Technical Advisor Job in Nairobi, Kenya - USAID

National One Health Technical Advisor, Preparedness and Response Project

Overall Objectives and Description of the Position:
The Preparedness and Response (P&R) Project, a component of the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats 2 (EPT 2) program, supports the strengthening of National One Health Platforms (NOHPs).  

NOHPs are defined as the mechanisms for multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration at the convergence of human, animal, and environmental / wildlife health.  

NOHPs provide the basis for ensuring that core capacities are in place for preparedness, and for promptly detecting, reporting, and responding to emerging pandemic threats. 

At a minimum, a NOHP is composed of public health, animal health, and environment/wildlife ministry representatives. 

As appropriate, the NOHP or the coordinating agencies and mechanisms also include additional ministries (e.g. trade, tourism, education, or finance), parastatal organizations (e.g. national laboratories, research institutes, etc.), representatives of universities, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. 

Multilateral and bilateral stakeholders and partners, such as WHO, FAO, OIE, CDC, may also participate.

The P&R project also supports the role of the NOHPs in National Preparedness and Response Planning.

The National One Health Technical Advisor (NOHTA) will have a combination of technical, managerial, and operational responsibilities, depending upon circumstances and need to support the operationalization of the NOHP and related emergency preparedness and response planning. 

The incumbent will also have responsibility for coordination of P&R project activities in country. 

In this capacity, the incumbent will serve as the P&R project focal point for USAID, EPT 2 partners and stakeholders both within and outside of host country government.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Illustrative Tasks / Responsibilities:

• Oversee and facilitate the planning, implementation, and reporting of P&R activities in the country.
• Liaise with relevant government officials and partners, including the USAID Mission/Office, on a continuous basis to ensure awareness, coordination, buy-in, and cooperation for the successful planning and implementation of P&R activities.
• Represent P&R in the country and coordinate with focal persons for other EPT 2 partners (PREDICT 2 and One Health Workforce (OHW), FAO, WHO, USCDC) when these projects are present at country level.
• Provide managerial, administrative, and logistical support and identify needs to facilitate travel and implementation of activities.
• Provide on-site technical, organizational development, and operational support to the existing coordination agencies/mechanisms (NOHPs) to strengthen multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration on disease outbreaks in coordination with appropriate international health agencies (e.g. WHO, FAO, OIE, US CDC) and key stakeholders.
• Assist with the identification of organizational capacity development and technical assistance needs to improve the management and leadership capacity and the efficiency of NOHP.
• Identify opportunities to promote the convening of appropriate technical, capacity building, and coordinating meetings to promote multidisciplinary discussions and assessments of human and animal health data related to emerging zoonotic diseases (EZDs)/EIDs and the results of disease outbreak investigation.
• Collaborate with senior P&R technical, organizational development and operations (OPS) leadership and staff, including at regional P&R offices, to plan activities that will facilitate the assessment of strengths and capacities, and to address gaps identified in the NOHP.
• Contribute to the identification of vertical and horizontal linkages amongst for public health, animal health, wildlife and environmental services to support EZD/EID field investigations,
• Communicate regularly within the project, and with appropriate government counterparts to coordinate and manage country activities. Provide updates, identify gaps and highlight success stories that can be shared to inform stakeholders nationally and regionally.
• Identify and share best practices and tools to build capacity within the NOHP and increase platform effectiveness as well as support data-based decision making in a timely manner.
• Identify opportunities to collaborate with other EPT 2 projects on activities aligned with project objectives and country priorities.
• Collaborate with other project staff (as appropriate) to prepare reports, develop materials to respond to information requests and otherwise fulfill project information sharing responsibilities.
• Respond to requests for information from USAID, other USG representatives, EPT 2 partners and representatives of government;
• Follow all applicable USAID and DAI rules and regulations.

Requirements / Experience

• Completion of an accredited degree in one (or more) of the following areas: public health, medicine, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, and/or preventive medicine or related disciplines – or equivalent combination of education and experience in organizational development or related field.
• A minimum of 3 - 5 years of progressive work experience in public health or in the management or coordination of complex multidisciplinary change initiatives.
• Experience managing a complex project with multiple activities and stakeholders.
• Practical experience working effectively in an advisory capacity with government health agencies, multilateral health agencies, and national and international nongovernmental organizations.
• Experience with mentoring, leadership development and sustainable capacity building.
• An ability to coordinate and foster collaboration across multiple systems.
• Ability to understand and be able to facilitate the application of the principles of public health, epidemiology, disease prevention and control strategies to support and strengthen disease surveillance and response systems and implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and/or the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Tool.
• Ability to apply or facilitate the application of the principles of the scientific processes to interpret findings useful for disease prevention, disease control risk determination, and data-based decision making strategies.
• Ability and interest to work with management and organizational development experts to assess organizational effectiveness and to identify areas in need of strengthening.
• Professional, technical, and/or management skills required for collaborative implementation of P&R project activities, including providing and/or identifying technical assistance and subject matter expertise to support coordination agency/mechanism performance.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively (speaking and writing) in English. Facility with the official working language of the country where the position is based preferred.
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to liaise, consult, and interact professionally with technical and managerial staff, mid- and senior-level government officials, and direct supervisor—as well as with external agencies, service providers, and client/project (USAID, P&R technical and operations staff).
• Ability to employ critical thinking skills and work independently to solve problems and contribute to achievement of deliverables.
• Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations preferred.

Reporting: The National One Health Technical Advisor will report to the Regional Director for the respective region.

Application Instructions:

 
Interested candidates are invited to send an application letter stating how they meet the qualifications and skills and a detailed CV. Please, indicate country of citizenship. Local candidates (Cooperating Country Nationals) will be preferred.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by email to: PRPrecruitment@dai.com