SSA – Climate Informed Early Warning and Response System (CI-EWARS)

The SSA will support the design and development of climate-informed health early warning and response systems (CI-EWARS) in Vanuatu, coordinating with WHO and local partners. The role involves system development, training, operationalization, and sustainability activities to strengthen national health surveillance for climate-sensitive health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Collect and compile information on Vanuatu’s existing health surveillance and/or meteorological data systems.
• Map existing Health Information Systems and evaluate reporting and response channels for climate-sensitive diseases.
• Support establishment of the national list of climate-sensitive diseases in Vanuatu.
• Facilitate meetings with Ministry of Health, Vanuatu Meteorological and Hydro-Meteorological Services, and other stakeholders.
• Provide contextual insights on priority climate sensitive diseases in Vanuatu.
• Support customization and adaptation of CI-EWARS architecture and infrastructure to Vanuatu’s needs.
• Facilitate procurement and installation of ICT equipment for hosting climate and disease data for the early warning system.
• Assist in organizing workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder consultations.
• Support development of training materials and adapt them into Bislama if required, and organize trainings at national and sub-national levels.
• Provide support to organize training for integrated communicable disease management of climate-sensitive diseases in two provinces.
• Provide continuous technical support for operationalization of CI-EWARS and liaison between Ministry of Health, WHO, and international consultant.
• Support preparation of EWARS bulletins and user friendly health early warning products.
• Contribute to final completion report with recommendations for sustainability and scale up.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental science, meteorology, or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (master’s degree) in public health, environmental science, meteorology, or related field is desirable.
• At least 2 years of experience in public health information systems or climate information systems.
• Experience working with government ministries, health facilities, or meteorological agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in disease surveillance and/or epidemiology is an asset.
• Experience working closely with government and partner organizations in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health early warning systems, disease surveillance programmes, and health information systems is desirable.
• Experience working with the WHO/UN, government ministries, health facilities, and/or meteorological agencies is an advantage.
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills.
• Ability to compile and analyse health or climate data.
• Experience in training and capacity building.
• Good communication and report writing skills.
• Fluency in English and Bislama languages.

Skills

• Public Health Information Systems
• Climate Information Services
• Disease Surveillance
• Epidemiology
• Health Early Warning Systems
• Health Information Systems
• Data Analysis
• Training and Capacity Building
• Coordination and Facilitation
• Report Writing
• System Development and Implementation
• Operationalization of Health Systems
• Sustainability Planning
• Collaboration with Ministries
• Collaboration with Meteorological Agencies
• Collaboration with WHO
• Climate-Informed Health Surveillance

Languages

English, Bislama