Education: BA/Diploma Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Epidemiology.

General Background & Context

Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is one of Africa’s largest refugee‑hosting nations with over 1 million refugees. The country faces multiple humanitarian challenges — internal conflicts, climate shocks, strained health systems, and displacement crises. Health risks are compounded by the growing burden of non‑communicable diseases (NCDs), limited humanitarian resources, and heavy reliance on emergency responses. Ethiopia also hosts over 4.4 million IDPs, with national services under immense pressure.

UNHCR’s 2025–2029 strategy prioritizes refugee inclusion into national systems, climate action, and sustainable programming. Public health programming focuses on primary health care, NCDs, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and nutrition. The Public Health Associate role supports these goals, ensuring access to quality services for refugees and host populations and advancing integration into national frameworks.

Purpose of the Role

The Public Health Associate, as part of a multidisciplinary team, ensures UNHCR’s health programmes meet international and UNHCR standards, reducing avoidable morbidity and mortality. The role provides technical support, partner coordination, and program monitoring. It contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national system strengthening, and UNHCR’s Multi‑Year Strategy in Ethiopia.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Support implementation of public health programmes with government, partners, and health authorities.
• Promote refugee inclusion and access to national health systems.
• Participate in coordination meetings and emergency responses to refugee influxes and outbreaks.
• Gather and analyse data for assessments, proposal drafting, and reporting.
• Provide input for multi‑sectoral collaboration to ensure health synergies with WASH, nutrition, and protection sectors.
• Support use of Health Information Systems and SENS tools for data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Strengthen partner capacity in programme delivery, quality, and technical integrity.
• Assist preparation and processing of medicines and medical supply orders with health partners.
• Ensure compliance with UNHCR’s Public Health SOPs and national standards.
• Support community engagement, ensuring refugees participate actively in health programming.
• Identify and manage risks, raising issues to supervisors when needed.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

Education & Experience

• For G6 Grade: 3 years’ relevant experience with High School Diploma; OR 2 years with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Certificates (essential)

• Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Epidemiology.

Essential Experience

• Public health programming and knowledge of health systems.
• Experience with health data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to draft clear, concise reports and technical documentation.

Desirable Experience

• Public health emergency response and preparedness.
• Work in humanitarian settings (refugee/IDP operations).
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Management of health information systems and quality medicines/supplies delivery.

Functional Skills

• Project monitoring and evaluation.
• Public Health Epidemiology.
• Community health data (collection & analysis).
• HIV/AIDS and reproductive health management.

Languages

• Proficiency in English required.
• Knowledge of local languages desirable.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Organizational Awareness
• Client & Result Orientation

Cross‑Functional Competencies

• Planning & Organizing
• Stakeholder Management
• Technological Awareness

Eligibility & Notes

• Open to Ethiopian Nationals only.
• Women strongly encouraged to apply (gender balance focus).
• Applicants may undergo written or oral assessments.
• Position does not require functional clearance.

How to Apply

Submit your application via the official UNHCR recruitment portal.
📅 Deadline: October 3, 2025
🔗 Apply Here

About UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency works globally to protect displaced populations, provide lifesaving services, and strengthen national systems. In Ethiopia, UNHCR collaborates with government ministries, NGOs, WHO, and UN partners to strengthen primary health care systems and ensure refugee inclusion in public health programming.