO, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the MOH and the Environmental Health.

Summary of Assigned Duties

Under the supervision of the Cluster Lead – SMO, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

Public Health and Environment

1.Support the MOH to develop and implement national public health and environment policies, strategic plans, standards, and guidelines

2.Support the MOH, other relevant sector ministries and partners to plan, implement, supervise, monitor and evaluate activities aimed at achieving the goals of regional and national public health and environment policies and strategic plans on health and environment, climate change and health, indoor and outdoor air management and health, etc.

3.Support the MOH to implement hygiene promotion, implement WHO water safety plans and support capacity building of MOH and partners on public health and environment.

4.Provide technical support on WASH and health care waste management, IPC and water supply in health facilities.

5.Support implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene education interventions during emergencies and outbreaks of communicable diseases

6.Support monitoring and implementation of Global Environment Facility (GEF) to phase-out mercury in healthcare

7.Support monitoring and implementation Climate and Health Co-Investment Facility Coordination Programme from Green Climate Fund (GCF)

8.Support monitoring and implementation Innovative Adaptation Financing for Climate Resilient Health System through WHO Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF).

9.Support national authorities to coordinate public health and environment activities and support in outbreak response activities.

10.Perform any other duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Coordination and Technical Support

In collaboration with relevant staff member:

·Act as the WHO focal point for the coordination of all environment and health activities.

·Regularly monitor and report on the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation of all WHO environment and health activities.

·Facilitate & coordinate the production of all WHO environment health technical & financial reports

·Provide regularly updates on status of implementation of all environment health activities

·Represent WHO at all environment health technical working group meetings

·Perform any other related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

1.Producing and delivering quality results

2.Communicating in a credible and effective manner

3.Fostering integration and teamwork

4.Respect and promote individual and cultural differences

5.Ensure effective use of resources.

Functional Skills and Knowledge (Describe skills and knowledge specific to the post):

Competencies in development, implementation and follow-up of environmental health policies, strategic plans, etc. Competencies in management in environmental health programmes. Competencies in planning. Competencies in health promotion. Competencies in Public Health. Abilities in management; Ability in analysis; Ability in developing research protocols; Ability in monitoring and evaluation; Ability in advocacy; Ability in resources mobilization.

Qualification and experience

Education:

Essential:

·First degree in environmental health or sanitary engineering or any other related field.

Desirable:

·Additional postgraduate qualifications in public health will be an added advantage

Work Experience: Essential

·At least 1 years’ experience working in the field of environmental and public health

·Previous working experience in humanitarian settings will be an added advantage

·Experience of programme management and coordination in an international organization setting.

Other Skills:

·Excellent computer and data analysis skills with ability to use MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

·Oral and written communication skills with excellent report writing skills

·Patient, with good negotiating and diplomatic skills and able to work in a multi-cultural setting and culturally sensitive communities

·Energetic and able to work and live in hardship conditions when on the field

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English and French with a good working knowledge in both languages.