Principal Regional Coordinator (Africa CDC) -5 Positions

Position: Principal Regional Coordinator (Africa CDC)
Reports to: RCC Leadership
Directorate/Department/Organ: Office of the DG/Regional Coordinating Center 
Division: RCCs
Number of Direct Reports: TBD
Number of Indirect Reports: TBD (country pillar leads)
Job Grade: P4
Number of Positions: 5
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Location: Abuja Nigeria
               – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (later, Cairo Egypt)
               – Libreville, Gabon
               – Lusaka, Zambia
               – Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose of Job

The Regional Coordinator – Technical Programmes is a senior technical expert responsible for coordinating and leading Africa CDC’s core technical programmes and initiatives within the Regional Coordinating Centre. The position provides high‑level technical guidance, supports harmonized implementation of Africa CDC strategies in Member States, and ensures integration of surveillance, laboratory, preparedness and response, and workforce development activities at regional level.

The incumbent shall also support the institutionalization of the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda (AHSS) pillars notably digital health, Public Financial Management and Supply Chain/African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) in Member States within the RCC.

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the RCC Leadership and in close collaboration with technical divisions at Africa CDC Headquarters.

Specific Responsibilities

The Regional Coordinator shall: 

Technical Leadership and Strategic Guidance

•    Translate Africa CDC continental strategies, frameworks, and guidelines into regional technical implementation plans and standard operating procedures.
•    Provide expert technical advice to the RCC leadership and Member States on surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, and priority disease control.
•    Lead technical situation analyses, risk assessments, and gap analyses to inform regional priorities and investment cases.

Surveillance, Laboratory and Information Systems

•    Coordinate design, implementation and strengthening of integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) and event‑based surveillance in the region.
•    Support establishment and performance improvement of regional laboratory networks, reference laboratories, and quality management systems.
•    Promote use of digital health, data integration platforms, and interoperability for real‑time data collection, analysis, and visualization.
•    Ensure regular production and dissemination of high‑quality epidemiological reports, bulletins, and risk assessments.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

•    Support development, testing, and revision of regional and national multi‑hazard emergency preparedness and response plans, in line with IHR (2005) and Africa CDC frameworks.
•    Coordinate technical aspects of regional emergency operations, including risk assessment, incident management, surge deployment, field investigation, and after‑action reviews.
•    Contribute to maintenance and readiness of regional rapid response teams and public health emergency workforce.

•    Maintain a regional outbreak readiness dashboard covering surveillance signals, laboratory capacity, workforce availability, emergency operations capacity, stockpiles, and surge readiness.
•    Support rapid activation of RCC technical support during outbreaks and public health emergencies.
•    Coordinate cross-border preparedness and response activities with Member States, RECs, NPHIs, and relevant partners.
•    Support after-action reviews, intra-action reviews, simulation exercises, and implementation of corrective action plans.
•    Maintain a regional outbreak readiness dashboard covering surveillance signals, laboratory capacity, workforce availability, emergency operations capacity, stockpiles, and surge readiness.
•    Support rapid activation of RCC technical support during outbreaks and public health emergencies.
•    Coordinate cross-border preparedness and response activities with Member States, RECs, NPHIs, and relevant partners.
•    Support after-action reviews, intra-action reviews, simulation exercises, and implementation of corrective action plans.

Capacity Building and Workforce Development

•    Lead technical design and implementation of regional training programmes, including Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETP), laboratory training, IPC, and emergency management.
•    Support Member States to institutionalize continuous professional development and competency‑based training aligned with Africa CDC frameworks.
•    Facilitate technical mentorship, twinning arrangements, and south‑south collaboration among national public health institutes (NPHIs) and laboratories.

Programme Management, M&E and Quality Assurance

•    Lead technical work planning, results‑based management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of RCC technical programmes.
•    Develop and apply technical standards, indicators, and performance dashboards; ensure quality assurance for all technical outputs produced by the RCC.
•    Contribute to preparation of technical reports, donor reports, and documentation of best practices and lessons learned.

Technical Coordination and Partnerships

•    Serve as the principal technical focal point of the RCC with NPHIs, Ministries of Health, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), WHO and UN agencies, academic institutions, and implementing partners.
•    Coordinate regional technical working groups and communities of practice across surveillance, laboratory, emergency preparedness, and other thematic areas.
•    Provide technical input to regional policy dialogues, frameworks, and guidelines initiated by Africa CDC, the AU, or partners.

Resource Mobilization and Innovation (Technical Focus)

•    Provide technical contributions to concept notes, project proposals, and investment cases for strengthening regional public health systems.
•    Identify and promote innovative tools, technologies, and approaches that improve surveillance, diagnostics, data use, and emergency operations.
•    Provide support to country pillar leads
•    Perform any other duties as requested by the RCC Leadership..

Digital Health and Innovation

•    Act as regional focal point for Africa CDC Digital Health and Innovation agenda within the RCC.
•    Support Member States to design, implement and scale digital health solutions for surveillance, laboratories, case management, community reporting, training and tele mentoring.
•    Promote interoperability of digital systems (surveillance, laboratory, civil registration, health management information systems) using agreed regional/continental standards.
•    Identify, pilot and evaluate innovative digital tools (e.g., mobile apps, GIS, AI supported analytics, remote sensing, digital training platforms) to address priority public health challenges.
•    Build regional capacity on digital health (e.g., training on data science, epidemiological modelling, GIS, digital platforms) in collaboration with NPHIs, academic institutions and Africa CDC HQ.
•    Coordinate regional communities of practice on digital health, facilitating peer to peer learning and sharing of best practices.
•    Contribute to development and implementation of regional digital health strategies, frameworks and investment cases, including alignment with AU and global digital health initiatives.
•    Ensure ethical use of digital technologies, including attention to data protection, equity, accessibility and gender considerations
Perform any other duties as requested by the RCC Leadership.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

Master’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Sciences, Health Security, Pharmacy or related field with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in public health practice, with emphasis on infectious disease epidemiology, monitoring, and surveillance of which 6 years is spent as an expert and 3 years at a supervisory role.
Or
Bachelor’s degree in  Public Health, Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Sciences, Health Security, Pharmacy, M.D or related field or related discipline with 12 years of relevant experience in public health practice, with emphasis on infectious disease epidemiology, monitoring, and surveillance of which 6 years is spent as an expert and 3 years at a supervisory role.
•    Proven experience in leading and managing complex projects across multiple countries and sectors.
•    Strong partnership building and collaboration skills with various stakeholders.
Demonstrated hands‑on experience in:
•    Outbreak investigation and response and/or public health emergency operations;
•    Design and implementation of surveillance systems (indicator‑ and event‑based);
•    Strengthening public health or laboratory systems in low‑ or middle‑income countries.
•    Experience working with NPHIs, Ministries of Health, or regional/international public health institutions (e.g., Africa CDC, WHO, RECs).
•    Experience in Programme design, M&E, and preparation of technical guidelines and tools.
•    Supervisory or team‑lead experience in technical/public health programmes.

Required Skills

Core Competencies and Skills

•    Strong technical expertise in epidemiology, infectious disease control, health security, and/or laboratory systems.
•    Demonstrated understanding of Africa’s public health architecture, including IHR (2005), GHSA, One Health, and regional disease surveillance networks.
•    Proven ability to interpret and use epidemiological and laboratory data for decision‑making.
•    Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills with ability to manage multiple technical workstreams concurrently.
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills, including preparation of technical reports, guidelines, and scientific presentations.
•    Ability to work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary teams and in complex emergency settings.
•    Experience in managing multi-stakeholder and multi-country programs.
•    Excellent diplomatic, representational, interpersonal and communication skills, including experience with successfully interacting with stakeholders and decisionmakers in technical and other professional settings.
•    Demonstrated project planning and management skills for organizing, planning and executing projects from conception through implementation.
•    Skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences.
•    Excellent computer skills, including word-processing capabilities, proficiency with email and internet applications, experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, Power Point and Word.
•    Applicants must be proficient in at least one of the AU languages (Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili). Knowledge of one or more additional African Union working languages would be an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Strategic Insight
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• ..Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract for a period of twelve (12) months, aligned with the grant duration. The first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. The contract may be renewed subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance, and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

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

LANGUAGES:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of P4 Step 5 inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff and inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

.Applications must be submitted no later than June 30 2026, 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

– Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

– The Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

–Candidates from least represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, and Somalia.

Under represented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.