Project Officer –Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3) at Kenya Red Cross Society

Overall purpose.

• The Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3) Officer will be responsible for supporting the Branch in the development of work plans, budgets, and monitoring plans for the implementation of the CP3- program in the communities, in collaboration with the County departments of Health, Agriculture Livestock, and Fisheries, Water, and Sanitation and Ministry of Interior and coordination of National Government and Ministry of Education; supervising the implementation of the community epidemic and pandemic preparedness program in the branch/communities; supporting the implementation of an all-of-society, all-hazard approach to epidemic and pandemic risk mitigation in the branch/communities; collaborating with branch management, volunteers and stakeholders in support of improved management of health emergencies in communities. He/she will coordinate and link CP3 program implementation between the branch, county government and the key stakeholder in liaison with KRCS at the regional and national levels.

Duties and Responsibilities.

• Implementation of epidemic preparedness in communities interventions in collaboration with one health related government departments.
• Implementation of community Based Surveillance (CBS) for disease outbreaks in the branch and selected community Health Units in line with program work plans.
• Ensure that surveillance guidelines, protocols, and monitoring systems are adhered to by the volunteers for efficient data collection, correlation, analysis, and interpretation for timely reporting and dissemination of information/alerts on disease out brakes.
• Work with volunteers (CHVs and RCVs), CHCs, and communities to formulate functional health emergency response teams and for early warning for epidemic and pandemic- prone communities in the project target areas for early detection and response to potential hazards to infectious human and Zoonotic diseases.
• Provide technical support to build the capacity of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs )and RCVs and communities for preparedness for early detection and early action to mitigate the impact epidemic and pandemic outbreaks;
• Work with ‘One Health initiative to build synergies in the branch and communities to ensure that CBS and health information systems for epidemic and pandemics preparedness interventions for both environmental and animal sectors are harmonized;
• Support the branch and communities, and County Governments in emergency preparedness initiatives and contingency planning to respond to disasters and other health emergencies;
• Work with civil society, the media, and health facilities in the catchment area to institute a mechanism for disease outbreak surveillance.
• Prepare periodic activity reports- weekly, monthly, and quarterly in line with the program work plan and donor requirements.
• Participate in branch and organizational level resource mobilization initiatives aimed at enhancing sustainability
• Perform any other specific duties assigned, as may be required by the functional supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health or Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Disaster risk management or Health Information Management systems, or Bachelor’s in Veterinary Medicine from a reputable institution.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience in the implementation of public health in emergencies programming, outbreak investigation and response.
• Knowledge on how Community Health Strategy Works in Kenya and counties including the One Health Approach will be an added advantage.
• Previous experience in the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and event-based surveillance.
• Working experience at the field level with a recognized Organization with expertise in health and emergencies response.

Key competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge in one health programming.
• Experience in the implementation of projects in a multi-diversity and multi-stakeholders environment.
• Ability to work in a challenging environment with minimal supervision.
• Sound knowledge and skills in database collection and management.
• Proven ability to multi-task across various planning and implementation processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic, and pandemic preparedness and response
• Data analysis and reporting skills
• Public speaking and presentation
• Budgeting and budgetary control
• Networking, alliance building and stakeholder management.
• Negotiation skills.
• Volunteer management skills
• Project Planning and Management
• Team building and management.
• Computer application skills; Microsoft word, Power Point and excel proficiency skills.