Senior Technical Officer – Mortality Surveillance (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: Senior Technical Officer – Mortality Surveillance
Number of posts: 1 (one)
Directorate: Centre for Public Health Emergency
Division: Surveillance and Disease Intelligence
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job purpose

• Design and implement a strategy for improving the representativeness and quality of
national mortality data through country-led mortality surveillance programs.
• Interface with country leaders and collaborate with key stakeholders in Member States e.g. MOHs, NPHIs, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Authorities and other entities to advocate for improved mortality surveillance
• Facilitate dialogue amongst all country stakeholders to ensure alignment and integration of mortality surveillance programs
• Engage with and secure new technical assistance and funding partners to support mortality surveillance activities by Africa CDC and Member States and oversee the successful implementation of mortality surveillance activities across Africa in line with the Africa CDC Continental Framework.

Major duties and Responsibilities

The SeniorTechnical Officer shall:

• Drive the implementation of Africa CDC’s Continental Framework for mortality
surveillance in line with the Organisation’s strategic plan and other existing continental and global frameworks.
• Coordinate the implementation of the continental Framework for mortality surveillance in collaboration with NPHIs, Regional Economic Communities and Member States
• Collaborate with other AU agencies, regional and international partners on the
development and implementation of guidance, standards, policies and programs, to support mortality data improvement across Africa
• Support the design and maintenance of standards for data reporting formatting and quality control to enable integration of mortality data into a continental repository
• Design and maintain a repository for continent-wide mortality data
• Identify potential funding partners, advocate for mortality surveillance funding, and
connect funders to country leaders interested in improving mortality surveillance
• Assist Member States with development of grant proposals for mortality surveillance funds
• Ensure a working environment that promotes staff development and professional
progression
• Represent the programme and share its vision and position at continental and global
meetings and conferences.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in public health, Population Health, Epidemiology, Health Services
Research, or a related field with 7 years of professional experience with 3 years at a
supervisory level.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health,
Population Health, Health Services Research, or a related field with 10 years of relevant
experience in public health practice, with emphasis on infectious disease epidemiology,
monitoring, and surveillance of which 7 years at a supervisory level.
• Proven experience in leading and managing complex projects across multiple countries and sectors.
• Strong partnership building and collaboration skills with various stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience in working with the African Union or its organs, United Nations counterparts or development partners at continental level.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centres.

Required Skills and Competencies

A. Functional Skills

• 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.

B. Personal Abilities

• Ability to deliver under tight deadlines and work well under pressure.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to operate in a multicultural environment.
• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team spirit.
• Adaptive, patient, resilient and flexible.
• Proactive and solution oriented.

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.

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$ 37,453 (P3 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment of 46% of basic salary (US$ 17,228.38), Housing allowance of US$ $ 22,932.00, 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\STOMS\29012025 (MUST Appear in Email Title for the position of Senior Technical Officer – Mortality Surveillance).

*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.