About this opportunity
Health Emergency Preparedness Officer
UNV - United Nations VolunteersSomaliaInternationalMid level
Application deadline: November 02, 2026 (13 days)
Summary by Impactpool
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a Health Emergency Preparedness Officer to support emergency preparedness efforts in Somalia. This role involves assessing and monitoring national capacities for emergency preparedness, facilitating planning and operationalization with various health agencies, and leading public health risk assessments. The officer will also manage WHO's emergency supplies and integrate health preparedness activities with other sectors. This position is crucial for enhancing the response to health emergencies in the region.
Candidate Requirements:
- Experience in health emergency preparedness
- Knowledge of International Health Regulations
- Ability to assess public health risks
- Skills in coordinating with health agencies
- Experience in conducting simulation drills
- Familiarity with emergency supply management
Details
Mission and objectives
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
Working with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, WHO staff are united in a shared commitment to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere. Together they strive to combat diseases – communicable diseases like influenza and HIV, and noncommunicable diseases like cancer and heart disease. They help mothers and children survive and thrive so they can look forward to a healthy old age. We ensure the safety of the air people breathe.
Working with 194 Member States, across six regions, and from more than 150 offices, WHO staff are united in a shared commitment to achieve better health for everyone, everywhere. Together they strive to combat diseases – communicable diseases like influenza and HIV, and noncommunicable diseases like cancer and heart disease. They help mothers and children survive and thrive so they can look forward to a healthy old age. We ensure the safety of the air people breathe.
Context
The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) guides the organization’s work in preparing for, detecting, and responding to health emergencies globally. In Somalia, WHO plays a dual role: providing direct technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and leading the Health Cluster to coordinate hundreds of health partners. Due to chronic vulnerabilities from climate-driven crises (floods, droughts) and epidemic outbreaks (Cholera, Measles, cVDPV, Diphtheria), the WHO Somalia Country Office requires a dedicated UNV Health Sector Emergency Preparedness Officer. This specialist will support the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), scale up sub-national Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), and bridge the gap between early warning alerts and collective health actions.
Task description
• Support the Federal and State Ministries of Health and National Institute of Health in assessing and monitoring core national capacities for emergency preparedness in line with the International Health Regulations.
• Monitor alerts coming through the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) and support required actions.
• Facilitate the all hazard planning and operationalization, in collaboration with the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), National institute of Health (NIH) and the Ministries of Health Emergency directorates
• Lead rapid multi-sector public health risk assessments in newly accessible or climate-affected areas and to draft targeted response profiles.
• Facilitate regular Tabletop Exercises (TTX) and functional simulation drills to test readiness for sudden-onset crises.
• Manage and continuously update WHO’s contingency stocks, prepositioning plans, and distribution pipelines for emergency supplies
• Support the integration of Emergency preparedness activities for health with other sectors particularly nutrition, food safety, water and sanitation.
• Facilitate one health activities in Somalia
• Monitor alerts coming through the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) and support required actions.
• Facilitate the all hazard planning and operationalization, in collaboration with the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), National institute of Health (NIH) and the Ministries of Health Emergency directorates
• Lead rapid multi-sector public health risk assessments in newly accessible or climate-affected areas and to draft targeted response profiles.
• Facilitate regular Tabletop Exercises (TTX) and functional simulation drills to test readiness for sudden-onset crises.
• Manage and continuously update WHO’s contingency stocks, prepositioning plans, and distribution pipelines for emergency supplies
• Support the integration of Emergency preparedness activities for health with other sectors particularly nutrition, food safety, water and sanitation.
• Facilitate one health activities in Somalia
At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
Summary by Impactpool
The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a Health Emergency Preparedness Officer to support emergency preparedness efforts in Somalia. This role involves assessing and monitoring national capacities for emergency preparedness, facilitating planning and operationalization with various health agencies, and leading public health risk assessments. The officer will also manage WHO's emergency supplies and integrate health preparedness activities with other sectors. This position is crucial for enhancing the response to health emergencies in the region.
Candidate Requirements:
- Experience in health emergency preparedness
- Knowledge of International Health Regulations
- Ability to assess public health risks
- Skills in coordinating with health agencies
- Experience in conducting simulation drills
- Familiarity with emergency supply management
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Health Emergency Preparedness Officer
UNV - United Nations VolunteersSomaliaInternationalMid level
✓ Application link checked and working on 20 Oct 2026
Opens the official application page on app.unv.org.
