Health Advisor

Health Advisor

GIZ African Union Office

contract end date: 31/12/2027

Brief description of the project/ unit

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.

Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. With around 250 staff, GIZ African Union cooperates with the AU Commission, as well as the AU’s specialised institutions and agencies, such as the Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, at continental, regional and national level in more than 40 member states. Key areas of engagement include Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Governance, Sustainable Economic Growth, Health and Social Development, as well as Just Transition.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has commissioned GIZ with the project Strengthening Crisis and Pandemic Response in Africa (SCPRA). The project’s primary focus is to enhance the resilience of the Africa CDC by strengthening its institutional and programmatic capabilities. This includes bolstering its coordination role with global, regional and national health institutions, along with strengthening public health community engagement, with a focus on civil society and young people. The project will also strengthen digital health capacities on the continent.

In addition to supporting the Africa CDC, the project will also assist other continental health institutions such as the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and the Africa Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF). This support aims to create an environment that fosters pharmaceutical production by focusing on strengthening regulatory capacities and facilitating access to the technology required for local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics in Africa.

GIZ is recruiting a Health Advisor to support the Africa CDC with the institutionalization of its newly established Youth Engagement Program.

Responsibilities and Duties

Overall, provide technical advisory services to the Africa CDC on Youth Engagement through the development of strategies, concepts, methods and instruments for mainstreaming youth within Africa CDC’s public health mandate.

Program, events and contract management:

• Work closely with Africa CDC counterparts to implement joint youth engagement initiatives, including but not limited to the Bingwa Plus Initiative, Youth in Digital Health Network, and the Africa CDC Youth Conference (formerly the Youth Pre-Conference).
• Develop and manage work plans in collaboration with Africa CDC, ensuring effective communication and coordination between the project, partners, and stakeholders.
• Support the technical and logistical planning, coordination, and documentation of events, meetings, workshops, seminars and other project and youth engagement activities
• Support contract management, including the setting up and steering of consultants, grant and financial agreements with implementation partners.

Communication & Knowledge Management:

• Support the implementation of communication and visibility measures for the project including knowledge generation and content development for external communication purposes as well as internal documentation needs. This may include the writing of reports, press releases, policy briefs, articles, and internal progress reports.

Support administrative tasks within the project such as filing, documentation, coordination meetings, and M&E.

Qualifications

• Completed university studies or equivalent work experience in Medicine, Public Health, Social Work, Management, International Development or adjacent fields

Professional experience

• 4 years of professional experience in public health, preferably in a development cooperation settings
• 2 years of professional experience in youth empowerment, or youth engagement programming
• Excellent advisory skills, high conceptual abilities, performance and goal orientation, with a demonstrable ability to work independently and adapt to changing circumstances
• Experience organising and facilitating events, workshops, campaigns or similar activities
• Previous experience in an international organisation and/or in a continental organisation such as the African Union would be of distinct advantage
• Excellent knowledge of international multilateral collaboration, development cooperation, project management, and/or partnership coordination

Other knowledge, additional competencies

• Strong teamwork skills in diverse, multicultural teams with context sensitivity
• Communication competencies are an asset: e.g. social media management, public relations, etc
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (C1 and above). Fluency in another African Union working language is an asset
• Willingness to undertake international business travels