Pathogens Surveillance and Preparedness Analyst

Organizational Context

The World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948, is the UN's leading authority on international health. Its mission is to ensure all people achieve the highest possible level of health. In Tajikistan, WHO collaborates with the government and partners to enhance universal health coverage, strengthen health systems, control diseases, improve maternal and child health, and bolster preparedness for health emergencies. The Tajikistan office specifically supports the Ministry of Health in strengthening prevention, early detection, and response to public health threats.

Job Purpose

This role provides crucial analytical and documentation support to WHO Tajikistan's efforts in strengthening public health surveillance and emergency preparedness. The incumbent will consolidate, analyze, and present epidemiological and laboratory data to support early warning systems and evidence-based public health actions. Key contributions include developing practical surveillance tools, enhancing data quality, and improving linkages between immunization, disease surveillance, and preparedness functions. The position aims to strengthen national capacities for public health intelligence and ensure sustainable surveillance systems, complementing existing program leadership and staff responsibilities.

Responsibilities

The UN Volunteer will provide technical support in several key areas. This includes analyzing epidemiological and laboratory data on priority pathogens and vaccine-preventable diseases, assessing data quality, and identifying reporting gaps. The role involves preparing regular analytical reports, dashboards, and briefing notes to inform decision-making. Additionally, the volunteer will contribute to developing and reviewing surveillance indicators, data flows, and analytical methods. Support will also be provided for preparedness and response activities, including contributing to plans, monitoring indicators, and documenting lessons learned from exercises and reviews. Analysis of immunization coverage and vaccine-preventable disease data to identify immunity gaps and outbreak risks is also a core responsibility. Finally, the role involves drafting and updating standard operating procedures, developing training materials, and supporting capacity-building activities for national and subnational health teams.

Work Experience

Requires at least three years of progressive professional experience in infectious disease surveillance, epidemiology, public health intelligence, health emergency preparedness and response, or immunization. Demonstrated experience in data analysis, report generation, and developing technical tools or guidance is essential. Experience with outbreak investigations, risk assessments, or immunization programs is desirable, as is prior work with international organizations.

Skills

Key competencies include strong analytical skills in epidemiology and surveillance, proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, Power BI), and the ability to produce clear technical reports and presentations. Excellent communication, planning, organization, and teamwork skills are vital. Technological awareness, commitment to continuous learning, integrity, and professionalism are also important. Specific expertise in emergency preparedness, crisis response, public health, and immunization is required.

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