Senior Market Shaping Officer (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 Market Shaping Officer (AfCDC)

Req Id: 2683
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Local Manufacturing Coordinator
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Division: Local Manufaturing
Number of Direct Reports: 1
Number of Indirect Reports: 1
Job Grade: P3 Step 5
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

• Africa CDC plays a lead role in developing and supporting regional and local manufacturing across the continent as part of its mandate and function. Its mandate on local manufacturing includes, among others, technology transfer, access to raw materials, regulatory strengthening, financing, market shaping and pool procurement.
• The Africa CDC’s Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) Framework for Action sets an ambitious target of producing 60% of vaccines used on the continent. In May 2023, the WHA side-event recommended the expansion of the PAVM scope to include therapeutics and diagnostics. 
• Against this background, Africa CDC is seeking the service of a Senior Market Shaping Officer with proven experience in market design and intelligence for Health Product Technologies across various markets in the continent. 

Main Functions

• Provide advisory and technical support to Africa CDC to increase the market share of African local manufacturers of health products. 
• Support the Market Shaping Lead to conduct high-quality research and analysis for new and ongoing projects to support efforts towards identifying holistic barriers in markets, generating evidence, and designing creative solutions to address identified barriers related to access prioritized Health Products Technologies in the continent.

Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and analysis to identify market barriers for prioritized Health Product Technologies. 
• Support design of feasible solutions via hypothesis-driven approach for implementation at continental, regional and national level market shaping interventions 
• Conduct market intelligence and demand forecasting to identify trends and inform procurement decisions.
• Develop and implement strategies to shape markets and support implementation of the African pooled procurement mechanisms for health product in Africa.
• Work closely with member states and regional bodies as well as international organizations to coordinate market shaping activities and procurement strategies.
• Advocate for policy and regulatory instruments changes that support the implementation of the APPM and other market shaping initiatives.
• Support in the development of reports that synthesize information effectively and communicate key findings and policy recommendations to internal and external audiences,
• Execute project workplans and activities in a high-quality and timely manner,
• Engage as appropriate with a wide range of domestic and international stakeholders,
• Work with consultants to carry out or update existing landscape analysis to inform key policy interventions.
• Assist in the development of knowledge management and communication strategies to promote the dissemination and uptake of local manufacturing work among key stakeholders.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master's Degree in a relevant field such as Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, Public Health, Economics, Business Management or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of experience in Health Product Technologies market landscape in Africa
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, Public Health, Economics, Business Management or a related field with a minimum of 10 years of experience in Health Product Technologies market landscape in Africa.
• Possession of an in-depth understanding of the challenges hindering market development of the vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics manufacturing industry as well as measures that could catalyze industry growth in Africa.
• Public, non-profit, or private sector experience in health commodity supply, quantification, procurement, distribution, financing, or regulation. 
• Experience working (or supporting work) in LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Countries) preferred. 
• Genuinely passionate about markets-based approaches to drive sustainable impact.
• Demonstrated track record of analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and independently developing analytical products.

Required Skills:

• Ability to initiate and identify key strategic opportunities and risks.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills 
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Capacity to work under pressure and multi-tasking within tight time constraints.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and relate well with a broad array of individuals both within and outside of the AU.
• Problem solving aptitudes with an excellent analytical, solution orientation and risk management with ability to draw on experiences for providing evidence-based decision making.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build good working relationships and to work flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues of different divisions, departments and institutions to achieve organizational goals.  
• Excellent diplomatic, representational, interpersonal and communication skills, including experience with successfully interacting with stakeholders and decision makers in technical and other professional settings.
• Proficiency in any of AU official working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, or Spanish).
• Strong organizational and program management skills. 
• Demonstrated project planning and management skills for organizing, planning and executing projects from conception through implementation.
• Excellent technical writing skills, in addition to narrative and financial reporting skills
• Skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings and reports 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, PowerPoint and Word
• Competence in the use of standard software such as Microsoft Office Application, data analysis tools, and others.

Leadership Competencies:

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

Core Competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Drive for Results
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• 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:

• Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Languages:

• 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.

Application Closing Date
25th April, 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, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees 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, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.