Associate Public Health Officer

March 9, 2026

B

Family

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-02-19

Associate Public Health Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Public Health Officer is a member of a multidisciplinary team and contributes to ensuring that UNHCR's public health programmes meet minimum UNHCR and global health standards in order to minimise avoidable morbidity and mortality among forcibly displaced and stateless persons and towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Public health programmes include primary health care, secondary health care, sexual and reproductive health (including HIV), nutrition, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).

The incumbent provides effective and timely technical guidance and support to partners for UNHCR’s responses in public health and monitors the response and provides technical guidance to management in the absence of a more senior public health staff.

S/he supports the developing, implementing and overseeing health strategies, including in the inter-agency context. S/he advances the concepts found in UNHCR’s Global Public Health Strategy as well as the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and applies a humanitarian-development nexus lens to UNHCR public health programming and the mainstreaming/inclusion of refugees into national health programmes, advocacy for refugees’ inclusion into national universal health coverage plans including health insurance and other social protection schemes.

The Associate Public Health Officer is usually supervised by a more senior public health staff or in the absence thereof, by operations/programmes staff.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Provide support and recommendations on the implementation of public health programmes in a multi-sectoral and coordinated manner in cooperation with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and other humanitarian and development partners with due consideration to the approaches outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees, health-related pledges linked to the Global Refugee Forum and in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG3.

• Support a strategic approach to public health towards greater inclusion and access of refugees to national health systems including social health protection as applicable.

• Participate in relevant coordination and collaboration structures.

• Support robust and timely emergency responses to new refugee influxes and disease outbreaks with a focus on inclusion and access to national health systems from the onset of an emergency.

• Participate in relevant assessment and identification of needs, recognise and support the contributions of governments and other actors so as to align with and support national health system as much as possible.

• Support the work with stakeholders, including Ministries of Health, UN agencies, NGOs, development actors and academic institutions in the development of public health response plans including multi-year, multi-partner solutions strategies and funding appeals such as regional refugee response plans or other humanitarian appeals.

• Work closely with programme and other units as applicable in programme planning and monitoring as well as the review and analysis of relevant project proposals and budgetary submissions presented by UNHCR partners within the context of the UNHCR programming cycle and standards.

• Support intersectoral collaboration throughout all stages of programme cycle between public health, and other sectoral areas to promote synergies and maximise impact.

• Assist with the implementation of relevant UNHCR Health Information System suite of tools and surveys to support in analysis, interpretation, reporting and use of public health data as well as linkage/integration with national data systems including disaggregation by nationality.

• Support capacity strengthening of UNHCR and its implementing partners to ensure the technical integrity of public health programmes in a coordinated, multi-sectoral way.

• Engage in relevant partnership fora, including in line with UNHCR’s role as a UNAIDS co-sponsor of the Joint Programme on AIDS and co-lead with WFP of the Division of Labour area of HIV in humanitarian settings.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making is risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

• Perform other related duties as required.

For positions in country operations

• Support public health emergency preparedness and response planning and prepare UNHCR’s lead role in response to new emergencies.

• Support, in close co-ordination with other humanitarian actors, the technical integrity of health care services and that they are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognized and most up-to-date standards and policies.

• Support partners and work with supply and programme for efficient procurement of medicines, supplies, equipment according to UNHCR guidelines.

• Support ensuring community participation in design and implementation of programmes, fostering ownership and empowerment, ensuring inclusion of vulnerable groups, establishing two-way communication and building on local capacities and resources.

• Support compliance with, and integrity of, all Public Health Administrative Instruction/ standard operating procedures in conjunction with Project Control and Programme staff and in line with delegated authorities.

For positions in regional bureaux

• Support the coordination of public health programmes across the regional bureau and with country operations including assimilation and documentation of better practice/lessons learnt for dissemination.

• Provide sound technical advice and support (including missions) to country operations, in all aspects of public health service delivery, including in emergencies and in line with UNHCR’s policy and guidance.

• Support assessment, analysis of public health data and provision of relevant support on the technical quality of public health programming in the operations.

• Review and provide inputs for public health strategies, medicine management and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operations and coordinate the review and clearance with HQ.

For positions in headquarters

• Collate information that supports the development of organisation-wide guidance, policies, positioning, and tools, including policy documents, technical guidance, evaluations, lessons learnt, communication and visibility materials, reports, and synthesis.

• Support the provision of technical advice and support (including missions as applicable) to bureaux and country operations in pursue of greater inclusion and access to national health services.

• Assist in technical support for the implementation of public health programs to regional bureaux and operations.

• Support public health-related knowledge management, training and learning as well as sharing analytical products and tools with bureaux and country operations to inform policies, programmes and opportunities for inclusion into national public health systems.

• Assimilate and produce better practice/lessons learnt/academic articles for dissemination.

• Support effective collaborative approaches across the team and in between divisions and bureaux.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Medicine Medical Science Medical Doctor

Nursing Public Health Epidemiology or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience in public health programming as well as understanding of health systems and health system building blocks. Experience with data collection and analysis. Experience in working with internal and external stakeholders to achieve common public health objectives and in position(s) where the ability to draft clear, concise documentation was essential.

Desirable

Experience in public health emergency preparedness and response. Experience in humanitarian settings. Experience with health information systems. Experience with the provision of quality-assured medicines and medical supplies.

Functional Skills

PM-Project monitoring and evaluation

PH-Public Health Epidemiology

MD-HIV/AIDS situation management

MD-Reproductive Health

PH-Community Health - Health Data Collection/Analysis/Interpretation

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Stakeholder Management

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The incumbent should have demonstrated capacity in inter-agency and health/nutrition-related coordination, as well as the ability to ensure strong and informed working relations with government officials, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders. S/he should be a self-starter and demonstrate a dynamic interest and capacity toward the goal of a sustainable and high quality response in the health and nutrition spheres, in full respect of the benefits and advantages of working in a manner which integrates the response into the National Development Plan and related development actors’ responses and plans.

The incumbent should have demonstrated capacity to provide advice, build capacity, coach, and guide the operation, partners and other key players on policy and practical operational issues, maintain clear and accessible monitoring systems and oversight mechanisms and ensure that all systems and procedures are streamlined and aligned with the country specific context. This specifically relates to the wider development and service integration pursued in the refugee response. The incumbent should be able to also understand and provide relevant analytics regarding health data toward an improved response, as well as inclusion and integration of refugees in Government health and nutrition systems.
The incumbent should have demonstrated capacity and experience to support emergency responses (outbreaks, health needs in an influx and at borders) in a manner which ensures UNHCR’s coordination and operational role, but also is coordinated with the Government health systems.

An undergraduate degree in a medical related field is mandatory for this position and a master’s degree in public health is a distinct added advantage. Experience in UNHCR health programming is desirable for this position.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

This position is part of the Programme Unit at the Country Office in Kampala, working closely with the Development, Inter-Agency, External Engagement, Operations and Field teams and Information Management. The incumbent will lead the small Public Health team (incumbent plus one AWF Nutrition) reporting to the Assistant Representative (Programme). His/her main work is leading the inter-agency health sector and engaging with the other relevant working groups and bilateral actors (Government, donor, NGO, community actors, and refugees) toward a sustainable health response, and making all efforts to support and lead refugee inclusion into health systems – including a dedicated support toward refugee health data and information management. S/he will provide oversight and technical advice to Sub- and Field Offices to support the health programming in the field, including response at the transit/reception centres and in settlements. The incumbent’s work on health also encompasses nutrition.

UNHCR, along with other humanitarian organizations and partners in close collaboration with the governmental counterparts is actively involved in providing aid and support to the asylum seekers and refugees residing in Uganda. While UNHCR was once the largest provider of health support and activities in refugee settlements, UNHCR and other humanitarian actors – aligned with Uganda’s Global Refugee Forum Pledges - have been in the process of transitioning and in 2026, the majority of health assistance is provided by Government and other actors, with UNHCR-funded partners having a smaller portion of health system assistance. This direct health programming is gradually being fully transitioned to Government and development actors (excluding for the time being the emergency support at borders/transit/reception centres).

Public health programming is life-saving and life-sustaining. It consists of a wide range of measures and services from preventive, promotive and curative primary health care; sexual and reproductive health, HIV; nutrition; mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); rehabilitative services; palliative care; referral care to secondary and tertiary level; community health; surveillance and monitoring of health information; and behavior change communication. In its role as sector lead, in inter-agency groups and with all stakeholders, UNHCR works closely with all partners to integrate all aspects of the health response into the national response. UNHCR also leads, with Government, in emergencies and this includes outbreaks and refugee influxes and relevant health and nutrition risks and problems which frequently occur in these situations.

The incumbent provides strong and timely technical guidance to UNHCR management and partners including on the design and scope of UNHCR’s responses in health and nutrition, catalyzes the engagement of other actors, supports resource mobilization efforts, and monitors the response. S/he is responsible for oversight and monitoring of the limited health and nutrition resources provided to the operation.

Living and Working Conditions:

Kampala is a Family Duty Station Capital city with a large offer of comfortable houses and flats available, bank services are excellent as well as a decent internet service and mobile coverage. Power supply might be irregular in some areas hence a generator or backup inverter might be necessary. Medical facilities including hospitals of good quality are available as well as a large choice of international schools and nurseries. Food and house supplies are available in supermarkets and markets and on-line purchases and home deliveries is efficient. No decent public transport is available, but Taxis/Uber are commonly used and car purchase is an easy option as the offer is wide.

Although Kampala and Entebbe are considered under moderate security levels (Security level III), many UN agencies and funds are headquartered in Kampala including the UNHCR Country Office to provide support on the mandate to protect and assist refugees of both Urban caseloads and those in settlements in the Southwest, Midwest and West Nile regions. Kampala is considered a family duty station with better social amenities- schools, recreation, and health services. The major threat to staff includes and is not limited to prospects of terrorism, heavy security presence in both uniform and plain clothes, high number road traffic accidents, common law crimes, and spontaneous outbreaks of waterborne diseases like Typhoid, and cholera plus occasional political/civil unrest mostly contained by the Government. The security management systems have put in place mitigation measures to avert the impact of the threats therein and is a collective responsibility of all staff members.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

MD-HIV/AIDS situation management, MD-Reproductive Health, PH-Community Health-Health Data Collection/Analysis/Interpretation, PH- Public Health Epidemiology, PM-Project monitoring and evaluation

Bachelor of Arts: Epidemiology, Bachelor of Arts: Medical Doctor, Bachelor of Arts: Medical Science, Bachelor of Arts: Medicine, Bachelor of Arts: Nursing, Bachelor of Arts: Public Health

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member is subject to proof of vaccination against COVID-19.r

This position requires Functional Clearance