Senior Technical Officer - Emergency Response Technical Support (AfCDC) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Technical Officer - Emergency Response Technical Support (AfCDC)

Requisition ID: 2447
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Job Grade: P3 STEP 5
Contract Type:  Fixed Term
Division: Emergency, Preparedness & Response
Reports to: Head of Division EPR
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC

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. 
• The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 31, 2017.
• The 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 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 programs.
• In seeking to achieve this objective and deliver on the mandate of the Africa CDC, the African Union intends to strengthen its capacity by the reinforcement of its organizational structure and expertise.
• The Africa CDC therefore seeks to recruit a national and citizen of any Member State of the African Union to the position of Senior Technical Officer Emergency Response Technical Support within the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division.

Main Functions

• Under the supervision and guidance of the head of EPR Division, the Senior Technical Officer for Emergency Response Technical Support will assume a leadership role in providing technical expertise and support in emergency response operations.
• The officer will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing technical assistance to emergency response teams, ensuring the implementation of best practices, and contributing to the overall success of emergency response efforts. 

Specific Responsibilities
The Senior Technical Officer for Emergency Response Technical Support shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Providing technical advice and support to emergency response teams in Africa during public health events, focusing on areas such as disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response, infection prevention and control, laboratory services, and risk communication.
• Coordinating the grading of public health events in Africa, utilizing standardized criteria and methodologies, and preparing reports to share with relevant stakeholders for informed decision-making.
• Collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including national health authorities, international organizations, NGOs, and other partners, to ensure effective coordination, information sharing, and alignment of technical strategies in response to public health events.
• Coordinating the development, implementation, and monitoring of emergency response plans specific to public health events, including technical aspects such as rapid response protocols, case management guidelines, and laboratory testing algorithms.
• Conducting technical assessments, analysis, and evaluations to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in public health emergency response in Africa.
• Keeping abreast of new technologies, best practices, and innovations in public health emergency response, and recommending their integration where applicable.
• Participating in capacity building initiatives, including providing technical training and mentoring to field staff involved in public health emergency response to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Supporting the development of technical guidelines, protocols, and standard operating procedures for public health emergency response in Africa.
• The Senior Technical Officer will also work to build partnerships with other organizations to support emergency response activities.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
The Minimum academic requirements are:

• Master’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Health Systems Management, or a related health field from an accredited academic institution with at least seven (7) years for a master's including three (3) years at expert level in the coordination and planning of support of public health emergency response, preferably in the fields of outbreak response, infectious disease prevention and control, health security or health systems strengthening.
• Bachelor’s Degree in similar fields of study degree or ten (10) years of relevant work experience including three (3) years at expert level in the coordination and planning of support of public health emergency response, preferably in the fields of outbreak response, infectious disease prevention and control, health security or health systems strengthening.
• A PhD in Public Health or a related field will be an added advantage.

Essential: 

• Extensive and demonstrable experience in providing technical support in emergency response operations, preferably as coordinator or senior advisory role within a humanitarian context.
• Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in supporting and/or managing complex emergencies with special emphasis on technical assistance.

Desirable: 

• Experience working with an international organization is an asset.
• Previous experience working in Africa reflects an in-depth knowledge of public health issues and public health workforce in general.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of the operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centers is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and with other partners of Africa CDC.
• Clear understanding of the health systems on the Continent and fair knowledge of operations of the Ministries of Health in Member States.
• Knowledge and experience in supporting public health response for public health emergencies and programs under government ministries and external donors. 
• Understanding of the African Union’s and Africa CDC way of working and managing associated. 
• Strong analytical capacities.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and personal qualities of integrity and credibility.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to details.

Required Skills

• 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 African Union.
• 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 

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship
• Fosters Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing..
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

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.

Language:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

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 Closing Date
11th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click Here to Download CV Template (MS Word)

Note

• 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 (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) 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.