Recruiting Unit: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Application deadline: Wednesday August 25, 2021

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.

Officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency. Africa CDC 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.

Over the last 1 year and 6 months, Africa CDC has played a leadership role in coordinating the response to the COVID-19 outbreak on the continent. Their efforts have been critical to training member states in laboratory diagnostics, surveillance, infection control, clinical management and risk communications and deploying rapid responders. They have issued more than 20 public health guidance on a variety of critical topics, from testing strategy to physical distancing approaches.

Lastly, they have stood up several cross-cutting initiatives help countries with their response efforts including the African Coronavirus Taskforce (AFTCOR), the Partnership for Accelerating Testing (PACT), and the African Medical Supplies Platform.

Job Title: Strategy and Research Officer

Number of posts: 1 (one)

Supervisor: Director-Africa CDC

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Purpose

The Strategy and Research Officer will work directly with the leadership team to advance strategic priorities, as the organization helps to support the African continent’s response to COVID-19. As a member of the Office of the Director, the Strategy and Research Officer will get first-hand experience in what it takes to run an effective response effort in the midst of a global pandemic. He/she will grow his/her strategy and operational skills by contributing to key strategic decisions and helping to stand up new projects and partnerships and manage existing ones.

The Strategy and Research Officer will report to and work day-to-day with Africa CDC leadership team, including the Director, deputy director, heads of department, incident management lead, and external stakeholders, as needed across various responsibilities and projects.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The Strategy and Research Officer shall:

• Support ACDC Director and other members of the leadership team in conducting research and drafting materials for important internal and external engagements (e.g., drafting presentations, talking points, strategy memos, agendas)
• Develop insights for key strategic and operational decisions and new projects and initiatives (e.g., data analysis, analysing landscape, assessing partnership proposals, engaging with technical experts)
• Support ACDC teams to stand up new initiatives or improve the effectiveness of existing initiatives by providing relevant inputs and strategic thinking
• Help to build Africa CDC incidence management team capacity in data analysis, especially in areas of disease surveillance
• Provide project manager support for the incidence management systems and other priority cross-functional initiatives during COVID-19 and other outbreak responses

Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree (e.g., BA, BS) in a relevant discipline such as, but not limited to, public health, infectious diseases, basic health science (e.g., biology, chemistry, engineering), epidemiology or international development and 5 years relevant work experience;

Or

• Master’s Degree in public health or other relevant discipline such as, but not limited to, public health, infectious diseases, basic health science (e.g., biology, chemistry, engineering), epidemiology or international development and 2 years relevant work experience

Required Experience

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience at a top-tier management consulting firm
• Experience working on the African continent

Skills and competencies required

A. Functional Skills

• Excellent strategic and analytical thinking, able to bring your own perspective to the table to figure out how to solve new challenges
• Top tier research skills, and the ability to translate large amounts of information into clear and concise communications, presentations, briefings and reports
• Excellent strategic and technical writing skills
• Ability to manage and advance many projects simultaneously
• Skills in translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences;
• Resourceful and skilled at collecting, analysing and using data to recommend, make and communicate strategic decisions to both technical and lay audiences;
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, can flexibly and creatively change course when presented with new circumstances or information

B. Personal Abilities

• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• 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
• Humble and excited to learn while doing

Language Requirement:

Applicants must be proficient in at least two of the African Union working languages (English, French, Arabic or Portuguese). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration

Competitive based on qualification and experience.

How to apply: Submit your resume, application letter, and relevant documentation to:

• The Administration & Human Resource Office
• African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)
• https://recruitment.afenet.net and a copy on Email: sec@afenet.net

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) Wednesday August 25, 2021

Job Email id: sec(at)afenet.net