Technical Officer Community Health Service Delivery (Saving Lives and Livelihoods)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

Deadline:  February 11, 2025

Job Description

Department: Africa CDC Headquarters
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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: Technical Officer Community Health Service Delivery
Number of posts: 1 (one)
Division: Community Health Systems
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job purpose:

Under the supervision of the Head of Division of Community Health System, the Technical Officer

– Community Health Service Delivery will provide programmatic and technical support to the office of the Head of Division, for implementation of the continental coordination mechanism and the upcoming strategy for community health on the continent towards institutionalized, integrated and sustainable community health programs in Africa

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The Technical Officer Community Health Service Delivery will be responsible for the following:

• Support the office of the Head of Division to coordinate the development of programmes, validation and implementation of the Africa CDC Community Health systems strategy and ensure linkages to existing cross-cutting programs and units at Africa CDC as well as in Member States.
• Support the office of the Director to develop resource mobilization activities including
coordination with key partners and stakeholders. This will include ensuring budget utilization and reporting.

• Support the office of the Head of Division to design and implement advocacy activities
within for community health systems strengthening across the continent.
• Support the office of the Head of Division to develop community policy and guidance
documents for Community Health Workers advocacy activities.
• Support the office of the Head of Division to implement the continental coordination
mechanism for community Health on the continent towards institutionalized, integrated
and sustainable community health programs in Africa.
• Facilitate programmatic and administrative processes, as part of the Head of Divisions
office to support the Center for Primary Health Care capacity building on cross cutting
programs challenges.
• Work with other staff within the Division to support the implementation of Africa CDC
initiatives/partnership to ensure integration into wider Africa CDC administrative and
programmatic processes.
• In collaboration with internal divisions and RCCs, provide programmatic and
administrative support to conduct regional workshops & webinars for cross country
learning, experience and best practices sharing on the role of CHWs in Pandemic
Preparedness and Response/ CHWs sustainability.
• Support and organize regional Community Health Worker advocacy workshops
forpolitical prioritization and sustainability
Qualifications and Experience
• Master’s degree in Planning and Management, Health Services research, Health science,
Development studies or related field with at least two (2) years of professional experience.

Or

• Bachelor’s degree in planning and management, health- services research, health science, development studies or related field with at least five (5) years of experience

Desirable

• Experience in working with the African Union or its organs, United Nations counterparts
or development partners at continental level.
• Extensive working knowledge of Africa CDC’s administrative and programmatic
procedures related to the implementation of public health programs and service delivery.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC,
Regional Collaborating Centres.
• Programmatic skills and experience in coordinating and support for development and
implementation of strategic plans and programmes within Africa CDC.

A good working knowledge of Africa CDC Heads of Department group working processes,
and experience in supporting Africa CDC projects and programs under government
ministries and external donors is required.

• Familiarity with administrative and management practice and processes typically at Africa
CDC, particularly in the context of implementation of departmental mandates, is required.
• Knowledge of oral communication techniques and skill in presentation delivery, program
consultation and credible verbal response to inquiries is required.
• Resourceful and skilled at providing programme support for collection, analyzing and
using data to recommend, make and communicate decisions of a technical nature to both
scientific and lay audiences is required.
• Skills in translating technical information into presentations, briefings and reports and
funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences are desirable.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC,
Regional Coordinating Centers, National Public Health Institutes will be an added
advantage is desirable.
• Understanding of the African Union way of working and managing associated relationships with Member State entities and partners is desirable.

Competencies

• Human behaviour theories and applications in complex settings including diverse cultures and social conditions.
• Expertise in the application of gender and intersectionality to public health activities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and management abilities.

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$ 31,073 (P2 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment of 46% of basic salary (US$ 14,293.58), 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 copy to:
• sec@afenet.net – REF: AFE\TOCHSD\29012025 (MUST Appear in Email Title for the position of Technical Officer Community Health Service)

*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.