UNHCR Hiring a Health Information System Officer — (Home-Based) Exciting Opportunity (IICA-2): Apply Now

If you are passionate about public health, data systems, and humanitarian impact, this opportunity with the UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) could be your next career-defining move. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, this role places you at the heart of global refugee health coordination—where data drives life-saving decisions.

UNHCR is seeking a Health Information System (HIS) Officer to strengthen and lead its global public health data systems. This position plays a critical role in ensuring that refugee and displaced populations receive quality, evidence-based healthcare support worldwide.

About the Role

The Health Information System Officer serves as a technical leader within UNHCR’s Public Health Section. The role ensures that UNHCR’s public health programmes meet global standards and minimize avoidable illness and mortality among forcibly displaced populations.

In practical terms, this means overseeing the design, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of UNHCR’s Health Information Systems across operations worldwide.

The officer is responsible for:

• Maintaining and optimizing UNHCR’s Health Information System platforms
• Ensuring data quality, timeliness, and reporting accuracy
• Supporting country and regional teams with technical guidance
• Strengthening collaboration with Ministries of Health, NGOs, and UN partners
• Promoting evidence-based decision-making through strong data analysis

The ultimate goal is reliable health data that informs programming, advocacy, donor reporting, and strategic planning.

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Why Health Information Systems Matter

In humanitarian settings, data is not just numbers—it represents access to healthcare, disease trends, maternal health outcomes, nutrition indicators, and outbreak alerts.

The HIS Officer ensures that:

• Refugee health services are monitored effectively
• Outbreak preparedness and response are data-driven
• Health systems align with global public health standards
• Refugee data can be integrated with national health systems

The role also includes supporting surveillance systems, maintaining global health databases, and producing strategic reports for donors and internal leadership.

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Key Responsibilities

The Health Information System Officer will:

Lead Technical Oversight

Provide leadership on system maintenance, improvements, and expansions of UNHCR’s health data platforms.

Ensure Data Quality and Integrity

Implement quality checks, develop tools and guidance, and build capacity among field staff to improve reporting standards.

Strengthen Partnerships

Coordinate with implementing partners, UN agencies, and government health ministries to ensure consistent and high-quality reporting.

Support Capacity Building

Deliver trainings, webinars, and workshops to enhance monitoring and data use at regional and country levels.

Promote Data Protection Compliance

Ensure all public health data platforms comply with UNHCR’s data protection policies and international standards.

Qualifications and Experience

To succeed in this role, candidates typically need:

• At least four years of experience in public health or health information systems
• A minimum of two years of international experience
• Background in epidemiology, clinical health, or public health programming
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation systems
• Strong knowledge of health data collection and analysis

Desirable skills may include knowledge of statistical tools and experience working in emergency or refugee contexts.

Working at UNHCR

UNHCR operates in some of the world’s most challenging environments. The organization looks for professionals who are passionate, results-oriented, and committed to diversity and inclusion.

Ideal candidates:

• Thrive in multicultural teams
• Demonstrate high integrity and professionalism
• Are flexible and solutions-driven
• Bring innovative ideas to complex humanitarian challenges

Why Geneva?

Geneva is a global humanitarian hub, home to numerous UN agencies and international organizations. Working in Geneva provides exposure to high-level policy discussions, inter-agency coordination, and strategic planning processes that influence humanitarian operations worldwide.

For professionals seeking to shape global refugee health policy while working in an international environment, this location offers exceptional opportunities for networking and career growth.

Career Impact

This role is not just about managing databases—it is about shaping global refugee health policy.

You will:

• Influence strategic decision-making at headquarters level
• Strengthen refugee inclusion in national health systems
• Support evidence-based advocacy and donor reporting
• Contribute to global public health standards for displaced populations

For public health professionals who want to bridge data science and humanitarian action, this is a rare and high-impact opportunity.

Final Thoughts

The Health Information System Officer position at UNHCR represents a powerful intersection of public health, technology, and humanitarian service. At a time when global displacement remains high and health systems face increasing strain, strong and reliable health data has never been more critical.

If you have the technical expertise, international experience, and commitment to humanitarian values, this role in Geneva could be your opportunity to make measurable impact at a global scale.