Consultant Epidemiologist Respiratory Disease - Band level B at World Health Organization

Purpose of the post

The main purpose of the post is to support the Influenza Programme activities in the region, specifically epidemiological aspects of integrated respiratory virus surveillance with the goal of enhancing Member State capacities in the context of influenza epidemiological outputs and surveillance in the African Region.

Description of duties

Under the technical guidance of the EMP Programme Manager, the PIP Programme Manager and overall supervision of the EPR Regional Emergencies Director, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Support the establishment of integrated influenza/SARS CoV-2 sentinel surveillance in countries;
• Support countries on implementing PIP PC regional activities to strengthen capacities for estimations of Burden of Disease, PISA and epidemic threshold measurements;
• Provide support and guidance to countries for the development of National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plans;
• Provide technical support to Member States for reporting virological and epidemiological data and developing bulletins/reports for public health information and advocacy at Regional and National level;
• Support the strengthening of influenza epidemiological surveillance in countries, including training activities, as needed.
• Coordinate the development of best practices on influenza epidemiological surveillance and response in the African Region and ensure all relevant materials pertaining to influenza preparedness and response (reports, plans, SOPs and other information products) are available for Member States.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the supervisor(s)

Expected outputs from his/her work include

• Enhanced capacities of selected Member States on integrated influenza virological and epidemiological surveillance,
• Availability of all influenza materials and information products to Member States,
• Additional countries are regularly reporting influenza virological and epidemiological data including PISA and Burden of Disease estimates
• Effective roll-out of relevant activities for PIP framework High Level Implementation Plan in the region.

Educational Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree with a post graduate degree or training in Public Health, Epidemiology or a related science from a recognized university.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in surveillance, preparedness and response of infectious diseases.

Desirable

• Experience in WHO or the UN system.
• Experience in surveillance of respiratory viruses.
• Experience in reporting epidemiological and surveillance data for public health decision making.

Skills/Knowledge

• Good knowledge and technical expertise in infectious disease surveillance, control and prevention, in particular for influenza.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills. Excellent organizational and analytical skills, complemented by good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Effective writing of technical documents and computer literacy.

Languages and level required

Excellent knowledge of English or French or Portuguese and a good working knowledge of one of the other languages.