PAHO Consultant - Consultoría Nacional para Apoyar Acciones Integrales para la Preparación y Respuesta ante Patógenos Respiratorios y Reglamento Sanitario Internacional
Organizational Context
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Job Purpose
To provide technical assistance for the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of actions aimed at strengthening preparedness, prevention, and response to respiratory threats of epidemic and pandemic potential, and the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) in Costa Rica.
Responsibilities
Support the implementation of activities related to preparedness, prevention, and response to priority respiratory threats. Contribute to the updating and implementation of national preparedness and response plans. Support the monitoring of indicators and targets related to surveillance, preparedness, and response. Collaborate in the organization of technical meetings, workshops, and coordination activities. Prepare technical reports and monitoring documents. Support processes for evaluation, monitoring, and strengthening of IHR core capacities. Contribute to the updating of action plans derived from evaluations such as SPAR or other related instruments. Participate in national and inter-institutional technical meetings related to IHR. Support the monitoring of recommendations issued by national and international evaluations. Contribute to the integration of preparedness and response actions within the IHR frameworks. Prepare technical and training materials. Support the design and facilitation of workshops, courses, simulations, and tabletop exercises. Systematize experiences, results, and lessons learned. Prepare presentations, concept notes, minutes, reports, and required technical documents. Maintain permanent communication with PAHO technical teams and national counterparts. Monitor the agreed work plan. Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement to achieve project objectives. Perform other functions deemed relevant in the context of surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases, in coordination with PAHO/WHO and national counterparts.
Work Experience
At least five (5) years of experience in the surveillance, prevention, and control of public health events. Experience in the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies, projects, plans, and programs for the prevention and control of public health events. Desirable: Combined experience of at least three (3) years in risk management and emergency response. Knowledge of global, regional, and national public policies related to public health events. Knowledge of the health sector and social security system of Costa Rica.
Skills
Ability to coordinate and relate with experts at the Regional and National levels. Capacity to analyze and provide feedback on technical documents and reports, draft and synthesize technical reports. Management capacity, teamwork, situation analysis, and assertive decision-making. Capacity for analysis and interpretation of data to generate evidence and information aimed at producing changes in the topics covered by the contract. Knowledge of software programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook. Proven ability to work independently, with a sense of initiative and excellent conceptual and analytical skills. Aptitude for teamwork, working under pressure, and in emergency situations. Excellent organizational and time management skills.