Water Sanitation Advisor

Job Description

Description

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The Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity (DHE) Department leads intersectoral, strategic and collaborative efforts at the regional, subregional and country levels, enabling countries to reduce health inequities, promote health and well-being, address social determinants of health -including its commercial, economic, political dimensions- to integrate equity, human rights, gender and interculturality into the public health agenda, and to address the threats of climate change, to create healthy environments and to prevent disease by addressing environmental risk factors.

Description Of Duties:

Under the technical guidance of the Director, Health Promotion, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health and Health Equity (DHE), the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Climate Change and Environmental Determinants (DHE/CE), and the administrative supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative,

the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

Provide technical, policy and strategic advice and programmatic direction for the development of technical cooperation strategies at regional and subregional levels to ensure prevention and control of water related diseases and access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and to strengthen capacities of Member States to adequately implement WASH programs under the umbrella of the Agenda for the Americas on Health, Environment, and Climate Change ; Advise Member States on the development, implementation and monitoring of the Organization's mandates and policies and promote the development and dissemination of methodologies and appropriate technologies for water and sanitation, particularly focusing on rural, rural-dispersed and marginalized populations;Cooperate with Member States in the development, improvement and promotion of water quality surveillance systems and wastewater surveillance in the face of new health threats such as SAR CoV 2 and AMR, fostering the linkages with epidemiological data;Lead inter-programmatic collaborations to support Regional and Member States to implement and monitor Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring the establishment of best practices in WASH;Provide leadership, define and establish the vision, objectives and strategies of the Health Sector's role on WASH and public health in the Region, by promoting this role through existing global, regional and subregional networks;Support the development of policies, norms, guidelines and legislation to improve WASH in countries and in the region, considering these as a recognized human right;Provide technical cooperation in the design and implementation of climate resilient water and sanitation safety plans, as well as relevant monitoring and evaluation of initiatives within the Region;Provide technical cooperation in the design and implementation of initiatives, monitoring, evaluation and policies related to WASH in health care facilities;Coordinate efforts, initiatives and resources inter-programmatically to ensure quality, timely and effective technical cooperation at the regional level to develop, strengthen and sustain public policies, strategies, interventions and related programs;Coordinate the management of resources to achieve the short, medium and long-term objectives identified in PAHO's Strategic Plan, managing specific portfolio activities, and ensuring the reporting of results, information and analyses;Identify, promote, establish, maintain, and coordinate liaison across the Organization, within WHO, with other United Nations organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector in line with WHO guidance on avoiding conflicts of interest, in order to foster intersectoral approaches, while maximizing programmatic integration, efficiency and effectiveness in WASH;Provide technical, managerial and policy advice to staff assigned to the Technical Team and Subregional and Regional Advisors located in the countries; review reports submitted by staff and provide constructive feedback;Support the implementation and reporting of strategic programs, projects and activities on WASH coordinated by DHE/CE, such as the agreement with the government of Peru as part of the Regional Technical Team on Water and Sanitation (ETRAS) in coordination with PAHO-PER and national counterparts.Support the development of human resources capacities in national institutions working on WASH and strengthen the networks and actions with WHO Collaborating Centers; support the establishment of networks of National Reference Institutions for WASH and solid waste management;Mobilize political, technical, and financial resources to support and expand regional, subregional and national programs and activities related to WASH;Coordinate team-based project development and execution of the program of work and the preparation of the biennial work plan (BWP), related budgets and work plans, progress reports, periodic analytical reports to donors, and briefing books;When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

Essential: A bachelor's degree in health, environmental science or engineering and a master's degree in public health, environmental health or engineering or any other discipline related to the functions of the post from a recognized university.In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, to support the validation process.

Experience:

Essential:

Nine years of combined national and international experience in technical cooperation in institutions concerned with public health management with a particular focus on water and basic sanitation, surveillance and monitoring methods, or evaluation of environmental health programs and sustainable development programs.

Technical Expertise:

Theoretical and practical expertise in all aspects related to principles and recent developments in environmental health and epidemiology, basic sanitation, waste management, health promotion and advocacy, including research and training.Theoretical and practical knowledge of the social and environmental aspects of primary health care, health promotion and social participation.Excellent knowledge and skills in technical cooperation projects, especially in WASH for sustainable development, management, or evaluation of environmental health programs in developing countries.Technical cooperation expertise in local and social development programs including those involving more than one country.Managerial expertise in public health management institutions.Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria for evaluating program interventions, budget programming and control.Mature judgment, strong technical, analytical, conceptual, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to identify, assess, analyze, synthesize, and provide recommendation on key political and technical issues.Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.

Languages:

Very good knowledge of Spanish or English with a working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Source:

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