Senior Technical Officer H.I.V, TB, Viral and Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Deadline: 22 November 2024

Job Description

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. Officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency. Africa CDC envisions a safer, healthier, integrated, and stronger Africa, where the Member States can effectively respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats. The agency’s mission is to strengthen the capabilities of Africa’s public health institutions and systems to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide disease control and prevention, preparedness and response, surveillance, laboratory, and research programs. To achieve its mission, the Africa CDC works in all geographic regions of the African continent and has instituted technical divisions to focus on five priority areas, namely Surveillance and disease intelligence, Preparedness and response, Laboratory systems and networks, Disease Control and Prevention, and Public Health Institutes and research.

The Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want is the African Union’s (AU) strategy for the development of the continent and the Africa Health Strategy 2016-2030 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being for all in Africa in the context of “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want” and the Sustainable Development Goals. One of its objectives is to reduce morbidity and end preventable mortality from communicable and non-communicable diseases and other health conditions in Africa by implementing several strategic priorities including “Ending AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases”.

To ensure successful implementation of the Agenda 2063; Africa CDC intends to recruit one Senior Technical Officer H.I.V, TB, Viral and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) who will join the team and be fully dedicated to coordinating, planning and implementing activities in prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs that are continental priorities.

1. Post:

Job Title: Senior Technical Officer H.I.V, TB, Viral and Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STIs).
Grade: AU/P3/5 equivalency
Number of posts: 1 (one)
Department: Africa CDC Headquarters
Division: Infectious Diseases
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Department: Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC)

Job purpose:

Under the supervision of the Head of Division, Disease Control and Prevention, the Senior
technical Officer – HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs will be responsible for coordinating several technical and programme management and implementation activities in the area of prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs that are of continental priorities.

Technical and programmatic management and implementation activities may include workforce capacity development, health promotion, epidemiology assessments, monitoring and surveillance, public health research, and strengthening of health information systems, laboratory networks, and other health systems strengthening activities, all in alignment with Africa CDC’s vision and strategic plan.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior technical Officer for HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Provide oversight in the technical support on the implementation, coordination,
supervision, monitoring and evaluation of continental initiatives such as the Africa CDC
Continental Programme on viral hepatitis prevention and control.
• Lead efforts and support MS in the implementation of the triple elimination (HIV/AIDS,
Hepatitis and Syphilis) as well as integration approaches with other health programmes
and overall health system, especially in the areas of disease surveillance, integrated peoplecentred care delivery, drug management and regulatory policies, health care financing.
• Coordinate, collaborate and technically support surveillance, diagnostic and laboratory
capacity-strengthening and operational research efforts to accelerate control and
prevention of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs.
• Act as focal person in Africa CDC to manage HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs related
work through coordination with RCC, Member States NPHIs, donors and health partners
in these areas.
• Provide technical support for the development of resource mobilization strategy with
stakeholders’ coordination.
• Manage and supervise employees under his/her supervision with regard to organization
and performance evaluation.
• Liaise with the AU MS to facilitate and support development/ implementation of the
national HIV/AIDs, TB and STI programmes and provide technical support in the
development of integrated health system networks through the adaptation of existing tools and the systematic development of capacities and competencies at the community levels.
• Provide technical support to improve health information system related to HIV, TB, Viral
Hepatitis, and STIs.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships and relationship with partners interested in
strengthening the prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs.
• Facilitate and strengthen RCC and NPHI capacities in health promotion for the prevention and control of diseases of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs.
• Ensure the monitoring and reporting of outputs, outcomes, lessons learned, and challenges for activities of the Division of Disease Control and Prevention.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Education Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, infectious diseases or a related discipline from an
accredited academic institution with at least seven (7) years of continuous or combined
experience in the field of endemic diseases, in particular HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and
STIs, with emphasis on its prevention and control, research, epidemiology and
surveillance, or other related public health programme activities.
• Candidates must also have documented at least two years’ experience working in the
African health sector.
• A Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree is an advantage.

• University bachelor’s degree in public health, infectious diseases or a related discipline
from an accredited academic institution and must have at least ten (10) years of continuous or combined experience in the field of endemic diseases, in particular HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs, with emphasis on its prevention and control, research, epidemiology and surveillance, or other related public health programme activities. Candidates must also have documented at least six years’ experience working in the African health sector.
• Previous experience working in disease prevention and control programmes in Africa that reflects an in-depth knowledge of African public health issues in general, and in particular,
HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs is an asset.
• Experience working in an international organization for at least 3 years.
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of the operations of the Africa CDC, Regional
Coordination Centres, and National Public Health Institutes are an asset.
• Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology, and techniques in public health.
• Clear understanding of the health systems on the Continent and fair knowledge of
operations of the Ministries of Health in Member States.

Required skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrable experience in developing plans and strategies with special emphasis on
infectious diseases.
• Strong understanding of the epidemiology burden, and control strategies for HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs in Africa.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent skills and abilities applied to translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Accountability awareness and compliance
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating Clearly

Functional Skills

• Technical expertise and experience in supporting or managing public health programmes.
• Demonstrable skills to conceptualize, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate resource
management support requirements.
• Demonstrable analytical skills as needed to respond to a myriad programme management support issues.
• Knowledge of interpersonal relationship practices and skills to meet and deal with persons of diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills and a proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure.
• High level of autonomy at work, capable of working with minimal supervision, yet with
profound team spirit.
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French
Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish) is required. Knowledge of one or several other working
languages would be an added advantage.

Personal Abilities

• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven ability to produce precise and intelligible reports and office briefs in line with the
requirements of the Africa CDC.

Able to operate in a multicultural environment.

• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit.
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible.
• Pro-active and solutions oriented.
• Knowledge of results-based management.

Language requirement:

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

Tenure of appointment:

The appointment will be made on a fixed term, of twelve (12) months.

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Remuneration:

Indicative basic salary of US$ 96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) per annum plus related entitlements for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the Africa CDC.

How to apply

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

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

https://recruitment.afenet.net
a copy on Email to:
sec@afenet.net – REF: AFE\STOHTS\08112024 (MUST Appear in Email Title for the position of Senior Technical Officer H.I.V, TB, Viral & Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs)).

*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)
Friday November 22, 2024

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