Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/15/TA62

Title: EBOLA OUTBREAK - PSYCHOSOCIAL OFFICER (PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH)

Grade: P level

Contract type: Temporary appointment

Duration of contract:  Minimum 3 months

Date: 29 September 2015

Application Deadline: 31 October 2015
(1 day(s) until closing deadline)
Currently accepting applications

Duty Station:  Multiple duty stations
 
Organization unit: AF Africa (AF) /
AFRO Africa Regional Office (AF/RGO)
Sierra Leone-Guinea-Liberia
 
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013 and now involves intense transmission in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. On Friday 25th July 2014 the Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005), and grading the outbreak to Grade 3 in line with the WHO Emergency Response Framework (ERF). There is heightened concern about the risk of Ebola spreading to other countries.

Within this framework, a WHO Ebola Response team is dedicated exclusively to coordinate international response, and mobilise international technical assistance from WHO, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and other partners and stakeholders to provide direct support for national outbreak response activities and in the field.

The UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, agreed on the establishment of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) by the UNSG - the first of its kind - headquartered in Accra and providing a UN-wide initiative that draws together all the assets of all relevant UN agencies to tackle this crisis together. In this regard, WHO is the lead agency for a number of strategic objectives.
Description of duties:
Under the supervision of the WHO Country Representative the incumbent will support:

a. The mental health and psychosocial well-being of the general population and local health workers during the Ebola virus outbreak and

b. The (re)building of the public mental health system.

He/she will:

1. Strengthen the capacity of health workers to include a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in Ebola-affected communities through training and supervision.

2. Strengthen the capacity of communities in offering psychosocial support in Ebola-affected communities.

3. Strengthen mental health and psychosocial support for local health workers.

4. Contribute to recovery efforts with focus on building back better sustainable mental health care for affected population.

5. Support the government in coordination of mental health and psychosocial support activities.

6. Perform other duties as required by supervisors.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Essential:

Postgraduate university degree in psychology/psychiatry/public health/behavioural science/ social science/medicine/nursing.

WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an accredited institution.
Skills:
Good knowledge of public mental health and /or community based psychosocial interventions.

Good problem-solving skills.

Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural environment under stressful conditions.

Ability to train and monitor health workers in the provision of mental health and psychosocial support.
Experience:
Essential:

A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience with mental health and psychological programmes.

Previous professional experience at the international level (i.e. deployments, short-term assignments, extensive business travel).

Previous professional experience in low- or middle-income countries.

Previous professional experience in emergency settings.

Desirable:

Experience in developing and nurturing partnerships with UN, governmental, multilateral, bilateral and non-governmental entities would be an asset.
Languages:
Depending on the country of assignment:

For French speaking countries: Good working knowledge (written & spoken) of French. Knowledge of English an advantage.

For English speaking countries: Good working knowledge (written & spoken) of English. Knowledge of French an advantage.

French-speakers are specifically encouraged to apply.
Additional Information:
Candidates who applied for vacancy notice n° AFRO/14/TA 158 and AFRO/14/TA180 will also be considered for this vacancy and therefore do not need to re-apply.

This vacancy is generic and outlines the minimum requirements.

Only those applicants who are considered for deployment against a specific position will be contacted.

As reference checks will be made through your current and previous employers at the point of shortlisting, please ensure that they are informed of the urgency to provide rapid feedback. Please ensure that you indicate their e-mail address when completing your personal history form.

Prior to deployment candidates must:

1. hold a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate

2. complete the online UNDSS Basic II Security in the Field Training which is accessible through https://training.dss.un.org/courses/v21/pages/dss_login_register.php

3. provide all copies of degrees/diplomas indicated in their personal history form (PHF).

Candidates contracted against this vacancy notice will comprise a mobile workforce and may be deployed to any location within the assigned country, based on the needs of that country. They may also be redeployed to another location during the course of their assignment.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
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.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
Currently accepting applications