Regional Programme Lead (Saving Lives and Livelihoods)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

Deadline:  February 11, 2025

Job Description

Department: Africa CDC Headquarters

Background:

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a non-profit organization established in 2005 with a mission to improve human health through the strengthening and expansion of applied epidemiology and laboratory capacity in partnership with Ministries of Health, Non-Governmental Organizations, international agencies, private sector and other public health agencies. AFENET has its headquarters in Kampala, Uganda with operations in more than 30 African Countries.

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with
spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity,
solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 31, 2017. Africa CDC is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency and envisions a safer, healthier, integrated and stronger Africa, where Member States are capable of effectively responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats. The agency’s mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institutions’ capabilities to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide preparedness and response, surveillance, laboratory, and research programmes.

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) program is a strategic partnership among Africa CDC, the African Union Member States, and the Mastercard Foundation. The main objective of the programme during Phase I was to acquire vaccines against COVID-19 and to vaccinate vulnerable groups as a priority, while reaching millions of other people across the continent. The program also laid the foundations for local vaccine production in Africa, with a particular focus on human capital development and capacity building at Africa CDC. In Phase II of the programme, the partnership has revised its objectives, with a focus on geo-mapping, vaccination of health workers and priority groups, and integrating COVID-19 management into routine immunization.

Additionally, the initiative aims to prepare for future pandemics by investing in genomic
sequencing, enhancing bioinformatics laboratories, supporting local vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic manufacturing, and strengthening the Africa CDC’s capacity.
Africa CDC now invites applicants who are citizens of African Union Member States to apply for the following positions for the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Programme.

Job Title: Regional Programme Lead
Number of posts: 1 (one)
Division: Regional Coordinating Centres (RCC)
Duty Station: RCC North, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job purpose:

The Regional Programme Lead will support the execution of the Africa CDC RCC strategic plan in promoting health security across the Regions and its member states with oversight of the Regional Director. In addition, the Regional Lead will be responsible for developing strategic initiatives specific to the region. S/he will assist to manage the RCC’s staff and budget, foster partnerships with relevant stakeholders and will represent the RCC in regional forums as delegated by the Regional Director ensure alignment with the RCC’s vision and mission.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The Regional Programme Lead shall:

• Support Work Plan Development: Assist in coordinating and facilitating the development
of RCCs work plans for regional epidemiology and laboratory surveillance capacity
strengthening.
• Emergency Operations Support: Support RCCs linkages to the Africa CDC Emergency
Operations Centre activities and coordinate RCC technical staff to ensure smooth operations.

Preparedness and Response: Assist in developing and implementing RCCs preparedness
and response plans and assessment activities.

• Disease Surveillance: Support strengthening of RCC disease surveillance monitoring and
reporting.
• Technical Policy Implementation: Facilitate the adaptation of Africa CDC technical
reference policy, guidance, plans, and tools into RCC contexts and drive their execution
• Facilitate Research Collaborations: Foster an enabling environment for research
collaborations and information sharing among RCCs and member states.
• Research Publications: Support development of peer review research publications in
epidemiology, surveillance, or related health science.
• Technical Representation: Represent the agency in technical meetings, conferences, or
similar venues as delegated by the Regional Director.
• Scientific Interests: Support the agencies’ scientific interests as a member of a scientific
review committee.
• Technical Services: Coordinate delivery of technical services in support of Africa CDC
Emergency Response activities as assigned.
• Provide leadership in the execution of the Africa CDC flagship projects in consultation
with the Regional director.
• Liaise with government focal points as delegated by the regional director in defining
country plans and supporting program delivery.
• Oversee all Saving Lives and Livelihoods programme implementation regionally and in
member countries.
• Support the hiring and staffing of technical experts and National Coordinators for the
Regional Team.
• Manage and monitor the performance of National Coordinators and provide the necessary guidance and support to ensure the smooth flow of work and to improve performance.
• Represent Africa CDC in a professional manner, which creates a positive image and
enhances the credibility of the organization
• Perform any other duties as requested by the RCC Director.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Basic Health Science, Epidemiology, Health Services
Research, MMed, Pharmacy or related discipline with 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

• Bachelors’ degree in Public Health, Basic Health
Science, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, M.D, Pharmacy 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.
Desirable
• Excellent leadership skills including the capacity to organise people to achieve a shared
goal and inspire staff.
• 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.

Competencies

• Human behaviour theories and applications in complex settings including diverse cultures and social conditions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and management abilities.
Leadership and management abilities. Pro-active and solutions oriented.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to build strong relationships internally and with external actors.
• 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.
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible.

Language Requirement

Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Kiswahili and Portuguese) is required. Knowledge of one or several other working languages would be an added advantage. Proficiency and working knowledge in Arabic is an added advantage.

Tenure of Appointment

The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, 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.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified women are strongly
encouraged to apply.

Remuneration

Indicative basic salary of US$ 42,879 (P4 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment 44% of basic salary (US$18,866.76), Housing allowance of US$ $20,223.00, education allowance (100% of tuition and other education related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10, 000.00 per child per annum), etc. for internationally recruited staff.

How to Apply:

Submit your resume, application letter, and relevant documentation to:

• The Administration & Human Resource Office
• African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

Your Documents MUST be Submitted to:

• https://recruitment.afenet.net
  AND a copy to:
• sec@afenet.net – REF: AFE\RPL\29012025 (MUST Appear in Email Title for the position of Regional Programme Lead SLL).

*ONLY successful candidates shall be contacted for an interview.

Please note that all applications should be sent online by close of business 5:30 pm (EAT), Tuesday February 11, 2025.

Note: More details about this position can be obtained from our website: www.afenet.net.