Program Specialist – Public Health Emergency Management & Stakeholder Engagement at Pro-Health International

Project Background

• The Integrated Response to Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria (IRPHEN Plus) project is a flagship initiative led by Pro-Health International (PHI) with funding support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC).
• Awarded in 2021, IRPHEN Plus is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to detect, respond to, and prevent public health emergencies, particularly at the community and border levels.

The project focuses on three core objectives:

• Building the capacities of National and State actors on Public Health Emergency Management
• Building preparedness and response capacity in four CDC-priority states: FCT, Ondo, Sokoto, and Ebonyi.
• Supporting community-based surveillance (CBS) systems
• Enhancing surveillance and emergency response capabilities at major Points of Entry (POEs).

In FY26, PHI will collaborate closely with theNigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to:

• ImplementRegional and National Intermediate PHEM Training and Fellowship Programmes
• Expand and enhance Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)programmes
• Scale up the Master Training Program across 13 major international POEs, targeting Port Health Services personnel.
• Strengthen and expand Community-Based Surveillance (CBS)in existing and new priority states, focusing on early detection, reporting, and response to infectious disease threats.
• Review and update national and POE-specific Public Health Emergency Contingency Plans (PHECPs) to ensure compliance with IHR (2005) and readiness for future outbreaks.

Job Summary

• PHI is recruiting a Programme Specialist to support the IRPHEN Plus project.
• The specialist will lead stakeholder engagement efforts and support the implementation of PHEM training programmes, IPC interventions, and CBS expansion.
• The officer will serve as the primary liason to NCDC, ensuring strategic coordination and effective collaboration with key partners.

Key Responsibilities
Programme Implementation:

• Support the design, rollout, and evaluation of PHEM training programmes under the IRPHEN Plus project.
• Coordinate PHI’s contributions to IPC, and CBS programmes in alignment with national strategies.
• Provide technical assistance in emergency preparedness, response planning, and simulation exercises.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as the main liaison between PHI and NCDC, as well as other government agencies, donors, and implementing partners.
• Lead stakeholder mapping, engagement strategies, and relationship management to foster collaboration and alignment.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder meetings, joint planning sessions, and technical working groups.

Capacity Building:

• Develop and deliver training content and tools for public health professionals in emergency management, IPC, and CBS
• Mentor and support local health authorities and programme teams in strengthening institutional capacity.
• Monitor training outcomes and recommend improvements for future capacity-building efforts.

Monitoring, Reporting & Strategic Support:

• Track programme indicators and contribute to data analysis and reporting.
• Prepare technical briefs, progress reports, and donor updates.
• Support proposal development and strategic planning for public health initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s Degree in Public Health or related fields
• Certification Intermediate or Basic PHEM Fellowship
• Minimum 5 years in public health programme implementation, with at least 2 years in stakeholder engagement and capacity building.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to manage multi-sectoral partnerships; project management proficiency

Desirable:

• Experience working with NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, or international health agencies.
• Familiarity with International Health Regulations (IHR), One Health, and cross-border health security frameworks.
• Ability to work in high-pressure, emergency response environments with minimal supervision.