Senior Behavioral Scientist - Saving Lives and Livelihoods Programme at African Union(AU)

Background Information

• 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 Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.
• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 31, 2017. The Africa CDC is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency and envisions a safer, healthier, integrated and stronger Africa, where Member States are capable of effectively responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats.
• The agency mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institutions’ capabilities to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide preparedness and response, surveillance, laboratory, and research programmes.
• Africa CDC has been at the forefront of the continent’s fight against the pandemic. The agency has set a goal to vaccinate 60 percent the continent’s population before the end of 2024. To achieve this ambitious and critical goal, the Africa CDC and the Mastercard Foundation are launching “Saving Lives and Livelihoods,” “partnership for COVID-19 Vaccination in Africa.”
• The planned Saving Lives and Livelihoods partnership is a unique initiative due to its scope and scale, the critical topics it focuses on, as well as the way it will be governed.

Job Description Summary

• The Senior Behavioural Scientist will be responsible for designing and implementing behavioural science-informed approaches to improve vaccine uptake across Member States.

Major Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Behavioural Scientist shall:

• Design and roll-out behavioural science-informed strategies to address vaccine hesitancy including the development of communication materials
• Monitor and provide support for the progress of Africa CDC and implementing partner activities to address vaccine hesitancy
• Conduct research and develop recommendations on how to improve vaccine uptake among different demographic groups
• Establishing a Technical Working Group (TWG) to engage academics in the field of behavioural science to support Africa CDC’s vaccine roll-out programme
• Represent Africa CDC in a professional manner, which creates a positive image and enhances the credibility of the organization
• Perform any other duties as requested by the Technical Assistance Lead

Qualifications and Work Experience Required

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural studies, Behavioural Economics, and Social sciences. Candidates need to have at least 7 years experience with 3 years at a supervisory level.

Or

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural studies, Behavioural Economics, and Social sciences. Candidates need to have at least 10 years’ experience with 3 years at a supervisory level.

Required skills and Competencies:
Functional Skills:

• Proven experience in the application of behavioural insights to public health
• Experience in research, implementation and/or evaluation of policies and programme informed by behavioural insights and sciences
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including experience with successfully interacting with stakeholders and decision-makers in technical and other professional settings
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Demonstrated project planning and management skills for organizing, planning and executing projects from conception through implementation;
• Skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences
• Excellent computer skills, including word-processing capabilities, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications, experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, Power Point and Word

Personal Abilities:

• Leadership and management abilities. Pro-active and solutions oriented.
• Analytical and problem solving abilities
• Ability to build strong relationships internally and with external actors.
• High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team spirit.
• Ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and in a culturally diverse team
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible.

Language Requirement:

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

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of three years, of which the first three months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be renewed annually subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability.

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$37,453 (AUP3Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment of US$17,228.38 (46% of basic salary per annum), Housing allowance of US$22,932 per annum, Thus a total of US$77,613.38 per annum plus Gratuity of 15% of Gross salary per annum.