Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Principal technical Officer Community Health System shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Support the Head of Division in the Implementation of Africa CDC strategy for capacities building of Member states, scaling-up, and strengthening of the Community Health Workforce on the African continent.
• Support the engagement of stakeholders within Members States and RCCs in designing and implementing strategies to develop community health components and programs.
• Support to coordinate efforts to develop Africa CDC legal frameworks, technical standards and tools, and operational platforms and policies, guidance, mechanisms to guide and facilitate the implementation, evaluation and provision of feedback on Infection Prevention & Control on the continent as appropriate;
• Manage infectious diseases, implement operational strategic frameworks and monitor the development and progress of operations, involving diverse stakeholders in situations requiring innovative approaches for establishing risk mitigation strategies and capacities for priority high threat infectious hazards;
• Lead the CHW Unit Strategy development as part of the overall Africa CDC strategic plan
• Lead the advocacy and coordination role for harmonized approaches and optimal resource utilization at Africa CDC, RCCs, Partners and Member States for strong and sustainable Community Health Systems at all levels.
• Ensure coordination and provide advice on implementation and operational issues; contribute to Africa CDC’s organization-wide work in the development, implementation and oversight of Community Health Workers policies, strategies, programmes of work.
• Develop strategic partnerships and networks and oversee collaborations in developing and operating Community Health Systems and manage the execution of community health systems engagements, partners & project management.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership, coordination and managerial support to Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centers (RCCs) and National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) during an outbreak response by applying extensive medical epidemiology experience;
• Contributes to the Community Health Systems Programme of work by identifying research priorities and developing research projects as well as related policies and strategies, within the context of Africa CDC’s comprehensive work in Community Health Services.
• Lead the Community Health Systems project team to complete deliverables, reporting, budget, and knowledge management for projects.
• Apply subject matter expertise and extensive writing expertise to the development of CH guidance and policy documents at the continental level.
• Minimum Requirements:

  Education and Experience:

  • A postgraduate qualification in public health, epidemiology or infectious diseases with at least ten (10) years of continuous and combined experience in Community Health Systems strengthening, medical epidemiology, emergency preparedness and response, public health capacity building, reproductive health, Community Health Systems strengthening or other related public health programmed activities out of which 6 years at managerial level and 3 years at supervisory level.

  Or

  • Candidates with a University degree and at least twelve (12) years of continuous and combined experience in Community Health Systems strengthening, medical epidemiology, emergency preparedness and response, public health capacity building, reproductive health or other related public health programme activities out of which 6 years at managerial level and 3 years at supervisory level.

  Language:

  • Applicants must be proficient in at least one of the AU languages (Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese). Knowledge of one or more additional African Union working languages would be an added advantage.