Technical Officer - Cross Border Surveillance (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: Technical Officer - Cross Border Surveillance (AfCDC)

Req Id: 2450
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Head of Division Surveillance and Diseases Intelligence
Directorate/Department: Africa CDC
Division: Surveillance and Diseases Intelligence
Job Grade: P2
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

• Under the supervision of the Head of Division - Surveillance and Disease Intelligence (DSDI), Africa CDC, the technical officer Cross-border Surveillance will work collaboratively across Africa CDC’s technical divisions and programmes and with its Regional Coordinating Centers (RCCs) and networks to support cross-border surveillance efforts to effectively prevent, rapidly detect and respond to current and emerging public health threats within Africa.
• The technical officer- cross border surveillance will work to strengthen cross border surveillance systems within AU Member States and regions, ensuring there is adequate coordination and collaboration between the national and regional disease surveillance systems.
• The technical officer-cross border surveillance will strengthen capacity for surveillance at points of entry (PoE), providing specialized training for surveillance staff, and supporting operational research, knowledge sharing and management, and regional coordination.

Main Functions

• This role is instrumental in implementing the Continental Strategic framework for Strengthening Cross border surveillance and information sharing in Africa.
• The aim is to assist Africa CDC to improve cross border surveillance systems within AU Member States and regions, ensuring there is adequate coordination and collaboration between the national and regional disease surveillance systems.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance to AU Member States, the RCCs and regional networks for the implementation of cross-border surveillance via an agreed upon cross-border- surveillance system or other mechanism that allow for routine data and information sharing between neighboring countries. 
• Support development of border health indicators and thresholds that can be incorporated into existing surveillance systems or build upon established regional surveillance networks, where appropriate. 
• Support international collaboration, networks, assessments and planning of activities for global functions and public health capacity building at points of entry, including during public health emergencies, under the IHR (2005).
• Participate in activities related to support information sharing through specialized networks and databases for international collaboration and foster global partnerships in the area of points of entry between Member States and Africa CDC, in collaboration with international organizations, public health authorities and experts.
• Support the development of operational guidance that addresses population movement patterns and communicable disease spread, with engagement from regional, national and sub-national leadership to strengthen border health systems for improved coordination and collaboration between national public health systems and across borders .
• Organize virtual and in-person meetings with RCCs, regional networks, and AU Member States to coordinate cross-border surveillance related information exchange, improve existing or develop new border health strategies, and hold trainings to strengthen cross border workforce capacity. 
• Where requested, support cross-border epidemiological investigations of communicable disease outbreaks or other adverse health events.
• Perform cross-border epidemiological and statistical analyses    on related data and prepare and translate results for programme improvement and policy change. 
• Support the processes of strengthening the quality of cross-border surveillance data collection, management, analysis and reporting. 
• Under the direction of the designated Africa CDC Incident Manager, provide technical services delivery in support of Africa CDC Emergency Response activities as appropriate and assigned. 
• Plan, develop, and implement Africa CDC specific policy and programme objectives, strategic plans, annual work plans, activity action plans, resource plans and budgets, staff performance plans necessary to achieve core strategies, outcome-oriented goals, and objectives. Evaluate and report on progress. 
• Works with a team of experts to publish reports, including scientific articles and guidance documents to support cross-border surveillance in Africa 
• Performs any other relevant functions as assigned by the Supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Veterinary Public Health, Environmental Health, program management, or related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.

Or

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Veterinary Public Health, Environmental health, program management or related field with 2 years of relevant 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 donors is required.
• Previous experience working in Africa is desirable.

Required Skills:
Functional Skills:

• Research skills including the ability to analyse, synthesize and summarize complex information.
• Possess statistical analysis skills and be competent in using statistical software such as SAS, STATA, R, or Python etc.
• Excellent 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.
• Interpersonal and diversity management skills 
• Report and proposal writing skills etc.

Personal Abilities:

• Ability to deliver under tight deadlines and work 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.
• Proactive and solution oriented.

Leadership Competencies:

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

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for result
• 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:

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

Language:

• 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$  85,212,07 (P2 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 66,751.81 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2024; 11h59 p.m. EAT.