The regional Event-based Surveillance (EBS) Analyst will work as part of a team to coordinate and conduct Africa CDC’s routine media scanning for public health events across the continent. Familiar with the fundamentals of public health surveillance, the Analyst will review media reports using systems like Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources, GPHIN, and ProMED to identify and verify human, animal, and environmental events of public health importance that will be included in a weekly report or outbreak brief. The Analyst will coordinate with all AU Member States within their region to detect, verify and report public health threats to RCCs and Africa CDC EBS network. The Analyst will also contribute to improving existing EBS protocols and procedures, including training new staff and strengthening Member State EBS capacity when needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Coordinate and conduct Africa CDC’s event-based surveillance activities, including media scanning, event verification, risk assessment, report writing, and report dissemination within the assigned region.
- Collaborate with Africa CDC HQ, other RCCs, Member States, and international and regional organizations, such as WHO, FAO, OIE, and WAHO to verify media reports.
- Maintain EBS event tracker and convene routine EBS team meetings within the RCC and HQ as needed, to update events being monitored.
- Produce and disseminate, daily, weekly EBS reports or other relevant EBS products to all relevant stakeholders in the assigned region.
- Represent the region and contribute to continental alerts, reports, and outbreak briefs.
- Work with a team of experts to publish reports, including scientific articles and guidance documents on EBS and disease intelligence in Africa.
- Coordinate with the Africa CDC Division of Surveillance and Disease Intelligence EBS unit to provide technical support to Member States in the establishment of EBS.
- Collaborate with the Africa CDC Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response staff for events that need technical support from Africa CDC and/or hosting RCC.
- Perform any other tasks or activities as assigned by supervisor.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s (e.g. BSc) or Master’s Degree (e.g., MPH, or MS) in a relevant discipline such as but not limited to, public health, infectious diseases, basic health science (e.g., biology), epidemiology or related discipline and relevant years of experience in public health or epidemiology or related discipline or completion of a Field Epidemiology Training Program.
- Practical experience is defined as implementing/coordinating public health epidemiology and surveillance or other related public health programs in any setting, including a governmental agency, non-governmental organization, academic institution, research organization, or a life-sciences company is required
- A minimum of 2 years (5 years for Bsc) of relevant* practical experience in public health with special emphasis on public health surveillance and disease intelligence, or other public health programmes in any setting, including a governmental agency, academic institution, research organization or a life-sciences company.
- Clear understanding of public health surveillance systems on the African continent and fair knowledge of operations of the Ministry of Health in the Member States.
- Knowledge of public health surveillance guidelines, frameworks and data capture, reporting and analyses platforms and tools on the continent.
- Knowledge and experience in supporting public health surveillance programmes or other disease intelligence initiatives with government ministries and partners.
- Knowledge of establishing public health EBS in regional, national, or subnational settings.
- Knowledge of relevant public health issues in Africa, and at least 2 years previous experience working in Africa.
- Deep understanding of the African Union way of working and managing associated relationships with Member State entities and partners.
The application deadline is May 7, 2021.
