Senior Technical Officer Malaria and other vector-borne disease (AfCDC)

Organization Information

Reports to: Head of Division Infectious Diseases
Directorate/Department: Africa CDC
Division: Division of infectious Diseases
Number of Direct Reports: 0
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P3
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

• 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, water-borne diseases and other emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases”.

Main Functions

Under the supervision of the Head of Division of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Disease Control, Prevention and Health Promotion, Africa CDC. The Senior technical officer – Malaria and other Vector borne diseases will be responsible for supporting several technical and programme management and implementation activities in the area of prevention and control of Malaria and other Vector borne diseases 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.

Specific Responsibilities

The Senior technical officer for Malaria and other Vector borne diseases 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 on prevention and control of Malaria and other Vector borne diseases.
•    Lead efforts and facilitate to harmonize and integrate Malaria and other Vector borne diseases  elimination and control efforts across multiple diseases with other health programmes (e.g. non-communicable diseases, immunization, maternal and child health, primary health care, food safety), non-health sectors (e.g. WASH, education, animal health) and overall health system, especially in the areas of disease surveillance, integrated people-centred care delivery, drug management and regulatory policies, health care financing.
•    Coordinate, collaborate and technically support integrated vector control programmes, surveillance, diagnostic and laboratory capacity-strengthening and operational research efforts to accelerate control and elimination of Malaria and other Vector borne diseases.
•    Act as focal person in Africa CDC to manage Malaria and other Vector borne diseases related work through coordination with RCC, Member States NPHIs, donors and health partners in these areas;
•    Liaise with the AU MS to facilitate and support development/ implementation of the national Malaria and other Vector borne diseases 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 Malaria and other Vector borne diseases
•    Build and maintain strong partnerships and relationship with partners interested in strengthening the prevention and control of Malaria and other Vector borne diseases
•    Facilitate and strengthen RCC and NPHI capacities in health promotion for the prevention and control of diseases of Malaria and other Vector borne diseases
•    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.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

•    A master’s degree or higher in health sciences or public health 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 Malaria and other Vector borne diseases 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.

Or

•    Bachelor in health sciences, public health 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 Malaria and other Vector borne diseases, 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.

Required Skills

●    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.
●    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, Malaria and other Vector borne diseases is an asset.
●    Record of high-quality, peer-reviewed and/or outcomes research publications in prevention and control of endemic diseases, in particular, Malaria and other Vector borne diseases  and integrated vector control schemes is desirable.
●    Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centres National Public Health Institutes is an asset.
●    Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is a valuable asset.
●    Experience working with an international organization is a valuable

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies

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 (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

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

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$  96,921.34  (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted no later than February 10, 2025, 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 African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

-Candidates from less 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, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.