Health Operations Officer – (Emergency Preparedness and Response), Luanda

General

Description of assignment title: Health Operations Officer – (Emergency Preparedness and Response)

Assignment country: Angola

Duty stations: Luanda

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 01/04/2027

Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Host entity: WHO

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

Objective of WHO - "The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health."

Mission - "Effective engagement with member states for advancing the global agenda; contributing to national health policies, strategies and plans; and for bringing country realities and perspectives to global policies and priorities."

Context

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response Programme is to help countries, and to coordinator international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The UNV will manage the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the health expertise and operations. This includes dissemination of risk communication messages, the strengthening of early warning and surveillance systems, the delivery of quality health services and the undertaking of operational and scientific research to improve interventions.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Emergency Preparedness and Response Team lead or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Health Operations Officer - EPR will:

Under the guidance of the EPR team lead, manage the coverage of all health operations in support to the MOH, work with partners and facilitate the implementation of WHO’s most effective prevention, control and response measures.

Outbreak prone communicable diseases (Cholera, Mpox, Ebola, Marburg, Yellow fever….):

• Support the planning and implementation of outbreak prone communicable diseases addressing the risk of outbreak and/or health emergency, co-develop action plans for interventions in high-risks groups and recommend measures for special attention.
• Monitor the early prevention, detection, verification, assessment and investigation of any risks of outbreaks and the dissemination of data related to the occurrence of outbreaks
• Support the rapid response teams responsible for the rapid investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early response.
• Support the information systems on communicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) facilitating integration with the national health information systems.
• Conduct the periodic reporting and treatment of communicable diseases activities.
• Ensure that the messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation and control of risks

Health service delivery

• Support national authorities and partners on equipping the health facilities with the necessary infrastructure, equipment, drugs, public health laboratories and blood safety, and medical supplies to address the existing and foreseen risks and to prevent the dissemination of infectious diseases within the facilities.
• Monitor that health facilities provide quality preventive and curative health care to the affected population and continue to deliver routine essential health services in addition to responding to the cause of the crisis. Make appropriate recommendations where necessary.
• Support capacity-building and training of local staff on best preventive, diagnostic, control and curative knowledge, practices and standards.

Prevention and control measures

• Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of actions to be taken in affected as well as non-affected areas/countries in order to prevent and/or control cause of excess morbidity and mortality.
• Provide technical assistance on vaccination, enhanced surveillance, vector control, infection control (including personal protection), enhanced sanitation and hygiene, increased provision of water and/or nutrients, prepositioning of drugs and medical supplies, etc.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active WHO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to WHO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
• oMoH approved revised and updated contingency and response plan to outbreak prone communicable diseases period written reports on achievements in the response to outbreaks and the contribution in those achievements by the UNV
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

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: 3 years

Languages:

• Portuguese, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level: Master's degree in Advanced university degree (master’s level or above) in medicine, public health, epidemiology, tropical medicine, health systems/services administration or related field.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WHO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHO mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Skills and experience

• At least 3 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in public health emergency setting or other relevant programmes; experience with health emergencies is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organizations;

Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain; (if not applicable, delete)
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise: Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Humanitarian affairs, protection, Nursing, midwifery, paramedics, medical technology

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

Luanda, the capital of Angola, is a large and dynamic coastal city that serves as the country’s main economic, political, and cultural hub. Living conditions have improved in recent years, with access to supermarkets, restaurants, international schools, private healthcare facilities, and a range of accommodation options—often located in secure apartment or housing complexes. However, Luanda remains a challenging duty station due to a high cost of living, particularly for housing, imported goods, and private healthcare, as well as heavy traffic congestion and occasional interruptions to basic utilities. Security conditions are generally stable, and UN personnel benefit from established safety and security systems. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and living essentials and should be prepared for the city’s challenges while also benefiting from its active social life and opportunities for cultural engagement within Angola’s development context.

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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