Company Description
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 malnutrition.
Job Description
1. Context and main objectives
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a vast country made up of 26 provinces and more than 500 health zones. The country regularly faces multiple and complex public health challenges and MSF’s six operational sections are present there. Given this level of scale and complexity, a coordinator in intersectional epidemiology is necessary to ensure coherent monitoring of the overall epidemiological situation in the country and to facilitate operational decision-making in the different sections. .
The Intersection epidemiological coordinator is responsible for assessing and reporting on the national epidemiological situation in the DRC. He/she must also contribute to operational decision-making, provide technical expertise and facilitate communication for MSF sections and relevant health partners.
2. Specific Responsibilities
Epidemiological assessment
- Routine analyzes and descriptive reports summarizing the epidemiological situation and providing operational recommendations.
- Additional ad hoc analysis and reporting, as needed, to provide a comprehensive picture of the evolving epidemiological context, particularly to contribute to operational decision-making.
- Response to requests for analysis from financing sections (OCBA, OCP, OCG) to support their activities.
- Proposing additional analyzes or research questions of interest based on the evolving situation (note: these analyzes do not necessarily have to fall within the competence of the coordinators and may rely on technical assistance from Epicenter if needed).
- Active participation in a monthly meeting with line and technical managers to create an analysis plan for the coming month.
- Proposed potential improvements for intersectional tools, including intersectional monitoring dashboards and data collection platforms.
- Regular assessment of data quality in routine datasets and communication of issues to MSF sections and relevant health authorities.
- Management of a system for collecting and centralizing aggregated data, including internal (MSF) and external (health ministry/partner) data, where applicable.
Coordination intersectionnelle
- Regular meetings (quarterly or more) and communication with the CoMeds of the financing sections (OCBA, OCG, OCP) to understand the evolution of their needs.
- Coordination and facilitation of regular “Episection” meetings with mission epidemiologists and epidemiology advisors from all sections; These meetings provide a platform for intersectional discussion and include relevant presentations from individuals from MSF, Epicenter and external partners identified by the epidemiological coordinator.
- Coordination and facilitation of the annual “Epidays” event for mission epidemiologists and epidemiology advisors from all sections; This multi-day in-person event includes both facilitated discussions and training modules to be taught or obtained by the epidemiologic coordinator.
- After approval by line and technical managers, direct communication by the epidemiology coordinator of routine and ad hoc analytical reports to the field (mission epidemiologists and CoMeds) and to headquarters.
- Provision of technical assistance to mission funding section epidemiologists, as needed, to support their operations.
- Provision of training, as necessary, to ensure access and appropriate use of intersectional tools (e.g.: centralized data repository, intersectional monitoring dashboards) to all sections.
- A minimum of one project visit per funding section per year (minimum of three project visits in total).
External representation and communication
- Participation in epidemiological workshops and meetings of the Ministry of Health, in particular in the meetings of the two national analysis units (measles and integrated analysis of epidemics) and in the monthly meeting of health groups.
- Representation, if necessary, of MSF epidemiological operations to the ministry and other health partners at central level in Kinshasa.
- Assistance in defending the operational research objectives of MSF and Epicenter to the competent health authorities; this advocacy may include both participation in preliminary discussions to obtain study approval and coordination of relevant administrative processes (such as ethics approval).
- Providing light assistance, if necessary, to help departmental teams use intersectional dashboards.
Qualifications
Mandatory
- Degree in epidemiology or public health with a specialization in epidemiology
- Prior experience in field epidemiology (1 year minimum)
- Demonstrated capacity in descriptive epidemiological analysis, including:
- Calculation and interpretation of the main epidemiological indicators
- Writing situation reports
- Data visualization
- Proven leadership, diplomacy, communication and facilitation skills
- Ability to anticipate, work independently, and be proactive
- Fluency in spoken and written French (B2 minimum, C1 or better preferably)
Desirable
- Prior experience in field epidemiology with MSF and/or in the DRC
- Previous experience as a coordinator or group leader
- Familiarity with statistical programming, ideally in R
- GIS capacity
- Ability in spoken and written English
Additional information
CONDITIONS
- Position based in Kinshasa, with field travel
- 12-month renewable fixed-term contract
- Remuneration to be defined according to profile and experience
- Position to be filled in December
How to apply
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Please send your application no later than 10/24/2023.
Only pre-selected applications will be contacted.
In the event that we have received enough qualified applications, we may stop publishing the offer before 10/24/2023.
Epicenter is keen to protect 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.
