Sector Jobs

Technical Officer, Household Air Pollution – World Health Organization

Grade: P4
Contractual Arrangement: Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Contract Duration: 1 year
Posting Date: Apr 12, 2023, 4:00:37 PM
Closing Date: May 3, 2023, 11:59:00 PM
Primary Location: Switzerland-Geneva
Organization: HQ/ECH Environment, Climate Change and Health
Schedule: Full-time

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s UHC/Healthier Populations Division is to contribute to reducing health inequalities and reducing preventable disease and injury caused by environmental, social and economic determinants of health. This is achieved through a coordinated inter-sectoral approach aimed at enabling all people to enjoy better health and well-being, in line with the Organization’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the Sustainable Development Goals. The role of the Department for Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) within the overall work of WHO is to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and to influence public policies in all sectors to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. ECH develops and promotes preventive policies and interventions based on an understanding and an in-depth scientific analysis of the evidence base for environmental determinants of human health. The Air Quality Energy and Health (AQH) Unit provides technical support to WHO’s Member States in the development of normative guidance and tools and provision of authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources. Monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the local, national, regional and global levels is an additional key facet of this. In this context, AQH promotes interventions and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies (including energy, transport, housing and urban development), addressing key risks to health from air pollution indoors and outdoors, and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Oversee and manage the in-country implementation of WHO’s Clean household energy solutions toolkit designed to support the health and other sectors to develop and implement plans for the long-term adoption of the clean household energy. Related tasks include:

1. Manage the routine updates and ensure the technical integrity of the tools and knowledge resources included in the clean household energy solutions toolkit.
2. Based on country needs, identify, drive research, and lead the development of recommendations on the evidence of health impacts of household air pollution, and on the effectiveness of interventions to address them.
3. Oversee and manage updates of WHO databases on household air pollution, household energy and/or related health policies and regulations and associated impacts on health.
4. Lead capacity-building activities and provide direct specialist support to countries on the analysis and modelling of economic and epidemiological data based on the WHO databases related to household energy, particularly the policy database and the BAR-HAP tool.
5. Represent the technical work of WHO in global partnerships and initiatives on household air pollution and health, such as the Clean Cooking Alliance.
6. Organize and provide technical support to the Regional and Country Offices on matters related to household air pollution and health, including support for institutional capacity development and training activities.
7. Contribute to other technical work in AQH,as appropriate: Technical support provided for the development and implementation of WHO activities on household air pollution and health as described above; internal WHO collaboration and relations with external partnerships and networks strengthened in support of this work.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: Advanced level university degree in natural, environmental or social science.
• Desirable: Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology and/or biostatistics.

Experience

1. Essential:
   Minimum of seven years of experience working on household air pollution, household energy and health issues, of which at least five at an international level
2. Extensive experience in the development and application of knowledge resources and tools to support policy or programmatic planning for environmental health interventions.
3. Experience in organizing and facilitating national or regional capacity-building workshops for policy or programme development on environmental healthDesirable:
4. Extensive experience in the development and application of knowledge resources and tools to support countries in policy or programmatic planning for household energy policy or technical interventions specifically.
5. Experience in the development or supporting the implementation of WHO Guidelines for air quality.
6. Experience in conducting cost-benefit analysis and/or similar economic assessments for environmental health risks, particularly in relation to air pollution.
7. Experience in contributing and representing WHO or other UN organization in inter-agency and multi-sectoral co-operations.
8. Experience working on air pollution or energy access issues in the context of multi-stakeholder initiatives on energy poverty, energy access, climate change, and/or sustainable development.
9. Experience working with top-level monitoring, national surveys and statistics.
10. Experience in the preparation of funding proposals and budgets for country or regional-level projects or activities.

Skills

1. Extensive knowledge of the health impacts of household air pollution.
2. Extensive knowledge of the theories, principles, methods, and process of assessing health and other impacts from exposure to air pollution, particularly in relation tohouse hold fuel combustion
3. Strong organization and project management skills
4. Strong scientific research and writing skills.
5. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
6. Good understanding of the role of WHO globally, regionally and at country level, including its supportive efforts with external partners.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Moving forward in a changing environment
5. Producing results

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
  Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 5271 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

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