Technical Officer One Health – Climate Change (P2), Africa CDC
Position: Technical Officer (P2) One Health – Climate Change P2
Organisational Unit: GIZ African Union, 1740
Place of Assignment: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Initial Contract Period: December 2024 – December 2027
Application Deadline: 27 October 2024
About GIZ
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world.
Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a specialized technical institution of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Africa Union Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control, and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. Africa CDC supports AU MS in providing coordinated and integrated solutions to the inadequacies in their public health infrastructure, human resource capacity, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and preparedness and response to health emergencies and disasters.
The “Strengthening One Health Coordination in Africa: Support to Africa CDC” is a jointly cofinanced action of the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Agence française de Développement (AFD). The Action is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The part of the Action implemented by GIZ is part of the BMZ commissioned projects “Strengthening Crisis and Pandemic Response in Africa in the African Union” and “Global Programme for Pandemic Resilience, One Health (GP PROH)”.
The Action is part of and contributes to the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) with Africa on Sustainable Health Security using a One Health Approach (TEI HSOH) in the context of European Union, Team Europe and African Union engagements in health.
The Overall Objective of the Action is to strengthen health security in Africa through strengthening One Health surveillance and early warning surveillance of emerging threats from wildlife and livestock, and here specifically by strengthening Africa CDC’s institutional and operational capacities for the coordination of emerging zoonotic disease surveillance, prevention, preparedness and response.
Africa CDC recognizes climate change as one of the areas in greatest need of a collaborative One Health approach across African nations. To this end, GIZ seeks to support Africa CDC with the recruitment of a Technical Officer One Health – Climate Change to support the implementation of Africa CDC’s continental Climate Change Programme.
Hence, GIZ invites applicants who are citizens of Africa Union Member States to apply for this position.
Core Tasks
In your role as the Technical Officer One Health – Climate Change, you will be responsible for supporting the Climate Change and Health Programme of the One Health Unit, specifically the implementation of the Climate Change and health priorities, strategies and policies in collaboration with key stakeholders within the continent. You will support the programme through facilitation of policy dialogue and provision of technical assistance to Member States in the areas of building climate resilient health systems, developing sustainable low carbon health systems, climate related risk communications and education, strengthening of multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms for emergency response at the climate change and health nexus and capacity building of community health workers on climate adaption capabilities at community levels.
Where appropriate and reasonable, you will perform further tasks assigned to you by your line manager outside the scope of the job description.
This position is assigned to GIZ salary band 4 (AU P2).
Main Activities
- Leads the implementation of the strategic priorities for the Climate Change programme at continental level and identifies innovative approaches to mitigate climate change impact on health
- Provides technical support to Member States to conduct Integrated Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation assessments
- Provides policy advice and technical support to Member States to develop and implement Health National Adaptation Plans (HNAPs)
- Support Member States to enhance national early warning and response systems to provide timely response to climate-sensitive diseases and threats as part of HNAPs
- Coordinate multisectoral interventions at the national, regional, and continental levels
- Provide technical support to countries to assess their health system carbon footprint
- Provide technical support to countries to develop and implement sustainable low carbon health systems
- Facilitate the development and implementation of decarbonization guidelines/ policies/roadmaps across member states
- Support countries/regions to establish/strengthen multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms for emergency response at the climate change and health nexus
- Monitors and evaluates progress on strengthening HNAPs, decarbonization guidelines and policies and establishment of national multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms
- Supports climate data generation, analysis and early warning support for Africa CDC and other stakeholders
- Manages, coordinates and oversees the work of the Africa CDC Climate Change Programme.
- Facilitates collaboration and coordination with relevant technical agencies, development
partners and other stakeholders in joint efforts to strengthen Climate resilient health system in the continent - Support data collection, knowledge generation including regular reports and policy briefs, scientific articles and other products
- Serve as the technical focal point for the Climate change Programme and support the implementation of the program’s strategies within the AU Member States
- Write and submit reports in an accurate and timely manner
- Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Day to day supervision will be from the One Health Division Lead in Africa CDC with formal line
management from GIZ.
Qualifications
a. Functional skills - Good knowledge on the key functions, structures and dynamics of Climate change and health Programs in Africa;
- Proven knowledge and understanding of health implications of climate change and the environment especially in Africa;
- Established ability to manage deliverables, resources and adapt quickly to change and remain effective;
- Able to write in a clear and concise manner with excellent communication and presentation skills
- Excellent ability to synthesize thoughts quickly from views of multiple stakeholders and
partners and give sound technical advice and guidance - Established skills in the areas of strategic planning, organizational and project management;
- Ability to independently perform research and generate evidence
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, negotiate, advocate, motivate, resolve conflict,
- Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse education and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
- Approaches for strengthening food safety systems in a stepwise manner in an AU Member States setting
- Skills in facilitating policy dialogue; producing results and working across programs with the aim to reducing health impact of climate change.
b. Personal Abilities - A team player
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Ability to operate in a multicultural environment.
- High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team spirit.
- Adaptive, patient, resilient and flexible.
Education and work experience requirements
Bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental Science, disaster management, environmental health, health systems, climate change, or other related disciplines from a recognized university
with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
Or
Master’s degree in public health, environmental Science, disaster management, environmental health, health systems, climate change, or other related disciplines from a recognized university
with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
Experience - Required: experience working at national or regional level in Africa at the climate change
and health nexus with international exposure in the field of climate change, one health,
environmental health or disaster management. At least two years’ experience in developing
or managing strategic initiatives and activities related to climate change and health, environment and health, one health or emergency response with a robust climate change component at national and international settings. Experience of working with African countries
initiatives and programmes, developing and managing collaborations or relations with external stakeholders at international or global level. - Desired: Experience in strategic planning, health system strengthening, workforce capacity building, and emergency response. Previous experience in supporting One Health within AU Member States, or other public sector projects and programs under government ministries and external donors. Previous experience working in an African Institution at regional or continental levels. Experience in change management, quality assurance, and communications. Experience in management of climate change projects.
Language
Proficiency in English is essential; knowledge of further African Union working languages (French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish or Kiswahili) would be an added advantage.
Application Procedure
The application should include - a motivational letter / letter of application,
- a recent CV with emphasis on similar assignments, including at least three referee contacts.
Applications should be submitted via email to hr_au@giz.de with the subject line:
“Technical Officer – Climate Change – Your Name”.
Closing date for applications: 27 October 2024, midnight EAT. Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.
GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from individuals regardless of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. We embrace
diversity and believe that inclusivity in the workplace is essential to our success and we are committed to creating a work environment where all employees are valued and respected.