Epidemiologist-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-CORE Group Polio Project (BMGF-CGPP)

Somalia

Job Title:         Epidemiologist-BMGF-CGPP–Somalia

Reports to:     Secretariat Director-CGPP Somalia

Location:         Dhobley, Jubaland State of Somalia

About BMGF-CGPP

The BMGF-funded CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) supports Somalia’s efforts to eradicate polio in the hard to reach and inaccessible areas. This project is intended to improve immunization coverage and community-based disease surveillance in hard-to-reach and security compromised inaccessible areas of South-Central Somalia.

Polio eradication is a top priority of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and as a major supporter and partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), BMGF contributes technical and financial resources to accelerate targeted vaccination campaigns, community mobilization, and routine immunizations. BMGF works with partners to improve polio surveillance and outbreak response; develop safer, more effective vaccines; and galvanize financial and political support for polio eradication efforts

The project is implemented by Alight. The overall objective of the Alight Somalia Program is to prevent death and alleviate human suffering among affected internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the settlements and host communities where we work. Alight implements WASH, Health, Protection, Shelter, and Livelihood activities in Somalia. Alight has fully-fledged offices in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Dhobley, Afmadow, Hargeisa and Laas Canood in Somaliland, besides a liaison office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Job Summary

The Epidemiologist will manage and support the operation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to enhance the polio outbreak preparedness and response capacities. S/he will coordinate data collection and response to polio and other vaccine preventable disease threat; work directly and collaboratively with MOH and GPEI partners to share information in real time and formulate a joint plan of action. The epidemiologist through support to the surveillance, emergency & response teams is responsible to support the field epidemiology, health emergency information management, and health systems strengthening. This position is based at Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Dhobley, Jubaland State of Somalia.

Specific Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Lead the development, consolidation and maintenance of the region-specific repository of information on core polio program indicators (e.g. NPAFP rates, stool adequacy, polio vaccination coverage etc); updated population estimates (resident, displaced, refugees), standards indicators and values used by partners for monitoring needs and response; vulnerability mapping.
• Provide technical guidance for coordination and planning of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) planning as well as SIA activities to reduce vulnerability in countries at high risk of outbreaks.
• Provide effective response to any importation of wild poliovirus (WPV) or outbreak of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV) through planning, implementation, and coordination with MOH and GPEI partners for response to outbreaks in accordance with global guidelines.
• Monitor progress and identify risks in the sub region assigned. Identify constraints to polio eradication in the region and support the development of plans of action to overcome those constraints.
• Promote activities to enhance Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, including rapid surveillance assessments, development of action plans to improve surveillance, evaluation of the impact of these plans, and training/orientation of Ministry of Health (MoH) and partner staff.
• Design, in cooperation with technical partners, surveillance guidelines, protocols, surveys and monitoring/surveillance systems for detection, verification and response to polio transmission; ensuring efficiency of data collection, correlation, analysis, interpretation, timely reporting and coordinate the work with Federal and State monitors, as well as provide technical guidance to the MOH/partner technical personnel, as required.
• Conduct real-time analysis of outbreak intelligence data, with other team members, for epidemic forecasting and detection, guide team members on data quality improvement, and use of data for monitoring of trends.
• Oversee data entry, data validation, analysis and reporting of assessments and surveys. Synergize data received from multiple sources.
• Identify training needs, evaluate and document outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices.
• Contribute to the preparation of BMGF communication products (situation reports, bulletins, donors alerts, and other ad-hoc reports).
• Represent BMGF-CGPP in coordination meeting with partners involved in epidemiology and monitoring.
• Develop and manage approaches in assigned districts that can achieve polio eradication while contributing to strengthening routine immunization systems.

• Bachelor’s degree in medicine, epidemiology, statistics, database management, public health or related field.
• Essential: Minimum of seven years of experience in epidemiology and/or public health experience.
• Desirable: Experience in acute outbreak investigation and management.
• Experience working with the MoH, WHO, UNICEF, donors, and NGOs
• Good leadership, social interaction skills and the ability to work with a wide range of individuals and organizations
• Sound knowledge and skills in poliovirus surveillance, planning and implementation of SIAs against poliovirus.
• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response.
• Significant knowledge and skills in communicable disease control, including teaching and advisory techniques.
• Proven ability to multitask across various planning and implementation processes within a highly demanding environment.
• Broad knowledge of principles, practices, methodology, and techniques in public health, and epidemiology
• Strong computer skills in word, excel, and data management software such as Epi Info or SPSS
• Experience working in security compromised environments required
• Strong written and verbal English language skills

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Application letter and copies of relevant academic and technical qualifications should be sent to [email protected] not later than July 15th, 2022

NB: Please state on the Subject line of the e-mail: : Epidemiologist-BMGF-CGPP

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