Overview
Provides technical and operational support to the WHO AFRO Research, Vaccines and Medical Countermeasures unit in coordinating regional research preparedness, vaccine readiness, and medical countermeasure activities. Supports implementation of the regional Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) research agenda and strengthens research and vaccine preparedness across Member States.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in coordinating the regional response to Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), with particular focus on research, vaccine preparedness, and medical countermeasure readiness.
- Support implementation of the regional BVD research agenda by coordinating priority research activities, facilitating collaboration among technical partners, and monitoring progress of agreed workplans and deliverables.
- Contribute to the development, adaptation, and dissemination of regional technical guidance, operational tools, protocols, and training materials to strengthen BVD research preparedness, vaccine readiness, and implementation capacity across Member States.
- Support the development and implementation of regional strategies and operational plans for BVD vaccine preparedness, including target population identification, operational planning, vaccine deployment readiness, vaccination monitoring, and post-introduction evaluation.
- Coordinate activities related to BVD vaccine effectiveness studies, observational research, epidemiologic analyses, and evidence synthesis to support policy development and programme decision-making.
- Support regional clinical research preparedness through protocol development and adaptation, site readiness assessments, study activation planning, investigator training, ethics and regulatory preparedness, and coordination with research networks.
- Maintain and further develop regional research coordination and knowledge management systems, including research trackers, study dashboards, vaccine databases, and repositories for technical guidance and research outputs.
- Support policy and regulatory preparedness activities through evidence reviews, technical consultations, briefing documents, and engagement with regional advisory groups, regulatory authorities, and technical partners.
- Assist in coordinating regional technical working groups, research coordination meetings, vaccine and medical countermeasure coordination meetings, webinars, workshops, and partner consultations.
- Monitor implementation of regional workplans, technical assistance activities, grant deliverables, and programme indicators related to BVD research and vaccine preparedness.
- Prepare technical reports, scientific summaries, briefing notes, presentations, meeting documents, and other knowledge products.
- Liaise with WHO Headquarters, WHO Country Offices, Member States, Africa CDC, research institutions, regulatory networks, donors, and implementing partners to strengthen regional coordination.
- Support resource mobilization, proposal development, donor reporting, and documentation of lessons learned and best practices.
- Provide technical and operational support during BVD outbreaks and other public health emergencies, contributing to research coordination, vaccine preparedness, evidence generation, and medical countermeasure implementation.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Lead for Research, Vaccines and Medical Countermeasures.
Required Experience
- Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, epidemiology, infectious disease surveillance, outbreak response, vaccine programmes, clinical research, health emergencies, or related fields.
- Experience working in humanitarian, emergency, fragile, conflict-affected, or resource-constrained settings.
- Previous field experience supporting outbreak investigations, emergency response operations, or public health activities in challenging operational environments.
- Experience working with international organizations, Ministries of Health, research institutions, or humanitarian partners.
- Experience in low- and middle-income countries, particularly within Africa.
- Experience supporting vaccine-preventable disease programmes, research activities, or vaccine effectiveness studies.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Public Health, Medicine, Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or a related field from a recognized institution.
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Global Health, Health Sciences, or another relevant field.
