The West African Health Organisation Vacancies

The qualifications listed in this advertisement are the minimum requirements for eligibility. Any candidate not in possession of these requirements will not be considered.

The West African Health Organisation is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following position:

Job Title: DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF EPIDEMICS AND DISEASE
Control Category: D1
Department: Division of Epidemics and Disease Control
Location (country): Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Immediate Supervisor: Director General/Deputy Director General
Start date of Service: 2010


Summary of the position and tasks:
The Director is charged with leading the overall technical and operational work in the
following programmes - Epidemic Preparedness and Response Communicable
Diseases, Non-cornmunicable Diseases, Medicines and Vaccines.
Description of Main Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent shall:
• Oversee the creation and operation of a unit for Epidemics Preparedness and Response to support ECOWAS Member States;
• Lead the regional response to epidemics, in collaboration with other stakeholders in the region:
• Coordinate the development and promotion of strategies for reducing the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in ECOWAS member States;
• Identify and support strategies to assist Member States in the procurement of medicines and vaccines at affordable prices:
• Lead the West Africa regional harmonisation process of medicines regulations;
• Playa lead role in the organisations' policy dialogue, advocacy and resource mobilization efforts;
• Coordinate and provide technical leadership in the preparation of department's budget, annual work plans and reports;
• Ensure the identification, documentation, and dissemination of programmes results, lessons learned and best practices:
• Provide guidance and supervise professional and administrative staff;
• Ensure that technical information is shared among the staff of various country programmes, Headquarters, partners, and other key stakeholders;
• Establish and maintain close and effective relationship and collaboration with other programmes at Headquarters, country programmes, Technical Working Groups,
• partners, donors and other stakeholders:
• Maintain compliance with all ECOWAS/WAHO finance, logistics, procurement and human resources policies. "
Qualification, Experience, and Required Skills
• A medical degree from a recognized University and a post-graduate qualification in Public Health;
• At least 12 years professional experience including 6 years at the international level and 5 years at the supervisory level managing large multi-country health programmes;
• Experience in design and management of intervention strategies in epidemics and disease control, communicable and non-communicable diseases, medicines and vaccines;
• Excellent facilitation skills supporting ECOW AS Member Countries to translate policy and strategic plans for implementation;
• Strong communication skills with a proven ability to write technical materials:
• Strong networking, influencing, and advocacy skills;
• Effective leadership and strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work load, set and meet deadlines, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and attend to details;
• Ability to work effectively across language and cultural barriers; and
• Must be computer literate and proficient in the application of relevant software.
Language Proficiency
Proficiency in one of the three official languages of ECOWAS (English, French, or Portuguese) with a working knowledge of another.
Applicants are requested to quote as reference the number of this advertisement in their applications.


Job Title: INTERPRETER
Category: P/5
Department: Administration and Finance
Official Station/Country: Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Immediate Supervisor: Director of Administration and Finance
Start date of Service: 2010

Summary of the position and task
Under the supervision of the Director of Administration and Finance. the incumbent will
perform interpretation/translation work for the West African Health Organization
(WAHO).
Description of Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide interpretation during internal meetings presided over by the Director General,
• the Deputy Director Genera, or their representatives where interpretation will be required; and also serve as interpreter at WAHO's conferences/workshops/meetings.
• Establish a list of eligible translators and interpreters in the ECOWAS Region who can work in at least two of the three ECOWAS official languages during workshops and meetings organised by WAHO in the Member Countries and at Headquarters.
• Liaise with the programme officers with regards to their needs for translation and interpretation services in ECOWAS Member Countries, sourcing translators /interpreters from the country where the activity is being held.
• Organize and manage the in flow and out flow of translation work from the Directorate and various departments:
• Keep a register of all the translation work sent out to member countries to ensure an equitable distribution of work to registered translators in the region.
• Set up and regularly update a database showing the current translation and interpretation services rates in member countries in order to keep management abreast with the tariffs.
• Supervise the work of translators/interpreters and provide regular advice and guidance as required:
• Keep a register of Agencies that hire out interpretation equipment in Bobo-Diouiasso and in the member countries:
• Establish and manage the terminology and reference database ensuring accuracy and consistency in language and terminology:
• Ensure the proper management of WAHO's interpretation and translation equipment, ensuring regular maintenance.
• Coordinate the use of computer assisted translation and terminology tools software
• Translate a wide range of documents (including official correspondence, press releases, conferences/workshops/meetings reports, etc) in the target language ensuring that the meaning of the source text is retained
Qualifications, Experience and Key Competencies
• Bachelor’s degree plus a diploma or certificate in interpretation from a recognised institution
• At least 4 years post qualification experience in interpretation
• Must be computer literate
• Demonstrate effective organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work load, set and meet deadlines, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and attend to details:
• Ability to use all sources of reference, consultation and information relevant to text at hand;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity and respect for diversity,
• Experience in using translation technology will be an added advantage
Language Proficiency:
• Master at least two of the three official languages (English, French and Portuguese) of ECOWAS A working knowledge of the third will be an added advantage,
Applicants are requested to quote as reference the number of this advertisement in their applications,

Method of Application
Applications letters accompanying by copies of certificates, updated CV should be sent to:
Director General
West African Health Organisation 175 Ave, Dr. Ouezzin Coulibaly
01 BP 153 Bobo-Dioulasso 01
Burkina Faso
Email:waho.applicationcandidature@yahoo.fr

This notice is addressed to candidates of both sexes, qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
All admissions will be made subject to ECOW AS staff rules and regulations.
The recruitment process will consist of short listing, followed by an interview of shortlisted candidates. Only the latter will be contacted.

Closing Date: 30th March, 2010