Technical Officer (Immunization) - Preparedness for Vaccine Preventable Disease (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 (Immunization) - Preparedness for Vaccine Preventable Disease (AfCDC)

Requisition ID: 2458
Location: Abuja
Job Grade: P3
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Division: Regional coordinating Centers/ Primary Health Care
Report to: Principal Program Officer- Country Engagement and Coordination  
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
AU Organ: Africa CDC

Purpose of Job

• 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 African and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. 
• In seeking to achieve this objective and deliver on this mandate, the Africa CDC, is building strong, trustful and respectful partnership with other public health organizations. In this regards, Africa CDC and GAVI have signed a memorandum of understanding highlighting 7 shared priorities including (1) Scale up Routine Immunisation (2) Build public trust and confidence in routine immunisation and COVID-19 (3) Facilitation of efficient regulatory pathways and timely authorisations of vaccines and efficient, effective pharmacovigilance (4) Strengthen diagnostic and disease surveillance capacity for epidemic prone vaccine preventable diseases (5) Engagement on the continental vision to expand vaccine manufacturing in Africa (6) Information sharing, coordination and aligned public communication on vaccine-related goals and (7) strengthen Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.  
• The implement this MoU, Africa CDC and GAVI have developed a two-years operational Joint Action Plan (JAP) with detailed activities. The Africa CDC therefore seeks to recruit a national and citizen of any Member State of the African Union to the position of Senior Technical Officer (Senior Technical Officer Immunization)-Preparedness for Vaccine Preventable Disease within the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division.

Main Functions

• To contribute to strengthening immunization programs in African Union Member States, addressing the zero-dose agenda, building public trust in vaccines, and supporting the strengthening of primary healthcare systems for immunization service delivery across the life course.

Specific Responsibilities
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Specifically, the Senior Technical Officer shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance on vaccine preventable disease prevention and control 
• Mapping out epidemic prone vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) across the continent 
• Develop targeted emergency preparedness measures for VPDs 
• Provide strategic guidance on strengthening surveillance VPDs at continental, regional, and national level 
• Provide strategic guidance on routine data monitoring of immunization coverage, analyse immunization/coverage data at all levels to improve ability to use data for operational decision-making. 
• Coordinate Africa CDC-GAVI JAP supported mission and field visits relative to immunization and prevention and control of VPDs.
• Support to strengthen the active surveillance, reporting, and investigation of AEFI for COVID-19 vaccines

Public Trust and Advocacy:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, promoting public trust in vaccines in Member States.
• Collaborate with national and regional partners on communication campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of immunization.
• Support the development and implementation of community engagement strategies to build trust in immunization services.

Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems:

• Analyse and assess the capacity of primary healthcare systems within the region to deliver immunization services effectively.
• Collaborate with national counterparts on strategies to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, logistics, and workforce capacity for immunization service delivery.
• Identify and promote best practices for integrating immunization services into primary healthcare systems.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Provide technical assistance to African Union Member States for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of immunization data.
• Collaborate with the Africa CDC headquarters on the development and maintenance of regional immunization data management systems.
• Prepare reports on immunization program performance and primary healthcare system capacity for internal and external stakeholders.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Work closely with Ministry of Health, stakeholder in Member States.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national and regional partners working on immunization and primary healthcare.
• Participate in technical meetings and workshops related to immunization and primary healthcare.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
Education Qualifications;

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Immunology, Epidemiology, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of experience in public health immunization programs.
• Applicants with bachelor’s degree would be considered provided they have 10 years of relevant work experience in public health immunization programs.
• Strong technical expertise in immunization program development, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Experience working on the integration of immunization services into primary healthcare systems
• Excellent communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Competencies:
Functional Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrable skills to conceptualize, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate resource management support requirements. 
• 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 for both technical and lay audiences 
• Knowledge of oral communication techniques and skill in presentation delivery, programme consultation and credible verbal response to inquiries. 
• Knowledge of 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 Abilities:

• Ability to work under pressure, stay on track and meet deadlines 
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities 
• Proven ability to produce precise and intelligible reports and office briefs in line with the requirements of the Africa CDC. 
• 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 
• Knowledge of results-based management.

Footer:
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.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 96,921.34  (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
7th November, 2024; 11h59 p.m. EAT.