Epicenter is an organization created by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 1986. We carry out field epidemiology, training and research activities for MSF interventions. Our activities with populations in precarious situations are carried out from Uganda, Niger and France, and on MSF and other programs. They mainly concern infectious diseases and undernutrition.
CONTEXT: Urgepi project, response to emergencies in the Katanga region
MSF regularly intervenes in the Katanga region (4 provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo) in response to epidemic and/or conflict-related emergencies. At the epidemic level, however, operational decisions are difficult to make in a context of limited surveillance and multiple and simultaneous alerts. The ambition of the UrgEpi program is to develop and evaluate innovative strategies to prevent and fight against epidemics, in particular measles epidemics. It is in this context that Epicenter is looking for an epidemiologist in charge of surveillance and operational research activities based in Lubumbashi.
MAIN MISSION AND ACTIVITIES
The epidemiologist works closely with the field in Lubumbashi to analyze surveillance data in order to guide preventive and response actions to epidemics and to implement operational research projects in order to identify and evaluate new intervention strategies. The main activities are:
1- Support for the collection of epidemiological data in the provinces of Haut Lomami, Haut Katanga, Lualaba and Tanganyika.
– Strengthening of the surveillance system in areas at high epidemic risk;
– Epidemiological monitoring in the region and particularly in areas at high epidemic risk;
– Data sharing with the Ministry of Health / other sections of MSF / other NGOs in the field.
2- Centralization & analysis of epidemiological data to guide MSF interventions.
– Centralization & analysis of epidemiological surveillance data and measles vaccination coverage:
o Identification of areas at high epidemic risk;
o Detection of alerts;
o Prioritization of alerts for interventions;
o Evaluation of the impact of interventions;
– Drafting and distribution of weekly reports (automated) and monthly reports intended for the field team, headquarters and partners.
3- Support for investigation/response to epidemics
– Depending on the results of the surveillance, possibility of accompanying the response teams to deepen the investigation.
4- Operational research
– Analysis of surveillance/operational data in order to evaluate and improve intervention strategies;
– Design and implementation of operational research studies to identify and evaluate innovative prevention and response strategies to epidemics (e.g. vaccination coverage surveys, seroprevalence surveys, feasibility studies …);
– Analysis of data collected during surveys / studies;
– Writing scientific reports and articles to disseminate research results.
Qualifications:
Degree in epidemiology, public health, or other relevant degree (with epidemiological component);
Fluency in French mandatory and English desirable
Professional experience in epidemiology, preferably in NGOs in developing countries
Knowledge of data collection software such as RedCap and Kobo, and statistical analysis software such as Stata and R.
Available for travel in the Katanga region;
Experience in surveillance and response to epidemics in developing countries.
Demonstrated experience in independent report writing
What we offer you:
You will work within a multicultural team in the fields of research and epidemiology.
You will evolve in the environment of humanitarian medical action in a satellite organization of Doctors Without Borders.
Your contributions and ideas will be valued and highly appreciated.
The position is a fixed term contract based in Lubumbashi with occasional travel.
Starting position: ideally on November 1, 2023
Gross annual remuneration: according to the scales in force and according to experience
How to apply
To join us
Please send your application (a summary of your background + cover letter) no later than 09/15/2023 by:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.
Epicenter is committed to protecting the personal data of its members, employees and people wishing to join the association. The data collected during this application will be strictly transmitted, for fair and quality treatment, to the people involved in the recruitment process, regardless of where the Epicenter structure to which they belong is located.
