Posted on: Thu 26-11-2020

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 January 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 programs. Towards meeting its mission, the Africa CDC will work with African Union (AU) Member States, WHO, and partners in the five geographic regions of the AU to strengthen their capacity in at least five strategic priority areas: (1) public health surveillance and disease intelligence; (2) public health emergency preparedness and response; (3) public health laboratory systems and networks; (4) public health information and technology systems; and (5) public health research and public health institutes. In general, the ultimate purpose of the Africa CDC Strategic Plan, in line with Agenda 2063, is to attain an integrated and prosperous Africa that has healthy, well-nourished citizens with long life spans by controlling and/or eradicating all communicable and non-communicable diseases. 

Robust, integrated systems will be in place to significantly reduce non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and deaths from HIV/ AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis will be reduced to zero. Integrated and comprehensive health services and infrastructure will be in place, where services are available, accessible, affordable, appropriate and of quality. 

In seeking to achieve this objective, the Africa CDC in partnership with AFENET intends to strengthen its capacity to deliver by, among others, the reinforcement of its organizational structure and expertise.

Job Title: Senior Research Officer 

Grade: AU P3/1 equivalency 

Number of posts: 1 (one) 

Department: Africa CDC Headquarters 

Supervisor: Head, Division of Public Health Institutes and Research 

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Purpose 

Under the supervision of the Head of Division, National Public Health Institute and Research (NPHI), the Senior Research Officer will carry out a variety of technical and programme management and implementation activities in the area of public health research. S/he will guide, manage and monitor the facilitation of Africa CDC research agenda/projects/programmes within all Africa CDC divisions to ensure the achievement of quality results in a timely manner. S/he will take a lead on the research design, data collection and analysis for Africa CDC surveys and studies for the priority health issues in the continent. S/he will also support the expansion of partnerships, resource mobilization, and knowledge management with partners working in research in Africa. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities 

The Senior Research Officer shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities: 

• Provide technical leadership/support/facilitation in developing of Africa CDC research agenda.
• Assist with the coordination of research-related activities across various Africa CDC divisions including publishing of research findings and in ensuring the uptake and use of research among decision-makers.
• Support relevant technical working groups in undertaking research studies to comply with research ethics procedures.  
• Contribute to the identification/development of tools, frameworks and resources for health research capacity strengthening of NPHIs.
• Work closely with Member States through its NPHI and the Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs) in particular, in setting health research priorities and aligning research agenda to priority health system challenges and issues.
• Support effective implementation of the Solidarity Trial for therapeutics in Africa.
• Support the assessment and monitoring of health research activities in Africa such as mapping health research stakeholders and analysing research capacity, governance, financing, and uptake and use of research in policy and practice.
• Ensure the monitoring and reporting of outputs, outcomes, lessons learned, and challenges for activities of the NPHI division. 
• Provide support in building alliances and partnerships with research institutes, NGOs, universities and UN agencies working in the areas of research for health in Africa.
• Provide technical input with regards to design, implementation, data analysis, report writing for public health, social and operational research and policy briefs.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships and relationship with partners interested in strengthening the public health research in the continent.
• Support research and production of technical publications on Africa CDC’s mandate including Public Health Workforce Development for publication in the Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHIA) and other reputational journals.
• Undertake any other duties/responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications Education: 

• University degree in public health management, Sociology, social development, economics, Business Administration, performance Management or other related areas. 
• Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, public health management, Sociology, social development, economics, Business Administration, or performance Management or other related fields.

Minimum Qualification: 

The minimum qualification requirements are: 

1. Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology or a related field from an accredited academic institution with at least 7 years of relevant professional work experience in health policy research/health systems research, knowledge translation/evidence-informed policymaking and/or health research systems strengthening; or 
2. University degree in the above fields with over 10 years of relevant professional work experience in health policy research/health systems research, knowledge translation/evidence-informed policy-making and/or health research systems strengthening. 

Required Professional Work Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in public health infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance programmes at national, regional or continental public health organizations in either private or public sector domains.
• Record of high-quality, peer-reviewed and/or outcomes research publications in the field of public health.
• Strong scientific leadership with proven skills in facilitation and coordination of research and public health system programme and research activities and motivating and developing people.
• Experience working with an international organization is a valuable asset.
• Previous experience working in research institution Africa that reflects an in-depth knowledge of public health issues in general.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centres National Public Health Institutes is preferred. 
• Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is a valuable asset.

Skills and competencies required: 

Functional Skills: 

• Technical Expertise of supporting organizations to use evidence to inform and develop practice. · Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in delivering qualitative research e.g. interviews, focus groups and complex and high volume data collection.
• Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of programme effectiveness or the improvement of complex public health management processes and systems.
• Skills and abilities to lead people toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals and provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
• Demonstrable technical expertise and experience in supporting and/or managing complex, public health programmes with special emphasis on public health research.
• Skills in programme monitoring and evaluation is an asset.
• Demonstrable skills to conceptualize, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate resource management support requirements.
• Excellent negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated experience in partnerships and resource mobilization.
• Excellent technical report and scientific writing skills
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills and a proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure.
• Excellent skills and abilities applied to translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences.
• Knowledge of oral communication techniques and skill in presentation delivery, programme consultation and credible verbal response to inquiries.
• Good interpersonal relationship practices and skills to meet and deal with persons of diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrable proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, Power Point, data visualization and statistical packages as well as data analysis skills are mandatory.

Personal Skills: 

• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage complex operations and teams; ability to apply effective leadership and interpersonal skills through the use of strategic thinking, team and project leadership, decision-making skills and personnel development – including proven skills in supervision, team building, and motivating and developing people.
• 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 Pro-active and solutions oriented.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and by writing, programme goals, and objectives, including scientific justification of research and programmes and specific requirements.
• Strong attention to details and accuracy.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to organize, support and motivate others and to work in a multi-cultural environment. Able to operate in a multi-cultural environment.
• Highly developed diplomatic, representational and interpersonal skills.

Language requirement: 

Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French and Portuguese) is required. Knowledge of one or several other working languages would be an added advantage. 

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 months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be renewed annually subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability

Remuneration 

Competitive based on qualification and experience. 

How to apply: 

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

The Administration and HR Office email;[email protected] 

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 November 27, 2020

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