Health Manager, UN Clinic Physician, Asmara

General

Description of assignment title

Health Manager, UN Clinic Physician

Assignment country

Eritrea

Duty stations

Asmara

Work location

On UN premises

Expected start date

11/30/2026

Duration

12 months

(with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal

3. Good health and well-being

Host entity

UNDP

Modality

Onsite

Type

International

Volunteer category

Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Details

Mission and objectives

UUNDP Eritrea hosts the UN Clinic in Asmara, providing primary health care, emergency response, occupational health services, medical clearances, and health risk mitigation for UN staff, eligible dependents, UN Volunteers, and mission personnel.

UN field personnel are exposed to various health and security hazards that may result in disease, psychological trauma and life-threatening injuries. Dedicated, effective primary health, occupational health and emergency medical services may mitigate negative outcomes of trauma, injuries and health complications providing better chances for saving lives as well as for faster and better recovery.

The Health Manager, UN Health Manager ,UN Clinic Physician is part of the UN common services of the UN country team in Eritrea and administered by UNDP.

Context

The Health Manager will attend to the UN Clinic on a full-time basis and provide medical services to staff members and their dependents. In addition, the Health Manager will facilitate for medical evacuations in consultation with the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH). The Health Manager is responsible for the day to day running of the UN Clinic and the Health Manager manages the UN Clinic staff and physical assets (equipment and inventories), ensures consistent delivery of high-quality medical services to the UNCT. The Health Manager, UN Physician will also be responsible for medical examinations of staff, and dependents.

Task description

Under the overall management of the UNDP Resident Representative, and the technical supervision of DHMOSH, the Health Manager, UN Clinic Physician/Health manager, will provide clinical services including medical consultations and emergency care, and supervise the work of the UN Clinic staff. The incumbent will promote proactive occupational health policies and best practices and procedures in the medical services under the supervision of DHMOSH with the objective of optimizing the health and well-being of UN staff in Eritrea.

Summary of key functions:

• Clinical Duties
• Medical Administrative Duties
• Supervisory Administration
• Participation and support to UN Cares activities
• Emergency Medical Response and Preparedness
• Knowledge building and sharing

1. Clinical Duties:

• Provide primary, emergency, and occupational healthcare services to UN personnel and dependents.
• Respond to acute medical emergencies in accordance with internationally recognized protocols, including Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS).
• Conduct triage, stabilization, and management of critically ill patients in a casualty stabilization facility for up to 48 hours when required.
• Undertake routine clinical services, including walk-in consultations, diagnosis, treatment, pre-placement and periodic medical examinations, vaccinations, and health screenings.
• Provide health education and promote preventive healthcare initiatives.
• Participate in addressing workplace health and occupational safety issues.
• Conduct medical examinations for UNDP and other UN agency international and national staff and eligible dependents.
• Maintain on-call availability for medical emergencies during and outside office hours, including house calls when necessary.
• Coordinate referrals, hospital appointments, transportation, and medical evacuations, ensuring continuity of care.

2. Medical Administrative Duties:

• Ensure compliance with United Nations policies and procedures governing medical clearances, sick leave, medical evacuations, and healthcare delivery.
• Manage all documentation, reporting, and administrative processes related to medical evacuations and health-related cases.
• Maintain confidential and accurate medical records and ensure appropriate follow-up of all medical cases.
• Liaise with local healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, blood banks, and other medical institutions to facilitate quality healthcare services.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with reliable medical service providers.
• Apply UN regulations, administrative procedures, and operational guidelines related to management of the UN Clinic.
• Provide clinical assessments and recommendations concerning complex medical insurance claims and health-related administrative matters.

3. Supervisory Administration:

• Manage day-to-day UN Clinic operations, ensuring adequate medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and functioning medical equipment.
• Supervise, assign, and monitor the work of nurses and other clinic personnel.
• Develop and implement training programs aimed at strengthening medical preparedness and staff capacity, including health education, first aid, CPR, HIV/AIDS awareness, and emergency response.
• Support HIV/AIDS prevention, counselling, testing, diagnosis, treatment referral, and implementation of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) programs.
• Participate in continuous medical education and professional development activities organized by the Division of Healthcare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH).
• Prepare regular reports on clinic activities, local medical facilities, health trends, utilization statistics, and other required management information.

4. Advisory, Liaison, Representation, and UN Cares Activities:

• Advise senior management on workplace health matters, occupational health risks, business continuity, crisis response, and health-related policy issues.
• Ensure effective representation of occupational health concerns within relevant UN committees and working groups.
• Coordinate and maintain liaison with external healthcare providers, government health institutions, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the UN medical service on health and medical entitlement matters before relevant UN oversight, judicial, and investigative bodies.
• Support and actively participate in UN Cares initiatives, workplace wellness programs, HIV/AIDS awareness activities, and staff well-being campaigns.
• Lead health communication and outreach efforts, including staff briefings, awareness campaigns, and dissemination of health-related information.

5. Emergency Medical Response:

• Participate in emergency preparedness planning, drills, simulations, and mass casualty exercises organized by UNDSS and other partners.
• Develop and maintain readiness plans for workplace medical emergencies and crisis situations.
• Provide emergency medical response coordination and guidance during critical incidents.
• Organize and deliver staff briefings on health risks, emergency medical procedures, disease prevention, and public health concerns.
• Support business continuity and emergency response mechanisms from a medical and occupational health perspective.

6. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing:

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of international medical standards, occupational health practices, and UN healthcare policies.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices within the UN Clinic and across UN agencies.
• Contribute to training, mentoring, and capacity-building initiatives for staff and healthcare personnel.
• Promote continuous improvement of healthcare services through lessons learned, monitoring, and professional development activities.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

3 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

5 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master's degree in in medicine from an accredited university and currently licensed to practice within home country or another national jurisdiction. or

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Valid certification in Advanced Trauma Life support, Advanced cardiac Life support OR Pre- hospital trauma life support is required.

Certification in HIV care OR VCCT is desirable

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience

Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict, experience in Trauma and Emergency care.

Residency and/or internship in one of the medical specialties preferably internal medicine or family medicine is required.

Two years of experience in the occupational health field is highly desirable.

Two years of managerial experience in the medical field, including budgeting, supervisory responsibilities and resource management is required.

Previous UN medical system/international medical experience or military medical experience with priority in international tasks is highly desirable.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is expected.

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Area(s) of expertise

Public health, immunisation

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Eritrea is a family “D” Duty station. The capital, Asmara, and in general the country is safe with very low crime rate. Half of Eritrea’s population lives in the central highlands, which rise to about 2200 meters above sea level. Here, the climate is moderate (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually), the land quite productive, and communications facilities relatively developed.

The other half of the population lives in the western and eastern lowlands where the climatic conditions are semi-arid and more demanding, and infrastructures limited. Rainfall is heaviest in Eritrea from June to September, except in coastal areas, where it rains in December and January. For the remainder of the year, Eritrea’s Red Sea coastline remains dry, and is particularly hot and humid from May to September.

Health

Malaria does not affect Asmara and the Central highlands of Eritrea, but it is endemic in the lowland and coastal areas. Visitors travelling outside of Asmara are advised to take appropriate precautions.

There is a UN clinic within the UN common premises and has full-time doctor. It has been operating since 1997 for UN staff and their dependents.

International calling cards do not work in Eritrea and you cannot call toll-free (800, 866, 877) numbers. Phone booths/public phones do exist here and are well placed, but are only for local calls. For long distance calls, you can call directly from your office phone either through VOIP or landline which billed to you monthly or from your home if you rent a house with a landline. You can also buy a cell phone, purchase a local calling card, and call internationally (still expensive). Most standard cell phones from the U.S. will not work in Eritrea, however you can easily purchase a cell phone locally. However, it is something of a complicated process to obtain a SIM card, but the Admin unit will assist you in this process. One requirement to get a SIM card is approval from protocol and a lease agreement. A SIM card from your home country will not work in Eritrea. Keep yours for when you go back home.

Electricity and water are not always consistently available. With regards to electricity, it randomly shuts off. Power outages can last anywhere from a few seconds to almost an entire day. City water distribution is not consistent. It is advisable to therefore rent houses with underground water reservoirs. In the event of severe water shortages, use of water trucks is an option depending on availability and this may take several days.

There are several banks in Asmara. Personal accounts will need to be set up and the Finance unit will provide assistance. The official bank exchange rate is 15 Nakfa: $1 US. This rate is the same at the Himbol exchange shops. There are no ATM’s where you can go and get cash. This is truly a cash economy. While the use of credit cards in Eritrea is very limited, you may wish to notify your credit card company of your current place of residence.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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