UN Volunteer - Pharmacy Assistant

Job Description

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Developing, updating, and implementing a mission list for pharmaceuticals and medical consumables, based on generic drugs produced according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
• Maintaining a system for ongoing inspections of drug safety in mission Level 1 Clinics.
• Offering day-to-day advice on pharmaceutical issues.
• Advising on the specification of pharmaceuticals to be requisitioned.
• Offering a prudent scale of issue for the planning of re-supply.
• Contributing to the facilitation of an unimpeded supply of pharmaceuticals, medical consumables, vaccines, condoms (male and female) and blood in the mission.
• Monitoring the consumption of pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents, medical and surgical consumables at the Level 1 Clinics.
• Assisting the mission medical services team in the treatment and side effect monitoring.
• Storing and record-keeping of stocks of pharmaceutical products across the mission.
• Accounting for the applicable medical supplies and equipment according to recommended guidelines.
• Participating in logistics operations pertaining to the management of expired supplies and redistribution of medical supplies within the mission area.
• Carrying out relevant and regular reporting on demand by the Head Pharmacist.
• Performing other related duties as required.

Additional Responsibilities

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark International Volunteer Day (IVD);
• Be cognizant of the United Nations as an organization and be familiar with the concept and workings of peacekeeping/peacebuilding;
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; network and build relationships with local organizations, groups, or individuals, and support and/or participate in local volunteering initiatives; reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; initiate and/or participate in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;
• Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible;
• Encourage, mobilize, and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers, and members of the local community to play an active part in peace and development activities on a voluntary basis;
• Discuss with supervisors how volunteerism for peace and development can be mainstreamed in the assignment and integrate activities promoting volunteerism for peace and development into work plans;
• Assist with the UNV “buddy programme” for newly arriving UN Volunteers.