Job Title: AVoHC Kofi Annan Scholars Program – Financial Specialist (AfCDC)
Posting Start Date: 5/30/25
Job Description:
AU Values
• Respect for Diversity and Team Work • Think Africa Above all
• Transparency and Accountability • Integrity and Impartiality
• Efficiency and Professionalism • Information and Knowledge Sharing
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Organization Information
Position: Financial Specialist
Reports to: N/A
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Division: Health Workforce Division
Number of Direct Reports: N/A
Number of Indirect Reports: N/A
Job Grade: Rapid Responder
Number of Positions: 20
Contract Type: Volunteer
Location: N/A
Purpose of Job
The AU Heads of States and Government in Assembly Decision /AU/Dec.570 (XXV) of June
2015, requested the Commission in collaboration with Member States (MS) and Development
Partners to establish an African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC) to be deployed during disease
outbreaks and other health emergencies. A well-trained, multidisciplinary and stand-by response
team should be available and able to respond in the shortest time possible. As of October 2021
(latest available figure), more than 230 AVoHC rapid responders have been deployed across 23
countries to support COVID-19 response activities and other disease outbreaks including Ebola
Virus Disease, Cholera, Measles and Meningitis from the African Volunteer Health Corps Roster.
Visionary and principled leadership is critical for Africa to implement a new public health order
necessary to truly safeguard the African Continent from a myriad of threats to health and
economic security. This leadership is even more essential considering the complex interplay of
globalization, health security, trade protectionism, and health diplomacy, which overlay the burden
of disease and the emergence of new health threats like COVID-19. Furthermore, this leadership
is critical to the timely and sustainable achievement of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
In view of this urgent need for transformational public health leadership across the continent, the
Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Program (KA-GHLP) was launched on 25 May 2020 by
Africa CDC in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Kofi Annan
Foundation, as a flagship initiative of Africa CDC. The KA-GHLP has three key components: (1)
A Fellowship in Public Health Leadership, (2) a Public Health Scholars Program, and (3) a Public
Health Policy Forum.
The Kofi Annan Scholars Program (PHSP) aims to place experienced public health experts (from
within Africa or the African Diaspora) in time-limited placements within relevant government
ministries, National Public Health Institutes, and other significant national health institutions to
provide targeted support. In addition, by attracting African diaspora professionals to participate in
this program, it provides an opportunity to tap into additional skill sets while encouraging
engagement from the diaspora, which has been officially recognized as the sixth region of the
African Union since 2012.
The Africa CDC, therefore, seeks to recruit Financial Specialists from citizens of any Member
State of the African Union or the African Diaspora to join the roster of the African Volunteers
Health Corps as part of the Kofi Annan Scholars program. This is not recruitment for employment
but volunteer services delivered within the Africa CDC/AU framework that recognizes and rewards
the experts for their time and skills under the existing rules, regulations and enumeration
guidelines. The overarching principle is to deliver high-quality specific deliverables and build
capacity while giving back to Africa.
Main Functions
The Financial Specialist will provide technical expertise to develop and implement financial
policies and procedures to the NPHI’s financial operations and governance framework. The
Scholar will ensure that financial processes align with international best practices and Country’s
financial regulations
Specific Responsibilities
- Conducting assessments of existing financial policies and procedures
- Developing a comprehensive financial management manual for the NPHI, that includes budgeting, accounting, disbursement and auditing, ensuring compliance with Member State’s regulations, international best practices and donor compliance requirements if applicable.
- Ensuring compliance with Member State’s regulationsinternational .
- Working with finance teams to incorporate, institutionalize and strengthen budgeting, reporting, disbursement and auditing procedures.
- Providing training and capacity building for financial teams.
- Establish and embed internal controls to mitigate financial risk, prevent fraud, and strengthen transparency and accountability across all financial transactions.
- Develop or incorporate a financial risk management plan, including internal controls.
- Engaging key stakeholders to ensure financial sustainability and accountability
- Advise senior leadership on strategies for improving financial sustainability, including resource mobilization planning, cost-recovery strategies, and donor engagement.
Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
- Master’s or doctoral degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Professional certification (CPA, ACCA, or CFA) is an advantage.
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in financial management, auditing, or policy development.
- Experience developing and implementing financial systems, policies, and manuals in accordance with national regulations and international best practices is an advantage.
Required Skills
- Experience in financial planning, budgeting, and risk management within the public sector or development contexts.
- Knowledge of public financial management systems in Africa.
- Experience engaging with government agencies and policymakers.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into accessible formats for non-finance audiences.
- Understanding of international accounting and financial reporting standards (e.g. IPSAS, IFRS) and their application in government or donor-funded programs.
- Ability to conduct financial gap analysis and propose strategic solutions.
- Strong understanding of public financial policies and compliance frameworks.
- Ability to draft high-quality financial manuals and strategic documents.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence – including the flexibility to remain on standby and deploy at short notice into unfamiliar or rapidly evolving situations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proven ability to operate in multicultural environments.
- Capacity to work independently with a high degree of initiative, while maintaining effective collaboration within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Excellent knowledge of at least one African Union Working language (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili).
- Knowledge of two or more other African Union working languages would be an added advantage.
Leadership Competencies
Core Competencies
Functional Competencies
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TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:
The Kofi Annan Scholars – AVoHC Team Members will be deployed on an on-call basis, based on request from member states. The Africa CDC will determine the duration of deployment in consultation with member state authorities.
GENDER MAINSTREAMING:
Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
REMUNERATION:
This is a call for AVoHC membership. Successful applicants are not entitled to any monetary incentives during membership. However, during the assignment, deployed experts will have rights to the following:
- Economic class round-trip tickets and other travel related expenses
- Health insurance during the deployment period
- Stipend , communications, Incidentals and Risk allowance
- Accommodation allowance in case of deployment outside of the city of residence
- Certificate of recognition of your contribution at the end of deployment
Advantages of becoming an AVoHC member
As an AVoHC member, you will learn about different cultures and languages, expand your networks and gain unmatched professional and life experiences. During your membership, you will have the following opportunities:
- Gain AVoHC membership professional development including trainings and mentorship
- Be deployed at the request of member states, to build the capacity of national institutions.
AVoHC members come from 55 countries, representing diverse cultures. They bring a wide variety of perspectives and approaches, which lend a dynamism to the volunteering assignment. Your membership and assignments will enable you to make a lasting impact. It can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the immediate results of your efforts – both for the people you serve and yourself.
Applications must be made not later than June 30, 2025 11h59 p.m. EAT.
Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
-Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
-Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.