Principal Programme Officer (PPO), Public Health at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Principal Programme Officer (PPO), Public Health

Job Code: 20003471
Location: Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Institution: West African Health Organization (WAHO)
Grade: P5
Status: Permanent
Directorate: Public Health and Research
Division: Public health
Line Supervisor: Director, Public Health, and Research (D-DPHR) - Pharmaceuticals
Supervising: Region-wide Laboratories Services, Non-Epidemic Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Director of Public Health and Research, the incumbent shall coordinate regional public health programmes particularly pharmaceuticals, Region-Wide Laboratories Services, Non-Communicable Diseases & Neglected Tropical Diseases, promote new treatments and healthcare policies.

Role and Responsibilities

• Advocate for the visibility of public health issues, build constituencies and identify resources, set priorities among health needs,
• Develop plans and policies to address priority health needs and build inter- sectoral action to support health objectives.
• Investigate the occurrence of adverse health effects of medicines and health hazards or risks,
• Strengthen surveillance, prevention, control and reporting mechanisms for non- communicable and neglected tropical diseases.
• Analyze the determinants of identified health
• Oversee the development and implementation of the ECOWAS pharmaceutical
• Monitor the proper functioning of laboratories and implementation of quality assurance mechanisms.
• Assemble evidence for effective program interventions and services for improving population health and well-being and translating evidence into policy and programmatic action.
• Provide regional leadership on health interventions under public
• Evaluate programs and provide quality
• Ensure the supervision of the Team in the
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• A Medical Doctor with a Master’s Degree in Medicine, or Public Health, or Health Economics or Health Sciences, or a relevant qualification in a similar discipline, from a recognized university.
• Ten (10) years of professional experience in health, management, and implementation of complex public health programs of which 5 years in a supervisory
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary healthcare
• Knowledge of intra-regional and international public health
• Knowledge of medicines, their mechanisms of action and challenges related to their supply and actual availability in ECOWAS countries and at regional
• Knowledge of issues related to the development and proper functioning of
• Knowledge of the epidemiological situation of non-communicable diseases and neglected tropical diseases.
• Knowledge of the challenges related to the elimination of neglected tropical
• Knowledge of adequate control of non-communicable
• Be acquainted with the principles and practice of public health management in the ECOWAS
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of public health and population health, with a particular emphasis on infectious disease outbreaks.
• Knowledge and proven experience in the organization of health systems and in research for health in West Africa and working with donor.

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

ECOWAS Key Competencies:

• Ability to lead in assigned programmes and projects by providing the necessary managerial and operational expertise required for the fulfillment of the organization’s
• Ability to lead by example and organize teamwork to encourage cooperation to achieve targeted results, champion and build momentum for change and to bring about employee engagement; develops and implements internal controls for pilot program to manage potential barriers to implementation.
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate
• Excellent self-management skills, demonstrating ethics and integrity, confidentiality and displaying due regards for internal controls of rules, delegations, and transparency.
• Ability to bring together complementary skills/expertise, assess individual contributions and recognize/address accomplishments and shortcomings in a manner that brings continued success to the organization.
• Knowledge of program management at the level usually acquired from a certification in program management.
• Ability to research benchmarks and trends to bring about the best recommendations for the development and improvement of programs/projects that will best serve the community/organization.
• Well-developed networking and interpersonal skills to seek feedback, information, and data from a network of professionals from multiple countries/sectors/organizations and to identify and prioritize the most critical community
• Ability to manage and coordinate client management initiatives and make
• Ability to develop and implement best practices in client
• Ability to develop and implement stakeholder management plans, programs, and initiatives to obtain buy-in on new initiatives, to better understand dissenting views, to obtain resources and to increase perceptions of
• Ability to be diplomatic, tactful, and respectful of other people from varied backgrounds, understanding diverse cultural views especially within West Africa with the ability to convert diversity into opportunities to improve program/operational
• Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices.
• Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences /positions, gender differences, and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and differences.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas
• Ability to serve the interest of culturally diverse multinational teams/organizations/communities and persons with disability without prejudice and
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, associated dynamics and expectations as required to collaborate, participate, contribute, and lead
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social situation and trends in member states, as pertains to own scope of work.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS best practices, program management approaches and research techniques to lead and/or contribute to the development or assessment of programs, projects, or initiatives.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS rules and procedures to appropriately interpret and apply directive text, provide technical advice, coach others, and assess
• Ability to analyze a situation by using indicators to assess the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success, in making decisions.
• Ability to pull together information from different sources to identify the cause of problems, consequences of alternative causes of action, potential, obstacles, and ways to avoid the problem in the future.
• Ability to break down very complex situations/information into simple terms to explain recommendations and conclusions aimed at solving problems or improving operations/programs/projects.
• Ability to develop new insights into situations, apply innovative solutions to problems, and design new methods of addressing issues or disconnects where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or no longer
• Ability to communicate with impact, clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner conveying credibility & confidence when making presentations, setting expectations, and explaining complex issues.
• Ability to listen intently and correctly interpret messages from others and respond
• Accomplished technical writing and editing
• Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies.
• Ability to give constructive feedback, provide recognition, address shortcomings, and motivate direct reports to work at peak
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Organizational and project/program management skills with significant experience identifying timelines, targets, costs and resources necessary to deliver on operational/program/project outputs in line with result-based management approach.
• Ability to set effective goals and targets for self, others, and the work unit and adjusting work or project priorities in response to changing circumstances.
• Ability to use participatory approach in project planning and identify gaps affecting the achievement of program/project expectations and to design and implement intervention plans required to build the desired task.
• Ability to implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation practices and to set in place regular reporting schedules relevant to key outputs.
• Ability to plan, organize, control resources, and to comply with policies, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Salary
UA 53,809.91 / USD 84,901.27 Annually.

Application Closing Date
6th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their correctly filled Job Application Form, CV and Motivation Letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note

• Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.
• Potential candidates must be under 50 years of age.
• Female applications are encouraged.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Applications initially submitted with only the CV remain acceptable.