CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: International Organization for Migration
Country: Liberia
Closing date: 12 Oct 2014

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief of Mission (COM) in Liberia, and the direct supervision of the Senior Medical Coordinator, and particularly within the scope of IOM operations in Liberia including the activities of IOM-assisted Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs), the successful candidate will be responsible and accountable for the establishment and implementation of an Ebola Surveillance System. S/he will analyse and report on epidemiological trends related to ETUs activities, producing statistics on programmes indicators and other outcomes of interest within the operations of IOM-assisted (ETU)s in Liberia, and will liaise with other parties nationwide to contribute to the general analysis of the epidemic’s trend.

The successful candidate is expected to carry out his/ her duties in accordance with strictest ethical standards, emphasis on the safety of IOM personnel, the building and maintaining of partnership with agencies and Government, and with due respect for gender and socio-cultural sensitivities.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Establish an Ebola Surveillance System centralized at the IOM Office in Monrovia, and implemented in each IOM-supported ETUs operated throughout Liberia. The surveillance system will focus on capturing the occurrence of events (especially the indicators set in the matrix) and trends such as demand for services, admission, mortality, cure-rate, etc.
2. Periodically collate and review formally published, official and draft literature on all matters related to the Ebola outbreak: incidence/ prevalence, the size of key vulnerable populations, and bio-behavioural risk factors present in affected communities in Liberia, communities surrounding the ETUs, and the broader West Africa region as it might affect IOM’s work; assess data adequacy and limitations and make realistic recommendations for affordable steps to improve data availability and quality for decision making.
3. Advise the Senior Medical Coordinator and supervise the systematic collection and analysis of ETUs data, as well as the implementation of community surveys on Ebola-related Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP), Ebola prevalence/ incidence, and risks factors.
4. Serve as IOM’s focal point in coordination and liaison with the ETU-based staff; train ETUs staff on, and supervise ETUs staff adherence to surveillance and research protocols and standard operating procedures as set up by the project.
5. Provide technical assistance to the statistical analysis of the Ebola National Surveillance System and broader Heath Information System database.
6. As appropriate, identify potentials for conducting ETUs operational research in order to inform treatment policy and disease management guidelines and standards – for IOM internal use as well as that of the wider Ebola response community.
7. Ensure proper documentation of studies carried out to support publication in internal and external literature and presentation of results at national and international meetings.
8. Advise the Senior Medical Coordinator on epidemiological trends related to Ebola incidence and its complications, Ebola-related community risk factors and other communicable diseases of public health importance, and recommend priority areas of subsequent interventions; identify areas of potential future risk that should be watched closely and make practical recommendations to enhance vigilance in these areas.
9. Represent IOM at health and other related coordination meetings, liaise and coordinate with national and international health and development assistance authorities, agencies or organizations regarding Ebola-related surveillance and epidemiological trends; key counterparts will include Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), International Medical Corps (IMC) other Health Cluster partner agencies among others, and other stakeholders.
10. Provide periodic technical updates and documentation/ dissemination of best practice materials with regards to implementation of the Ebola Surveillance System in close coordination with IOM Liberia team, and MHD at Headquarters as appropriate.
11. Contribute to regular reporting on project achievements, problems encountered, pertinent developments, and strategic needs, as well as for donors and partner agencies.
12. Undertake duty trips to ETUs locations on a regular basis.
13. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Competencies

Behavioural

• Takes responsibility and manages constructive criticism;
• Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders;
• Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly;
• Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management;
• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility;
• Displays mastery of subject matter;
• Contributes to a collegial team environment;
• Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation, and promotes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA);
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation;
• Displays awareness of relevant technological solutions;
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of IOM.

Technical

• Effectively applies knowledge of health issues in execution of responsibilities at appropriate level;
• Maintains confidentiality and discretion in appropriate areas of work.

Emergency and Crisis

• Works effectively in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments;
• Coordinates actions with emergency response actors and making use of coordination structures;
• Supports adequate levels of information sharing between internal units, cluster partners, IOM and other emergency response actors;
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners;
• Makes correct decisions rapidly based on available information.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

· Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Statistics, Health Sciences or other relevant sciences plus University Degree in Medicine, Epidemiology or a related field from an accredited academic institution with eight years of relevant professional experience; or

· University degree in Medicine, Epidemiology from an accredited academic institution with at least ten years of professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in public health, disease surveillance and operational research;
• Experience in humanitarian crisis, natural disasters, infectious diseases and in a resource poor settings is beneficial;
• Knowledge in the use of relevant epidemiology data management systems and software (Epi Info, STATA, SAS, and familiarity with Demographic Health Survey (DHS) implementation);
• Familiarity with the public health sector in the Africa region is an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Liberian Kreyol is an advantage.

Note:

*With frequent travel to field missions within Liberia

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via PRISM, IOM e-Recruitment system, by October 12, 2014 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

For further information, please refer to:

http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-iom-1/recruitment/how-to-...

In order for an application to be considered valid, IOM only accepts online profiles duly filled in and submitted with a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for applications.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You can track the progress of your application in your personal application page in the IOM e-recruitment system.