Host entity: WHO Vietnam

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Community development, Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Information technology and telecommunications

Application deadline: 28/08/2026

Mission and objectives

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as the directing and coordinating authority in global public health within the United Nations system. Working at three levels in the Organization (global, regional and country), more than 7000 WHO staff worldwide collaborate with the governments of 194 Member States and other partners to achieve the WHO founding vision of the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.

The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than one quarter of the world’s population, stretching over more than one third of the distance around the globe. In all, more than 600 WHO staff work in 15 country offices and the Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, to support Member States in achieving better health outcomes for the Region’s nearly 1.9 billion people in 37 countries and areas.

WHO presence in Viet Nam
Viet Nam has been a WHO Member State since 17 May 1950. WHO was one of the first United Nations agencies to support the Vietnamese health sector directly since the end of the war and reunification of the country. WHO established a country office in Hanoi in 1977 and a sub-office in Ho Chi Minh City in 2003. More than 50 WHO staff in the country office have played a central role in supporting the people and the Government of Viet Nam to improve health. The mission of WHO in Viet Nam is to support the Government to achieve universal health coverage with all people having access to high-quality health services, within the context of the country’s needs and challenges in transitioning to middle-income status.

Priorities of the United Nations in Viet Nam

The Government of Viet Nam and the United Nations agencies, including WHO, adopted the Delivering as One principle and committed to the One United Nations initiative in Viet Nam in 2006. In July 2017, they jointly launched the One Strategic Plan 2017–2021, which identified focus areas and outcomes for the United Nations interventions in Viet Nam.

Assignment context

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has established the Humanitarian Emergency Response (HER) Roster to support speedy recruitment of qualified and motivated UN Volunteers for potential emergency response assignments. Candidates will be pre-screened based on their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the specific thematic or functional areas described in this Description of Assignment (DoA). Shortlisted candidates may remain in the UNV HER Roster for up to 6 months and be contacted should an emergency arise. Inclusion in the UNV HER Roster does not guarantee recruitment as a UN Volunteer. Selection and recruitment timelines will depend on the emergency occurrence, availability of candidates, and final approval by the UN host entity in accordance with Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of WHO Viet Nam’s efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response. The Emergency Information Management Specialist will support the Health Security and Emergencies Team in collecting, managing, analyzing, visualizing, and reporting information related to public health emergencies, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other humanitarian events. The assignment will work closely with the Ministry of Health, provincial health authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate timely information sharing and evidence-based decision-making during preparedness, response, and recovery operations. Through improved data management systems, analytical products, operational dashboards, and information-sharing mechanisms, the assignment will contribute to strengthened emergency preparedness and response capacities, enhanced situational awareness, and more effective coordination of public health emergency operations in Viet Nam.

Task description

Under the supervision of the technical officer on surveillance and risk assessment, the Emergency Information Management Specialist will support the collection, analysis, management, visualization, and dissemination of information to facilitate evidence-based decision-making during emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations.

Key Responsibilities
1. Information Collection and Management
• Collect, compile, and validate humanitarian and emergency-related data from multiple sources.
• Maintain and update databases, situation reports, contact lists, and operational dashboards.
• Ensure data quality, consistency, confidentiality, and adherence to organizational standards.

2. Data Analysis and Reporting
• Analyze operational, epidemiological, demographic, and geographic information to identify trends, gaps, and priority needs.
• Support the preparation of situation reports (SitReps), briefing notes, infographics, and decision-making products.
• Produce regular updates for internal and external stakeholders.

3. Dashboard and Visualization Development
• Develop and maintain dashboards, maps, charts, and visual products using available information management tools.
• Present complex data in user-friendly formats to support coordination and planning.

4. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Support
• Assist in the creation and updating of maps showing affected populations, response activities, health facilities, and operational coverage.
• Support spatial analysis and mapping requirements during emergency operations.

5. Coordination and Information Sharing
• Facilitate information exchange among government agencies, UN organizations, NGOs, and partners.
• Support information management working groups and coordination meetings.
• Contribute to the development of common information products and standards.

6. Emergency Preparedness and Response Support
• Support emergency preparedness activities, including data readiness, contingency planning, and information management protocols.
• Assist with rapid assessments and emergency response monitoring.
• Contribute to after-action reviews and lessons-learned documentation.

7. Capacity Building
• Provide training and technical support to staff and partners on data collection tools, reporting systems, and information management practices.
• Promote best practices in data management and humanitarian information sharing.

Expected Deliverables
• Timely and accurate situation reports.
• Updated emergency databases and dashboards.
• GIS maps and data visualizations.
• Analytical reports and operational briefings.
• Information management tools, templates, and guidance documents.
• Support for emergency coordination and decision-making processes.

Skills and experience

Required Experience
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in information management, public health, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness and response, or related fields.
• Experience supporting health emergency operations, outbreak response, disaster response, or humanitarian coordination mechanisms is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection, management, analysis, and reporting.
• Experience developing dashboards, situation reports, data visualizations, and operational information products.
• Experience working with government agencies, UN organizations, NGOs, or humanitarian partners is an advantage.
• Previous field experience in emergency or disaster-affected settings is desirable.

Technical Skills
• Strong skills in data analysis and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as ArcGIS or QGIS, is desirable.

Core Competencies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize and present complex information clearly for diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines during emergencies.
• Demonstrated teamwork, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in rapidly changing environments.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Language Requirements
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of local or additional UN languages is considered an asset.

Desirable Qualifications
• Experience in disaster risk reduction (DRR), emergency preparedness, and health emergency management.
• Knowledge of Incident Management System (IMS), Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), or humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Experience supporting risk assessments, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness activities.
• Advanced training in emergency management, humanitarian response, epidemiology, GIS, or data analytics is an asset.

Please refer to the Context section for details on the UNV Humanitarian Emergency Response (HER) Roster. Shortlisted candidates may be included in the UNV HER Roster for up to six months and contacted should a suitable emergency response assignment arise. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee recruitment.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

Hanoi, Viet Nam offers a comfortable and secure living environment for international staff. The city is well connected through Noi Bai International Airport and provides reliable access to housing, healthcare, banking, telecommunications, and other essential services. The cost of living is moderate, with a wide range of accommodation and dining options available. Hanoi experiences hot, humid summers and cool winters. Rich in culture and history, the city offers an enriching living and working environment, where adaptability and cultural sensitivity contribute to a rewarding assignment experience.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer, Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) for National UN Volunteer Expert (Short-term) in Hanoi, Viet Nam at VND 32,804,373, Insurance Coverage (Comprehensive health, life, and malicious acts insurance); For further information on the full entitlements, please refer to the following:
• You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
• The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.