Senior Technical Officer – One Health, Africa CDC
Position: Senior Technical Officer – One Health P3
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 with Africa on Sustain-able
Health Security using a One Health Approach (TEI HSOH) in the context of European Union
and 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 that zoonotic diseases, food safety, climate change and antimicrobial resistance are the four 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 Senior Technical Officer – One Health responsible for driving and implementing Africa CDC’s Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control Africa CDC Framework for One Health Practice in NPHIs, and other Africa CDC strategies and/or Frameworks. As a subject matter expert on the One Health Approach, the Senior Technical Officer will work with Member States, other agencies of the African Union, and partners to improve One Health Coordination. The Senior Technical Officer will also contribute to the development and implementation of efforts at promoting One Health programs within the African Union and Member States.
The Senior Technical Officer reports to the One Health Division Lead and supports a variety of technical support services to all 4 technical programs; zoonotic diseases, food safety, climate change and antimicrobial resistance of the One Health Division.
Hence, GIZ invites applicants who are citizens of African Union Member States to apply for this position.
Core Tasks
In your role as the Senior Technical officer, you will be responsible for supporting the management of the One Health Unit and contributing to the collaborative implementation of the African Union agenda on One Health approach related issues.
Where appropriate and reasonable, you 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 P3).
Main Activities
The Senior Technical Officer shall:
- Support strategic direction for the Antimicrobial Resistance, Zoonotic Diseases, Food Safety and Climate Change and Health Programmes in Africa CDC and on the continent.
- Support with other AU agencies on development and implementation of African Union wide AMR control efforts and One Health programs.
- Support collaboration with international organizations, such as WHO, FAO, UNEP, WOAH, and other partners to coordinate One Health approach partners efforts in Africa Support the implementation of African Union Framework for AMR Control and Africa CDC Framework for One Health Practice in NPHIs in Regional Economic Communities and Member States
- Support leadership to the African Union Task Force on AMR and other regional/continental activities.
- Support coordination of multisectoral interventions at the national, regional, and continental levels
- Support technical assistance from partners on the development of policies, programs, and guidance to support One Health efforts in Africa.
- Support technical guidance and works closely with counterparts in technical departments across the organization and liaises with counterparts in partner AU Agencies, donors and other stakeholders to harmonize recommendations on policies and strategies related to public health and the facilitation of successful implementation of national and/or continental health programmes.
- Represent the division and share its vision and position at continental and global meetings and conferences.
- Support any other duties as assigned by the head of division.
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 - Outstanding research skills including the ability to analyse, synthesize and summarize complex information.
- Exceptional writing and interpersonal communication skills are essential.
- Experience with community planning, program development, implementation, evaluation, and directly related work experience preferred.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office computer applications. Experience/training utilizing database, statistical, and graphics software desired.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills that can persuade and inspire action.
- Knowledge of interpersonal and intercultural relationship practices to meet and deal with persons of diverse backgrounds.
- Knowledge of written communications to prepare responses for inquiries, reports, proposals, etc.
b. Personal Abilities - Ability to deliver under tight deadlines and work well under pressure.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills.
- 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.
- Proactive and solution-oriented.
Education
Master’s degree in public health, veterinary public health, programme management with 7 years of relevant experience.
Or
Bachelor’s degree in public health, veterinary public health, programme management, or related field with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
Experience
Essential: - Previous experience in supporting One Health, public health, veterinary and environment public health or other public sector projects and programmes under government ministries and external donors
- Previous experience working in Africa
- Demonstrate the ability to coordinate multisectoral interventions at the national, regional, and continental levels
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
“Senior Technical Officer – One Health – 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.