Principal Technical Officer, Public Health Emergency and IHR Core Capacity Development 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: Principal Technical Officer, Public Health Emergency and IHR Core Capacity Development

Requisition ID: 2607
Location: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Reports to:  Head of Division Emergency Preparedness 
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Division: Emergency Preparedness 
Job Grade:P4
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 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. 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 Principal Technical Officer for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and International Health Regulations (IHR) Core capacity development.

Main Function

• Under the supervision and guidance of the head of Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, the Principal Technical Officer for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and IHR Core Capacity Development will be responsible for leading the program for the health emergency preparedness and providing technical guidance in health emergency preparedness strategies, guidelines, and policy development and implementation in AU Member States, ensuring system improvement for overall decision making by higher management around Public Health Emergency preparedness, leading the IHR core capacity assessment in AU MS, development of IHR score card dashboard through conducting joint external evaluation, coordination of Africa CDC’s contribution, in collaboration with different centers and Division in Africa CDC, in addressing gaps identified in MS.
• Additionally, the technical officer also will lead and support continental initiatives of pandemic preparedness and response and engage in various preparedness activities to support in hazard mapping, risk assessment and risk ranking among various regions and support the development of hazard atlas for Africa CDC and Continental contingency plans for identified hazards.
• Finally, it is pertinent that these activity findings be included in action plan for health security, as such the technical officer lead the planning and support member states develop and implement their national action plan for health security. 

Specific Responsibilities

• The Principal Technical Officer for PHE Preparedness and IHR Core capacity development, shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:
• Provide guidance on the programmatic implementation of the Division activities.
• Lead the IHR core capacity assessment in collaboration with different centers and Division as well as external partners.
• Leads continental initiatives of pandemic preparedness and response and engages in various preparedness activities including simulation exercises programs, Reviews, JEEs.
• Developing a culture among the key stakeholders in evidence-based decision making and systems thinking.
• Lead the development Africa CDC pandemic prevention, and preparedness strategies
• Lead the development of Africa CDC multi hazard multisectoral contingency plans.
• Lead the development of the risk ranking and prioritization for various hazards and risks which member states would face.
• Support member states in improving their preparedness for public health emergencies and enhance capabilities by providing guidance on strategic planning, and resource allocation.
• Lead the assessment among member states conducted their preparedness national action plan for health security and support its implementation.
• Focus on developing capacity and sustainable health system and resilience across member states to prepare for the next pandemic.
• Prepare and lead report development for the management stating trends, patterns, and predictions for proactive emergency preparedness using relevant data
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor
• professional experience with demonstrated involvement in the successful development and management of emergency preparedness and response programs.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in public health or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience with demonstrated involvement in the successful development and management of emergency preparedness and response programs,
• Bachelor’s Degree in the above fields with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience in related fields.

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.

Core Competencies:

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

Core Competencies:

• Building Partnership
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing:
• Drive for result
• 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 Africa CDC 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$ 110,951.49  (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 92,867.97 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
21st March, 2025, 11h59 p.m. EAT.

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

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, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.