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One Health Program Officer at African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

  • Full Time
  • Malawi
  • Applications have closed
  • Salary: 000

African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

Job Opportunities
Date: Friday August 26, 2022
Department: Africa CDC
Application deadline: Friday September 9, 2022

Background:

The African Union (AU), 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 new partnerships worldwide. AU headquarters are located in Addis Ababa, capital city
of Ethiopia.

The Africa Centres 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 programmes. In October 2017, Africa CDC officially launched its
Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Control, 2018 – 2023 and in 2020, the Africa
Union Framework on AMR Control 2020-2025. These Frameworks describe strategies and tactics
for Africa CDC to improve surveillance, delay emergence, limit transmission, and mitigate harm
of AMR pathogens. One of the key strategies for limiting transmission is to improve infection
prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare facilities.

Hence, Africa CDC and AFENET therefore invite applicants who are citizens of Member States
to apply for the position of One Health Program Officer.

Post: One Health Program Officer
Grade: AU P2/1
Number of positions: 01 (One)
Recruiting Unit: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Supervisor: Head of Disease Surveillance and Intelligence
Duty Station: Headquarters, Addis Ababa

Background:

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a specialized technical
institution of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Africa Union
Member States (AU MS) and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect,
prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. Africa CDC supports AU
MS in providing coordinated and integrated solutions to the inadequacies in their public health
infrastructure, human resource capacity, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and
preparedness and response to health emergencies and disasters.
Africa CDC realizes that a One Health approach is critical for the accelerated implementation of
the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) to safeguard the socioeconomic and political
integration of the continent and to achieve the AU Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
The program officer reports to the Head of Disease Surveillance and Intelligence and provides a
variety of technical support services to the OHP and Africa Union Taskforce on One Health.
The Commission of the African Union through AFENET invites applicants who are nationals and
citizens of Member States for a position of One Health Programme Officer (OHP Officer) to
support Africa CDC’s contribution to the development and implementation of the Africa Union
One Health Strategy (AU OH Strategy).

Position Summary

The OHP Officer will be responsible to support OHP activities, specifically the implementation of
Africa CDC’s Framework for One Health Practice in National Public Health Institutes (OH
Framework) and contributing to the collaborative development and implementation of the AU OH
Strategy with AU Organs like the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AUIBAR) and the Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC).

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Work collaboratively across all Africa CDC technical divisions through the designated focal points, with AU Organs, AU MS, and partners to ensure successful implementation of the OHP’s priority activities including supporting OH Framework implementation
Develop the AU OH Strategy for zoonotic diseases;
Represent Africa CDC at the AU OH Strategy Development Task Force (AU OH Task Force) meetings;
Coordinate AU OH Task force meetings, document and distribute notes and ensure flow of information among the AU Organ focal points identified to jointly develop the strategy;
Attend routine OHP meetings and provide regular updates regarding to the OHP Technical Working Group (TWG) on the progress made in the development of the AU OH Strategy;
Collaborate with OHP staff to identify key activities for the AU at the human-nimalenvironment interface;
Support the process of developing, implementing, managing, evaluating, and reporting of OHP related activities;
Provide technical and scientific support to the OHP and AU OH Task Force in its effort to promote, operationalize and institutionalize One Health approaches across the continent, including topics covering biosecurity and biosafety, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, climate change, and zoonotic disease;
Develop One Health related documents that include implementation reports, publications, and grant or other funding applications or proposals;
Provide regular updates to partners on progress made on the AU OH Strategy development and other relevant OHP updates;
Write and submit reports in an accurate and timely manner;
Perform any other relevant functions as assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualification

Education:

A minimum of Master’s university degree in public health, veterinary public health, program management or other fields related to the scope of work for this position.
A Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of practical experience in One Health or a related
field is also acceptable.

Work Experience:

Previous experience in supporting One Health, public health, Veterinary and environment
public health or other public sector projects and programmes under government ministries
and external donor.
Previous experience working in Africa
Language: Min. fluent written and spoken proficiency in English. Knowledge of another
AU language will be an asset. Applicants fluent in both English and French are preferred.

Required Skills and Competencies

a. Functional Skills

Outstanding research skills including the ability to analyze, synthesize and summarize
complex information.
Exceptional writing and interpersonal communication skills are essential.
Experience with community planning, program development, implementation, evaluation,
and directly related work experience preferred.
Proficient in Microsoft Office computer applications. Experience/training utilizing
database, statistical, and graphics software desired.
Strong written and verbal communication skills that can persuade and inspire action.
Knowledge of interpersonal and intercultural relationship practices to meet and deal with
persons of diverse backgrounds.
Knowledge of written communications to prepare responses for inquiries, reports,
proposals, etc.

b. Personal Abilities

Ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Good interpersonal skills.
Ability to operate in a multicultural environment.
High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit.
Adaptive, patient, resilient and flexible.
Pro-active and solution oriented.

Method of Application

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)
Friday September 9, 2022.