Call for Consultant: Event-based Surveillance Technical Officer

1. Post 

Grade: P2

Supervisor: Epidemic Intelligence Unit Lead

Duty Station: Africa CDC – Addis Ababa

Application Deadline: September 25, 2023

2. Job Description Summary

The Event-based Surveillance (EBS) Technical Officer will work as part of the EBS team and support the establishment of EBS in Member States (MS) by:

  • Providing technical input into and supporting the development of training materials, guidelines, standard operating procedures, and other materials related to strengthening EBS capacity in African Union (AU) Member States in line with the Africa CDC revised framework.
  • Assisting in the coordination of all activities related to EBS capacity development with Africa CDC member states.
  • Providing ongoing technical support to the surveillance office at Africa CDC and ministries of health in member states.
  • Liaising with key technical partners such as the Task Force for Global Health (TFGH), The Global Fund, WHO, and others to coordinate the implementation of EBS in AU MS.
  • Working with the regional EBS analysts to detect and analyze public health threats on the continent.
  • Conducting supervisory visits to countries implementing EBS and providing recommendations to improve identified gaps.

3. Major Duties and Responsibilities

The EBS Technical Officer shall:

  • Conduct Africa CDC’s event-based surveillance (EBS) activities in line with the Africa CDC revised EBS framework, including media scanning, event verification, risk assessment, report writing, and dissemination.
  • Support the operationalization of the EBS communities of practice in the five AU regions.
  • Contribute to continental alerts, reports, and outbreak briefs on events occurring on the continent.
  • Collaborate with partners and stakeholders in the roll-out of EBS programs on the continent.
  • Support any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

4. Qualification and work experience required

  • Master’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or related fields, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience. Completion of a Field Epidemiology Training program would be an added advantage.

Or

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or related fields and a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience. Completion of a Field Epidemiology Training program would be an added advantage.

5. Required Skills and Competencies

a. Functional skills

  • Demonstrable experience in supporting the implementation of public health programs with an emphasis on EBS and epidemic intelligence.
  • Demonstrable experience in supporting the establishment of public health EBS systems in regional, national, or subnational settings.
  • Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Coordinating Centres, and National Public Health Institutes.
  • Clear understanding of public health surveillance systems on the African continent and fair knowledge of operations of the Ministry of Health in the Member States.
  • Knowledge of public health surveillance guidelines, frameworks, and data capture, reporting, and analyses platforms and tools on the continent.
  • Ability to engage effectively and diplomatically with partners, including national governments, donors, and other stakeholders.
  • Excellent computer skills, including word-processing capabilities, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications, PowerPoint, and experience in using analytic tools is desirable.
  • Strong interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to convey key messages to a variety of audiences and serve as an advocate for the Program’s activities.

b. Personal Abilities

  • Strong problem-solving abilities.
  • High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team spirit.
  • Ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and in a culturally diverse team.
  • Ability to plan ahead and predict potential and emerging barriers.
  • Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible.
  • Proven ability to use clear, concise language in correspondence, including content fit for purpose and audiences when preparing written briefs and reports.
  • Ability to build strong relationships internally and with external stakeholders.

6. Language Requirements

  • Applicants must be proficient in at least one of the African Union working languages (English, French, Arabic, Spanish, or Portuguese). Knowledge of two or more of African Union working languages would be an added advantage.

7. Tenure of Appointment

  • The appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract for a period of four months, of which the first three months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be renewed annually, subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability.

8. Gender Mainstreaming: 

  • The Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

9. Application process:

Who can apply: Independent consultants

When to apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 25, 2023

Required documents for submission:

  • Background/qualifications (Resume, Curriculum Vitae)
  • Cover Letter including a summary of work experience

How to apply: Please submit the required documents and/or any questions you may have to Samuel Ngobua, Project Manager, at sngobua@taskforce.org.