Project Coordinator – Owo – Nigeria – M/F At ALIMA

ALIMA IN NIGERIA

ALIMA has been present in Nigeria since 2016. Its actions are part of a regional response strategy to health and nutrition emergencies, with a focus on pediatric, maternal-infant and epidemic interventions. ALIMA is present in North-East Nigeria in Borno State (MMC and Jere LGAs) and in Yobe State (Bade and Karasuwa LGAs) where it provides outpatient and inpatient healthcare and nutrition services for IDPs and host communities. In North-West Nigeria, ALIMA is in Katsina State (Kaita LGA) to respond to increased nutritional needs. ALIMA is present in the South-West, in Ondo State (Owo LGA) where teams are treating patients for Lassa fever and conducting research into improved treatment.

Since the rapid increase in Lassa Fever cases in 2018, ALIMA has been supporting the NCDC and the State Ministry of Health in Owo (Ondo State) with case management, active case detection, patient triage, public awareness campaigns, and reinforcement of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures among health workers in the different hospital structures of Ondo State. As of today, ALIMA is intervening in Owo Federal Medical Centre (Owo FMC) to support the response to the outbreak through providing free laboratory and clinical care for suspected and confirmed cases of Lassa fever, and also conducting clinical research. In 2019-2020, ALIMA set up a Viral Hemorrhagic Fever laboratory in Owo to improve patients’ care by providing fast and high-quality diagnosis. ALIMA also takes on community outreach activities and has sensitized more than 6 500 people to Lassa fever.

LF is listed as a priority disease for urgent research and development by the World Health Organization (WHO’s R&D Blueprint) to prevent epidemics. ALIMA (CORAL platform) is coordinating several studies to better understand the disease, improve case management, and reduce mortality by developing medical countermeasures against Lassa fever. With his approach integrating research, patient care, and infection prevention and control, ALIMA develops the implementation of innovative and effective operational research projects adapted to the field.

INTEGRATE is a phase II/III multicentre (West Africa), randomized, controlled clinical trial, aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new Lassa fever therapeutics. In partnership with international (South and North countries) scientists, physicians and policy makers from several institutions, the trial is currently being implemented in Owo FMC and Irrua hospital (Edo State). The next few months will be dedicated to organizing this implementation and the project coordinator will have a key role in this process in Owo.

LASCOPE is an observational cohort study collecting data on patients admitted to the Lassa fever ward in Owo FMC and describing the clinical, biological course, management and outcomes of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of confirmed Lassa fever. The study has already produced several publications, including one in The Lancet.

Mission Location: Nigeria, Ondo state, Owo

PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Level 3: As part of his/her duties, the incumbent will visit programs and come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or a certificate of good character will be required. In situations where a criminal record or character reference is not available, a statement of good character will be required.

FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS

Report to (Direct): Head of Mission

Report to (Functional): CORAL (Clinical and Operational Research Alliance) research team

Staff Reporting to him/her: 5

MISSION AND MAIN ACTIVITIES

As Project Coordinator you will be responsible for ALIMA’s operational and research interventions within the framework of the project. In close collaboration with the mission coordination team and CORAL research team, you will define and plan the project objectives and priorities, identify the population’s health and humanitarian needs, analyze the context and the humanitarian issues at stake, the risks and constraints and calculate human and financial needs.

You will coordinate, in close collaboration with the Head of Mission and CORAL research team, your implementation in order to efficiently ensure the goals as well as to improve the research objectives, targeted population’s health conditions and humanitarian situation.

• Monitoring the security of the team
• Project Management
• Propose and carry out exploratory missions, according to the Head of Mission’s indications, in order to better comprehend context, priorities, constraints, and population needs.
• Ensure a data collection and epidemiological surveillance system, in agreement with the Medical Coordinator
• Ensure the quality and continuity of information exchange between the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Lab (VHF) and the ICRC (compliance with procedures, quality of communication between the two departments).
• Supervise the full implementation of safety and health protocols, reporting the Medical Coordination on risky behaviors
• Follow up of support departments, identification of new needs and proposing objectives
• HR management & team supervision
• Ensuring health and Safety of the team
• Implementation of Policy on PSEA

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Training

You have a medical degree or Master’s degree in public health / epidemiology.

Experience

• You have experience in medical INGO in managing medical projects and supervising a multicultural team
• You demonstrate deep negotiation capacity and are able to develop and maintain an efficient network
• You have previous experiences in research projects in the field and/or viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) You are comfortable with computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
• You like to develop strategic vision for new program and supporting a multidisciplinary team in encouraging teamwork

Languages skills

A strong command of both spoken and written English is essential for this position; proficiency in French would be considered an asset.

CONDITIONS

• Contract term: Contract under French law; contract length: 6 months, renewable.
• Position to be filled: June 2023
• Salary: depending on experience

ALIMA pays for:

• Travel costs between the expatriate’s country of origin and the mission location
• Accommodation costs
• Medical cover from the first day of the contract to a month after the date of departure from the mission country for the employee and his/her family
• Evacuation of the employee

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter online. Applications are processed in the order of arrival.

ALIMA reserves the right to close the offer before the term initially indicated if an application is accepted. Only complete applications (CV + Letter of Motivation in PDF format) will be considered.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY