Overall Objectives and Description of the Position
The Preparedness and Response Project (P&R) is one component of the Emerging Pandemic Threats 2 (EPT-2) Program, funded by USAID from 2014-2019. The P&R project is tasked to work with the governments of countries participating in the EPT-2 program to strengthen preparedness and response capacity. P&R will provide technical and organizational development support and expertise in close collaboration with each country’s human and animal health agencies linked to the National One Health Platforms (NOHP). The NOHP is defined as the governmental organization/structure coordinating ministries, health agencies and reference laboratories responsible for the prompt identification, reporting, and response to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), possible pandemic threats (including those due to emerging zoonotic diseases [EZDs] and novel infectious agents), outbreaks of initially unknown etiology, and public health events of international concern (PHEIC), and/or national importance. P&R activities will be planned and implemented in close cooperation with national governments of EPT-2 countries, and multilateral human and animal health agencies (WHO, FAO, OIE and their regional offices), US CDC and US government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations (e.g. ECOWAS, WAHO, AU-IBAR, and Institute Pasteur), development partners, and the private sector.
The position of Regional One Health Technical Advisor (ROHTA) for West Africa will support planning, implementation, and oversight of P&R activities aligned with each country’s preparedness and response priorities, consistent with EPT-2 project priorities and the health initiatives of WHO, FAO, OIE and US CDC. The ROHTA will work closely with appropriate national government human and animal health officials in EPT-2 countries including Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and others as directed by USAID.
The ROHTA will provide technical and intellectual leadership to regional P&R activities, working collaboratively with EPT-2 project internal partners (PREDICT 2 and One Health Workforce [OHW]), under the supervision of the P&R West Africa Regional Director, and in close coordination and collaboration with the One Health and Organizational Development leadership team in Bethesda, Maryland. S/he will support planning, development, and implementation of P&R program strategy and activity implementation in the region. The ROHTA will support representation and communication in his/her area of technical responsibility and expertise with the donor and other key stakeholders.
Location
The ROHTA will be based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. The position is a three-year assignment, subject to annual funding from USAID.
Illustrative Tasks/Responsibilities
· Provide support for the establishment or strengthening of the National One Health Platforms (NOHP) in each EPT-2 country, contribute to the development of an overall regional strategy in collaboration with government health officials, under the leadership of USAID.
· Assure the incorporation of the principles of multisectoral and multidisciplinary cooperation in EID/EZD prevention and control strategy development, activity implementation, and preparedness and response capacity- building activities,.
· Work with project technical leadership to represent regional P&R project perspectives and activities during meetings and conferences at the national, regional and international levels.
· Coordinate with the project technical leadership to assure technical and organizational development excellence in the area of human, animal, wildlife and environmental health and disease, zoonotic disease prevention and control.
· Advise the project technical leadership on the local and regional political, legal, and economic situation and assist to adapt the program to ensure that it remains relevant and effective. Ensure the provision of consistent, effective, high quality technical subject matter expertise to services and accurately represent and support the solutions and resources available from all P&R consortium partners (DAI, TRG, Fondation Merieux, Palladium and AFENET) to USAID, EPT-2 partners, beneficiaries, and other project stakeholders.
· Assure all P&R activities are aligned to project priorities, regional and international health organization regulations (WHO, FAO, OIE), and US government health agency initiatives (US CDC).
· Provide on-site technical, organizational development, and operational support to the existing coordination agencies/mechanisms (NOHPs) to strengthen multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration on disease outbreaks in coordination with appropriate international health agencies (e.g. WHO, FAO, OIE, US CDC) and key stakeholders.
· Assist with the identification of organizational capacity development and technical assistance needs to improve the management and leadership capacity and the efficiency of NOHP.
· Manage relationships with appropriate partners, country ministries, and regional organizations.
· Support coordination with the other EPT-2 projects in the region, and with high- and mid-level national human and animal/wildlife health officials, and appropriate international and USG health agency partners on the planning and support for NOHP-related preparedness and response activities.
· Liaise with other donors and regional and international organizations such as FAO, OIE, WHO, WAHO/ECOWAS to share health, technical and organizational development information and minimize overlap or unnecessary duplication of activities.
· Manage technical staff reporting to this ROHTA position, if assigned; oversee and support short-term P&R technical and organizational development consultants in achieving project results.
· Assist visiting USG and partner staff and other dignitaries as appropriate in arranging travel and logistics, scheduling and facilitating meetings, and providing updates and briefings on the status of the P&R program in the region.
· Brief the USAID missions and staff, and other USG officials as requested by USAID Washington and the project technical leadership staff.
· Draft semi-annual and other project reports on the activities of the regional program
Extensive travel throughout the region is mandatory, and occasional travel to the US and other regions may be required at the direction of the project technical leadership.
Requirements/Experience
· Masters degree and 7-10 years of progressive work experience in technical and professional areas related to One Health or organizational development required. One Health experience could include work in the following areas: animal and/or human health and/or environmental health, international public health initiatives, International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). Equivalent combination of education and experience in organizational development or related field.
· Knowledge of and experience with the application of One Health approach to preparedness and response capacity building, and EID/EZD prevention and control strategies and methods
· Working knowledge of USAID rules and regulations preferred.
· Working understanding of the concept of institutional capacity building and its contribution to the establishment and strengthening of national one health platforms and other multidisciplinary and/or multisectoral coordination mechanisms.
· Experience in technical collaboration with multilateral health agencies including WHO, FAO, OIE and/or their regional offices required for implementation of disease outbreak preparedness and response activities.
· Experience working in West Africa and the ability to work effectively across cultures
· Senior level practical experience working closely with a diverse range of government and multilateral health agencies, and nongovernmental organizations responsible for animal/human health, policy, legislation and finance, emergency preparedness, and disease surveillance and outbreak response systems. .
· Ability and interest to work with management and organizational development experts to assess organizational effectiveness and to identify areas in need of strengthening
· Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to liaise, consult, and interact professionally with technical and managerial staff, mid- and senior-level government officials, and direct supervisor—as well as with external agencies, service providers, and client/project (USAID, P&R technical and operations staff).
· Professional, technical, and/or management skills required to assure the collaborative implementation of P&R project activities, including providing and/or identifying technical assistance and subject matter expertise to support coordination agency/mechanism performance
· Ability to supervise and mentor subordinate staff,
· Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively (speaking and writing) in English and French.
Interested candidates are invited to send your application letter stating how they meet the qualifications and skills and a detailed CV. Nationals of an ECOWAS member state are particularly encouraged to apply.
Reporting
The Regional One Health Technical Advisor will report to the West Africa Regional Director. "
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online at:
or by email to: PRPrecruitment@dai.com
