Technical Advisor - Field Epidemiology Workforce Development at the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a non-profit networking and service alliance of Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs (FELTPs), and other applied epidemiology training programs. AFENET has operations in over 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa or the World Health Organisation Africa Region (WHO – AFRO). Established in 2005, AFENET is dedicated to helping Ministries of Health in Africa build strong, effective, sustainable programs and capacity to improve public health systems on the African continent.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Technical Advisor - Field Epidemiology Workforce Development

Ref: #AFE_NIG_TA
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Department: ECOWAS Regional Center for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC).
Supervisor: Head of Division - Health Emergency and Disaster Management Division (RCSDC)

Background

• The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), has been supporting Ministries of Health in sub-Saharan Africa to implement Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) for public health professionals.
• FETPs are field based in-service trainings to strengthen the public health surveillance and response systems of the Ministries of Health and Agriculture at the local, regional and national levels.
• Over the last 17 years, various levels of field epidemiology training programs have been initiated and implemented in Sub Saharan Africa with 16 countries implementing advanced FETP, a 2 years Masters level training, 22 countries implementing the 9-months, intermediate FETP while 38 countries implement the 3-months Frontline FETP. All the 15 ECOWAS member countries have implemented Frontline FETP, 13 countries have implemented Intermediate FETP while Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ghana have the 2-year advanced FETP and serve as training hubs for countries without this tier of FETP. The region has around 544 graduates of the advanced FETP, 372 intermediate and over 3500 frontline graduates.
• These graduates have greatly contributed to strengthening of national and sub-national surveillance and response systems thereby addressing International Health Regulation, 2005 core capacities for surveillance and response.
• In order to consolidate the above gains and strengthen field epidemiology capacity development across all the ECOWAS countries, with a particular focus on the Francophone countries, the US CDC collaborating with AFENET are supporting the ECOWAS Regional Center for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) e develop regional and country level strategic plans for field epidemiology capacity development.
• The African Field Epidemiology Network is seeking to hire and embed in the ECOWAS RCSDC, a Field Epidemiology Technical Advisor to spearhead these initiatives.

Position Objective

• The Field Epidemiology Workforce Development Technical Advisor will work in collaboration with the Global Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) team and the Technical Advisor for the West Africa region of the US CDC, the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the West African Health Organization (WAHO) through the ECOWAS Regional Center for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), in the networks of the 15 ECOWAS member states to support capacity building efforts in field epidemiology to effectively prevent, rapidly detect, and respond to current and emerging public health threats in West Africa.

The technical advisor will assist RCSDC to:

• Document and Summarize the status of ongoing field epidemiology training programs and practices for strengthening the multisectoral public health workforce in field epidemiology.
• Conduct needs assessments for capacity building of the multi- sectoral field epidemiology workforce at all levels across the region, with a focus on Francophone countries and incorporating the spirit of the One Health approach.
• Identify available and/or potential technical and financial resources to support training and capacity building activities for multi-sectoral public health staff in field epidemiology.
• Develop a strategic plan for WAHO Member States and partners in the region to address gaps in knowledge and skills in field epidemiology, in the context of national and regional disease surveillance systems and multiple health sectors.
• Support expansion of Field Epidemiology Training Programmes in West Africa.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Field Epidemiology Workforce Development Technical Advisor will provide direct support to WAHO/RCSDC, in collaboration with US CDC and AFENET to:

• Ensure that WAHO/RCSDC’s vision, mission and guiding values are developed, communicated and made available to all Member States and implementing partners as appropriate.
• Provide technical assistance to ensure that the vision, mission and guiding values of WAHO/RCSDC are developed, communicated and implemented by all ECOWAS Member States and implementing partners as appropriate;
• Plan, develop and implement WAHO/RCSDC 's field epidemiology workforce development specific policy and programmatic objectives, strategic plans, annual work plans, activity action plans, resource plans and budgets, and field epidemiology staff objectives. Evaluate and report on progress.
• Organize and participate in virtual and face-to-face meetings with collaborating partners (FETP, AFENET and WAHO), relevant regional partners, regional networks, advance the WAHO/RCSDC membership development strategy and ECOWAS Member States.
• Support collaboration between multi-country and multi-sectoral partnerships/platforms such as public health, agriculture, livestock, environment, etc., to ensure a One Health approach.
• Organize and support the facilitation of discussions, workshops and the development of relevant materials including country and regional strategic plans for field epidemiology capacity development.
• Support processes to strengthen the quality of collection, management, analysis and reporting of epidemiological surveillance data;
• Explore traditional and non-traditional means of resource mobilization for training and capacity building activities in field epidemiology
• Develop and publish reports, including scientific papers and policy documents to support capacity building in field epidemiology in the region.
• Supporting resource mobilization efforts to advance Field Epidemiology Workforce development in the region including proposal and grant writing to potential funders.
• Support the establishment of SOPs and MoUs between higher education institutions and ministries in ECOWAS countries to strengthen the technical and practical aspects of capacity building efforts in field epidemiology.
• Contribute to the WAHO epidemiological bulletin and the West Africa Regional Technical Working Group.
• Provide technical support to existing and new field epidemiology training programs to implement quality monitoring, assurance and improvement initiatives such as the TEPHINET FETP Accreditation and AFENET FETP Star rating schemes.
• Advocate for career paths and utilization of FETP graduates and residents within country and across the region for epidemic response.
• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Percentage of regional travel required: 20%.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master of Public Health (with a concentration in epidemiology), M.Sc. Epidemiology / Biostatistics and / or any other relevant qualifications from an Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program.

Experience Required:

• 5 -10 years of relevant practical experience in the field of public health, with particular emphasis on public health surveillance, field epidemiology, and workforce capacity development at the national, regional or continental level, in any setting, including a government agency, academic institution, or research organization.
• Clear understanding of public health surveillance systems in the region.
• Good knowledge of the operations of public health institutions and other ministries and partners working on field epidemiology capacity building issues (FETP, ISAVET, Sante Monde) in ECOWAS member states and regions.
• Knowledge of public health surveillance guidelines and frameworks as well as data entry, reporting and analysis platforms and tools in the region.
• Knowledge and experience in supporting public health surveillance programs or other health monitoring initiatives with government departments, regional organizations and partners.
• Knowledge of the implementation of epidemiological surveillance in a national, regional or continental framework.
• Knowledge of relevant public health issues in Africa
• Strong technical and scientific writing skills and the ability to communicate technical material to both scientific and lay audiences for policy change.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of the operations of WAHO/RCSDC, AFENET, US CDC and the National Institutes of Public Health is preferred.
• Deep understanding of how WAHO/RCSDC works and how to manage the associated relationships with ECOWAS Member States and partners.

Skills and Competencies Required:
Functional Competencies:

• Excellent diplomatic, advocacy, interpersonal and communication skills, including experience of successful interaction with stakeholders and decision-makers in technical and other professional contexts.
• Mastery of the principles and practice of public health surveillance.
• Excellent technical and scientific writing, narrative and financial reporting skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure.
• Proven planning and project management skills to organize, plan and execute public health projects from conception to implementation.
• Ability to translate highly technical information into presentations, briefings, reports and funding proposals for a technical and non-specialist audience.
• Resourcefulness and skills in collecting, analyzing and using data to recommend, make and communicate technical decisions to both scientific and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated computer skills, including excellent word processing skills, proficiency in e-mail and Internet applications, experience in using office software such as MS Excel, PowerPoint and Word, and statistical packages such as R, EPIINFO or STATA.

Personal Capabilities:

• Leadership and management skills
• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to use clear and concise language in correspondence, reports and memoranda in accordance with African Union requirements.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• High level of autonomy at work, but with a strong team spirit.
• Adaptability, patience, ingenuity, resilience and flexibility.
• Knowledge of results-based management.
• Proactive and solution-oriented.

ECOWAS Language Requirements:

• Candidates must be fluent in English and French, knowledge of two or more ECOWAS working languages would be an added advantage.

Benefits

• These positions have a competitive salary

Application Closing Date
24th February, 2023 (5.30pm EAT)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume, Cover Letter and relevant Documents to the Office of Administration and Human Resources, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) via email: [email protected] using "Ref: #AFE_NIG_TA" as the subject of the mail.
And
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Note

• All applications must be submitted online (via the link above).
• Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Gender Mainstreaming:ECOWAS is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are highly valued and encouraged to apply.