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1. Background and Justification
The Program Officer, UNV for Research and Medical Countermeasures provides technical and operational support to the implementation of regional activities related to research preparedness, vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. The incumbent contributes to strengthening preparedness and response capacities across the African Region by supporting research coordination, evidence generation, vaccine preparedness, knowledge management, and partner engagement.
The position will have a primary focus on supporting the regional response to the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak and advancing preparedness for future BVD outbreaks. The incumbent will support implementation of the regional BVD research agenda, including coordination of clinical and operational research activities, research readiness, vaccine and therapeutic preparedness, diagnostics, regulatory and policy readiness, and evidence generation to inform response and preparedness.
The role will also support development of regional guidance, tools, protocols, and monitoring systems to strengthen country capacity for research and medical countermeasure implementation.
The Technical Officer will work closely with WHO Headquarters, WHO Country Offices, Member States, research institutions, Africa CDC, donors, and implementing partners to coordinate regional activities, monitor progress, facilitate technical collaboration, and ensure timely implementation of priority actions. The incumbent will also contribute to broader regional activities related to Ebola disease, Marburg virus disease, mpox, cholera, influenza, and other emerging and epidemic-prone diseases requiring coordinated research and medical countermeasure support.
2. Purpose of the Position
The incumbent will provide 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. The role will support implementation of the regional Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) research agenda, strengthen research and vaccine preparedness across Member States, coordinate partners and technical networks, support evidence generation, and contribute to policy and operational readiness for emerging and epidemic-prone diseases.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
The Program Officer , UNV will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Lead for Research, Vaccines and Medical Countermeasures to carry out the following activities:
- 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.
4. Recruitment Profile
Education
Essential:
- Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Public Health, Medicine, Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or a related field from a recognized institution.
Desirable:
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Global Health, Health Sciences, or another relevant field.
Experience
Essential:
- 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.
Desirable:
- 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.
Languages
Essential:
- Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).
Desirable:
- Working knowledge of French.
- Knowledge of other United Nations languages would be an asset.
Functional Skills
- Knowledge of epidemiology, infectious diseases, public health research methodologies, and outbreak response.
- Understanding of vaccine-preventable disease programmes, observational studies, and vaccine effectiveness evaluations.
- Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Experience preparing technical reports, scientific summaries, briefings, presentations, and meeting documentation.
- Strong literature review, evidence synthesis, and analytical skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments.
- Experience with knowledge management systems, databases, dashboards, and monitoring tools is desirable.
5. Competencies
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Producing Results
- Analytical Thinking
- Building and Maintaining Partnerships
- Respecting and Promoting Individual and Cultural Differences
- Planning and Organizing
- Working Under Pressure in Emergency Settings
6. Expected Deliverables
- Coordinated implementation and monitoring of the regional Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) research agenda.
- Updated regional research coordination systems, study trackers, dashboards, and knowledge repositories.
- Technical guidance documents, protocols, operational tools, and training materials supporting BVD research and vaccine preparedness.
- Regular technical reports, scientific summaries, and briefing documents for WHO management, Member States, and partners.
- Coordinated technical working groups, workshops, webinars, and partner consultations with documented outcomes and follow-up actions.
- Monitoring reports on programme implementation, grant deliverables, and key performance indicators related to research and vaccine preparedness.
- Contributions to regional preparedness and response activities for BVD and other emerging and epidemic-prone diseases.
- Documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and evidence to support policy development and operational decision-making.
