The Surveillance Specialist (SS) will manage and monitor Surveillance Systems Component in Burkina Faso for the USAID Infectious Diseases Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) project that serves the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), Tuberculosis (TB) programs and other related initiatives. IDDS supports select governments and their relevant ministries in the strengthening of human and animal health diagnostic systems for infectious diseases, TB and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The work will focus primarily on public health systems but may include private health and other non-governmental diagnostic facilities (laboratories and point-of-care facilities). The position will be based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso under the supervision and direction of the Burkina Faso Country Team Lead and technical guidance and support from technical experts from IDDS HQ in the USA. Specific responsibilities include:
- Support the Country Team Lead and local IDDS colleagues in collaborating with health officials of related departments of Ministry of Health (MOH), national and regional institutions for project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
- Serve as focal point person for surveillance systems strengthening component of IDDS in Burkina Faso, including leading planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of surveillance related project activities.
- Identify issues/challenges and develop strategies for effective implementation of related work plan activities.
- Provide technical assistance to project partners in Burkina Faso in implementation of surveillance related activities.
- In coordination with other local stakeholders, provide support to review and update existing community-based surveillance systems and toolkits.
- Provide technical assistance to strengthen national expertise to manage the DHIS 2 platform and produce surveillance reports
- Support the Burkina Faso Country Team Lead in representing IDDS on national technical working groups, as appropriate, and maintain contacts with other organizations engaged in GHSA activities.
- Close coordination with IDDS’s global surveillance team working on GHSA to ensure synergies and experience sharing within IDDS and across IDDS’s countries.
- Taking lead in the M&E of the surveillance systems strengthening component to ensure that evidence is gathered, and milestones are met.
- Contribute to the preparation of related parts of required reports to IDDS.
- At least 5-10 years of experience working in national/regional infectious disease surveillance. Along with 3-5 years experience with measurement and evaluation of projects.
- Demonstrated experience in implementation of field-based surveillance methodology including analysis of epidemiological investigation data utilizing new methodologies or existing techniques.
- Excellent written and spoken English and French.
- Demonstrated report writing and presentation skills.
- Experience working effectively with government counterparts particularly at national levels.
- Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team.
- Willingness and ability to travel a minimum of 25% within Burkina Faso
- Authorization to work in Burkina Faso. Experience residing and working in Burkina Faso preferred.
- Experience working with the GHSA preferred
- Training in surveillance and field epidemiology
- Experience collaborating on projects/studies and coordinating efforts, as appropriate, with other program staff, other international health agencies, and private and non-private organizations.
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