Technical Officer - HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) (AfCDC) at African Union(AU)

Purpose of Job

• 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.
• Officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is Africa's first continent-wide public health agency. Africa CDC envisions a safer, healthier, integrated, and stronger Africa, where the Member States can effectively respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats. The agency's mission is to strengthen the capabilities of Africa's public health institutions and systems to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide disease control and prevention, preparedness and response, surveillance, laboratory, and research programs. To achieve its mission, the Africa CDC works in all geographic regions of the African continent and has instituted technical divisions to focus on five priority areas, namely Surveillance and disease intelligence, Preparedness and response, Laboratory systems and networks, Disease Control and Prevention, and Public Health Institutes and research.
• The Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want is the African Union’s (AU) strategy for the development of the continent and the Africa Health Strategy 2016-2030 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being for all in Africa in the context of “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want” and the Sustainable Development Goals. One of its objectives is to reduce morbidity and end preventable mortality from communicable and non-communicable diseases and other health conditions in Africa by implementing several strategic priorities including “Ending AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases”. 

Main Functions

• Under the supervision of the Head of Division, Disease Control and Prevention, the Technical Officer – HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs will be responsible for supporting several technical and programme management and implementation activities in prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs that are of continental priorities.
• Technical and programmatic management and implementation activities may include workforce capacity development, health promotion, epidemiology assessments, monitoring and surveillance, public health research, and strengthening of health information systems, laboratory networks, and other health systems strengthening activities, all in alignment with Africa CDC’s vision and strategic plan.

Specific Responsibilities
The Technical Officer for HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Provide technical support on the implementation, coordination, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of continental initiatives such as the Africa CDC Continental HIV/AIDS Programme on prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs
• Coordinate, collaborate and technically support surveillance, diagnostic and laboratory capacity-strengthening and operational research efforts to accelerate control and prevention of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs.
• Act as focal person in Africa CDC to manage HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs related work through coordination with RCC, Member States NPHIs, donors and health partners in these areas.
• Liaise with the AU MS to facilitate and support development/ implementation of the national HIV/AIDs, TB and STI programmes and provide technical support in the development of integrated health system networks through the adaptation of existing tools and the systematic development of capacities and competencies at the community levels.  
• Provide technical support to improve health information system related to HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs
• Build and maintain strong partnerships and relationship with partners interested in strengthening the prevention and control of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs
• Facilitate and strengthen RCC and NPHI capacities in health promotion for the prevention and control of diseases of HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs. 
• Ensure the monitoring and reporting of outputs, outcomes, lessons learned, and challenges for activities of the Division of Disease Control and Prevention
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences, Public Health or a related discipline from an accredited academic institution and must have at least five (5) years of continuous or combined experience in the field of endemic diseases, in particular HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs, with emphasis on its prevention and control, research, epidemiology and surveillance, or other related public health programme activities. Candidates must also have documented at least five years’ experience working in the African health sector. Or
• Master’s degree or higher in health sciences or public health or a related discipline from an accredited academic institution with at least two (2) years of continuous or combined experience in the field of endemic diseases, in particular HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs, with emphasis on its prevention and control, research, epidemiology and surveillance, or other related public health programme activities. Candidates must also have documented at least two years’ experience working in the African health sector.
• Clear understanding of the health systems on the Continent and fair knowledge of operations of the Ministries of Health in Member States.
• Previous experience working in disease prevention and control programmes in Africa that reflects an in-depth knowledge of African public health issues in general, and in particular, HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs is an asset.
• Record of high-quality, peer-reviewed and/or outcomes research publications in prevention and control of endemic diseases, in particular, HIV, TB, Viral Hepatitis, and STI, is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC, Regional Collaborating Centres National Public Health Institutes is an asset.
• Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is an asset.
• Experience working with an international organization is an asset.

Required Skills:
Functional Skills:

• Ability to understand the principles of results-based management and develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives are achieved within realistic timelines.
• Excellent skills and abilities applied to translating technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for both technical and lay audiences.
• Strong technical and scientific writing skills, in addition to narrative and technical reporting skills, as demonstrated through publications, reports, etc.
• Demonstrable computer skills, including excellent word-processing capabilities, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications and experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology, and techniques in public health.

Personal Skills:

• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapting to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintaining a high standard of personal conduct. 
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills and a proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure. 
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities. 
• High level of autonomy at work, capable of working with minimal supervision, yet with profound team-spirit.
• Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible.
• Pro-active and solutions oriented
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Kiswahili) is required. Knowledge of one or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

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 Results
• 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.

Languages:

• 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.