National Public Health Specialist

Organizational Setting

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a dynamic and revitalized organization, recognized as the leading UN agency in the global fight to eradicate hunger, reduce rural poverty, and promote sustainable agricultural, fisheries, and livestock development. Additionally, FAO champions the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment to benefit vulnerable communities and rural populations.

FAO’s overarching corporate goal is to increase the visibility of its impactful work at the country, regional, and international levels. While FAO Headquarters and Regional Offices have dedicated staff for this purpose, there is a growing need for specialized media outreach personnel at the country level to elevate the organization’s presence in national and local media, as well as on broader platforms.

Reporting Lines

The National Public Health Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Head of Office..

Technical Focus

Epidemiology, Environmental health, health policy and management, global health and public health emergency preparedness.  

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide technical support to key government agencies through the One Health Planning Committee (OHPC) to define a coordination mechanism for One Health
•    Provide technical support to identifying health risks in agri-food value chains (including subsistence and wildlife food chains) to relating to antimicrobial resistance, zoonosis and food safety
•    Provide technical support towards defining risk mitigation measures for adoption into national or sub-national policies
•    Support the technical team in the preparation and convening of the project inception and consultative workshops
•    Support coordination between the PNG Medical Society and the OH Planning Committee
•    Support preparation of content from primary sector agencies to present at symposium
•    Assist by providing necessary logistical and technical inputs to support the efficient planning and implementation of the Symposium
•    Provide recommendations on specific issues identified by the Partners in the areas of highest concern for attention and action, and future directions, in One Health
•    Contribute to the development of national strategies and policies through technical and policy advice and recommendations on plans of actions for strengthening health systems and improvements in the planning and management of existing Public health systems.
•    Support the development and monitoring of work plans and budgets including resource mobilization for the work programme and follow up on the implementation of planned activities.
•    Critically review data and provide high-level data analyses and information on best practices and partners' experiences in implementing sustainable Public health systems and disseminate information.
•    Provide technical support and information to stakeholders on sustainable health systems that contribute to health equity, social justice and elimination of exclusion and respond to inquiries and provide detailed and technical information concerning related principles, practices, issues, measures, techniques and procedures. 
•    Conceive, coordinate and conduct a variety of community outreach activities 
•    Assist in coordinating with national stakeholders, FAO technical units, and development partners to support alignment of recommendations on public health systems policies and strategies, and contribute to resolving technical or implementation-related issues. Contribute to the analysis of scientific evidence on the links between human, animal and ecosystem health, and contribute to foresight on emerging threats to health;
•    Suggest approaches and specific studies/assessments relevant to the development of a global approach to reduce risk of zoonotic pandemics;
•    Provide recommendations on specific issues identified by the Partners in the areas of highest concern for attention and action, and future directions, in One Health particularly related to human health;
•    Review and monitor the preparation of relevant project documents, substantial sections of reports, studies, and inputs to publications;
•    Contribute in the production of analytical tools, background papers, analysis, or concept notes;
•    Submit the end of assignment report in brief on the work undertaken, with the conclusions and recommendations in English, and
•    Perform other duties as where necessary. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
    
•    University degree in Public Health. 
•    Three years of relevant experience in public health or health care.
•    Experience in program planning, implementation and evaluation.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English. 
•    National of Papua New Guinea or resident of the country with work permit

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement