Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance & Response Officer, Addis Ababa (SSA, NOC)

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

Effective surveillance and timely response to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) are critical to achieving and sustaining national and global immunization goals, including polio eradication, measles and rubella elimination, maintaining maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, and control of other VPDs. A robust VPD surveillance system enables early detection of outbreaks, rapid response, monitoring of immunization program performance and VPD tends, and evidence-based decision-making for program improvement.

At national level, strengthened coordination, technical leadership, data quality assurance, and capacity building are required to ensure sensitive, timely, and integrated VPD surveillance and response across all administrative levels. This Terms of Reference outlines the roles and responsibilities of the National VPD Surveillance and Response Officer to support the Ministry of Health/ Ethiopian Public Health Institute and partners in implementing high-quality VPD surveillance and outbreak response in line with national strategies and WHO guidelines.

Purpose of the Post:

To provide national-level technical leadership and coordination for VPD surveillance and outbreak response, ensuring the implementation of sensitive, timely, and high-quality surveillance systems, rapid response to VPD outbreaks, and effective use of surveillance data to guide immunization strategies and public health actions. 

Organizational Context

Under the overall supervision of the EPI/VPDs Surveillance and Response team Lead at MOH/ (EPHI) and technical guidance from the WHO country Office, the officer will work as part of the WCO-Ethiopia DPC team.

GRADE

NO-C

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1.Planning and Coordination

• Provide technical leadership for national VPD surveillance and response activities in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, EPHI, WHO and other partners.

• Support the coordination of national VPD surveillance technical working groups (TWGs), task forces, and other national level coordination mechanisms.

• Liaising with various stakeholders working on the Expanded Program on Immunization (MOH, EPHI, EFDA, EPSS, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

• Support alignment and integration of VPD surveillance with Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR).

• Provide technical support for strategic and annual operational planning on VPD surviellance and response

2.Surveillance System Strengthening

• Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of sensitive VPD surveillance systems, including Case-based, syndromic and weekly reportable diseases including AFP, measles/rubella, neonatal tetanus and other priority VPDs.

• Ensure adherence to national and WHO surveillance standards, case definitions, guidelines, and standard operating procedures.

• Support the introduction and scale-up of innovative surveillance approaches, including community-based surveillance, wastewater surveillance, and event-based surveillance.

3.Outbreak Preparedness and Response

• Support national and regional preparedness planning for VPD outbreaks, including risk assessment, preparedness plans, and simulation exercises.

• Provide technical guidance and coordination for rapid investigation and response to suspected and confirmed VPD outbreaks.

• Coordinate the review and development of macro and micro-plans for outbreak response vaccination activities including mapping of special populations and establish locally functioning strategies to access and vaccinate all target population.

• Support outbreak evaluations (early, inter and after-action reviews) and documentation of lessons learned to improve future preparedness and response.

4.Laboratory Surveillance and Linkages

• Strengthen coordination between epidemiological and laboratory surveillance systems.

• Provide close technical oversight and guidance on specimen collection, transportation, testing, and timely feedback mechanisms, in close collaboration with national and regional laboratories.

• Monitor laboratory performance indicators and support quality improvement initiatives.

5.Supportive Supervision and Capacity Building

• Plan and conduct national-level supportive supervision and mentorship for sub-national surveillance officers and health workers.

• Support development and delivery of training materials, guidelines, and job aids for VPD surveillance and response.

• Strengthen capacity for data analysis, outbreak investigation, and use of surveillance data at all levels.

6.Data Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure timely, complete, and accurate reporting of VPD surveillance data from sub-national to national level.

• Conduct routine analysis and interpretation of surveillance data to identify gaps, trends, high-risk populations, and areas requiring targeted interventions.

• Produce regular national surveillance bulletins, situation reports, and analytical briefs for decision-makers and partners.

• Participate in surveillance reviews, risk assessments, and program evaluations.

• Support documentation of best practices, challenges, and innovations in VPD surveillance and response.

Expected output and deliverables

• Regular national VPD surveillance reports and bulletins.

• Timely outbreak investigation and response reports.

• Surveillance performance monitoring dashboards and analytical briefs.

• Capacity-building plans, training reports, and supervision summaries.

• Contributions to national policies, guidelines, and strategic documents related to VPD surveillance and response.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

First‑level university degree in a health‑related field.

Desirable:

Postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, field epidemiology, public health, infectious diseases or any of the clinical specialties.

Experience

Essential:

At least 5 years of experience working in the field of Vaccine and immunization focusing on vaccine-preventable disease/VPD surveillance and response.

Minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in coordination, planning, and monitoring of VPD surveillance and response vaccination campaigns, catch‑up vaccination initiatives, and immunization program operations at the national level.

Desirable:

At least 7 years demonstrated experience coordinating PHEM, VPDs surveillance and response, SIAs, training, and immunization program at the national levels; experience working at ministry of health, national institutions or UN agencies (WHO, UNICEF), other national and international organizations.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

·Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

·Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills with attention to detail.

·Experience navigating complex operational environments with flexibility and adaptability.

·Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.

·Comprehensive understanding of national VPDs surveillance and Immunization policies and strategies.

·Proficiency in project planning, monitoring, and documentation.

·Proficiency in standard office and data analysis software.

WHO COMPETENCIES

1.Teamwork

2.Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

3.Communication

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Essential: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and knowledge of Amharic.

REMUNERATION

This is a Special Service Agreement (SSA) contract at NO-C, with a monthly remuneration of $3,598.00 paid in local currency equivalent.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1)    The duty station for this position is Addis Ababa, Ministry of Health.

2)      This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

3)      Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

4)      A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

5)      In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

6)      According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

7)      Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.

8)      The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

9)      The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce . Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

10)   Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

11)   An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

12)   WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.

13)   WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

14)   For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int

15)   This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.