Job Vacancy at African Union (Africa CDC): Principal Technical Officer/Lead Emergency Preparedness and Response – October 2026

Organization: African Union (AU) – Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Job Title: Principal Technical Officer/Lead Emergency Preparedness and Response
Job Grade: P4
Number of Positions: 8
Job Type: Full-Time
Contract Duration: 11 Months
Duty Stations: Central African Republic, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Cameroon, Uganda, and Republic of the Congo
Application Deadline: November 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT

1. Organization Overview

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is an institution of the African Union responsible for strengthening public health systems, improving disease surveillance, and supporting the prevention, detection, and response to public health threats across the continent.

Africa CDC is seeking qualified professionals to provide technical leadership and operational oversight for Ebola preparedness and response activities in affected or at-risk countries.

2. Purpose of the Job

The Principal Technical Officer/Lead Emergency Preparedness and Response will provide technical leadership and operational oversight for Ebola and other viral disease outbreak preparedness and response activities in the assigned country.

The successful candidate will support the implementation of preparedness and response plans, strengthen operational readiness, coordinate field-level activities, and ensure effective implementation of surveillance, emergency preparedness, rapid response, and community engagement interventions.

The position will involve close collaboration with national and subnational authorities, Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs), implementing partners, and frontline responders to strengthen preparedness capacities and facilitate timely and effective outbreak response operations.

3. Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Country Director (Cross-Border Country Lead)
• Directorate/Department: Africa CDC
• Division: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)
• Job Grade: P4
• Number of Positions: 8

4. Key Responsibilities

A. Emergency Preparedness and Operational Readiness

• Support the implementation of national Ebola preparedness and response plans.
• Coordinate preparedness assessments, readiness reviews, and operational planning exercises.
• Support the development and implementation of contingency plans and preparedness improvement plans.
• Monitor preparedness indicators and recommend corrective actions.
• Facilitate simulation exercises, drills, and after-action reviews.
• Support continuity planning for essential services during public health emergencies.

B. Field Operations and Emergency Response Coordination

• Support the implementation of preparedness and response activities at national and subnational levels.
• Contribute to the coordination, deployment, supervision, and operational management of rapid response teams.
• Monitor field activities and operational performance in collaboration with Africa CDC, local authorities, and development partners.
• Support the activation and operationalization of emergency response mechanisms.
• Facilitate coordination between field teams, PHEOCs, and national authorities.
• Track operational challenges and support their timely resolution in relation to Africa CDC’s assistance to the assigned country.

C. Surveillance, Early Warning, and Epidemiological Support

• Contribute to the implementation of integrated disease surveillance and event-based surveillance activities.
• Support community-based surveillance activities.
• Support case investigations, contact tracing, and alert management systems.
• Monitor epidemiological trends and contribute to risk assessments.
• Support the implementation and use of digital surveillance platforms and reporting tools.

D. Community Engagement and Risk Communication

• Contribute to the coordination and implementation of risk communication and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with local authorities, community leaders, civil society organizations, and community structures.
• Support the monitoring of community feedback, rumours, and misinformation in collaboration with Africa CDC staff and consultants.
• Contribute technical knowledge to the development and dissemination of communication materials and preparedness messages.
• Provide technical assistance to local health authorities to strengthen community participation in preparedness and response activities.

E. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Safe and Dignified Burials

• Provide technical assistance to local staff implementing infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities and communities.
• Contribute to assessments of IPC readiness and compliance.
• Support the training and mentoring of healthcare workers on IPC standards.
• Provide technical advice to local health authorities on strengthening safe and dignified burial capacities and systems.
• Work with development partners and local health authorities to monitor the implementation of IPC action plans and recommendations.

F. Partner Coordination and Operational Support

• Support the coordination of implementing partners involved in preparedness and response activities.
• Represent Africa CDC as the operational focal point in technical coordination meetings, partner forums, and relevant working groups.
• Facilitate information sharing among partners and operational teams.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions to the Africa CDC Country Director.
• Track partner deliverables, implementation progress, and operational performance.

G. Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management

• Monitor the implementation of preparedness and response activities against established work plans and targets.
• Support the national Incident Management Support Team in preparing operational updates, situation reports, and technical briefs.
• Compile, analyse, and report operational performance indicators and field data while avoiding duplication of efforts with national and local health authorities or other development partners.
• Document operational lessons learned, implementation challenges, and best practices to inform programme improvement.
• Contribute to reviews of national preparedness and contingency plans and response evaluations, including After Action Reviews and Intra-Action Reviews.

5. Academic Qualifications and Relevant Experience

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Emergency Management, Health Security, Nursing, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience for candidates with a Master’s degree, or 12 years for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree, in public health emergency preparedness and response.
• At least six years of experience at an expert level and three years in a supervisory role.
• Experience supporting Ebola, Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF), or infectious disease outbreak preparedness and response activities.
• Experience in surveillance systems, emergency operations, field coordination, or health emergency management.
• Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, and development partners.
• Experience working in fragile and complex operating environments is an added advantage.

6. Required Skills and Competencies

Leadership Skills

• Team coordination and operational management.
• Planning and implementation of emergency preparedness activities.
• Stakeholder coordination and problem-solving.
• Field team supervision and performance management.

Technical Competencies

• Emergency preparedness and response.
• Ebola and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) preparedness and response.
• Surveillance and epidemiology.
• Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM).
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).
• Monitoring and evaluation.

Communication Skills

• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Effective communication and coordination abilities.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and partners.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work under pressure in emergency environments.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• High levels of professionalism and integrity.

7. Leadership and Core Competencies

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight
• Managing Risk
• Building Relationships

Core Competencies

• Accountability Awareness and Compliance
• Building Partnerships
• Communicating with Impact

Functional Competencies

• Drive for Results
• Conceptual Thinking – Level 4
• Job Knowledge Sharing

8. Language Requirements

Proficiency in at least one of the African Union’s working languages is mandatory. The languages are:

• Arabic
• English
• French
• Kiswahili
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Fluency in an additional African Union working language will be an added advantage.

9. Travel Requirements

The position requires frequent travel to Ebola-affected areas, high-risk districts, border locations, and operational coordination meetings.

10. Contract Duration and Tenure

The appointment will be for 11 months, with the first three months considered a probationary period.

The contract may be renewed subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance, and agreed deliverables.

11. Remuneration

The monthly salary for the P4 Step 5 position, inclusive of all allowances, is indicated below.

Duty Station	Locally Recruited Staff	Internationally Recruited Staff
Central African Republic	7,920.60	9,561.60
Somalia	9,092.11	9,849.19
Kenya	7,364.05	8,505.35
Tanzania	6,985.83	8,204.64
Cameroon	7,663.53	8,918.91
Uganda	6,985.83	8,204.64

Note: The original vacancy announcement does not specify the currency of the salary figures. Applicants should confirm the applicable currency and remuneration details through the official recruitment portal.

The listed duty stations also include Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo, although salary figures for these locations were not provided in the supplied announcement.

12. Gender Mainstreaming and Equal Opportunity

The African Union is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of South Sudan are also strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

13. Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a fully completed online application accompanied by the following documents:

1. An updated curriculum vitae (CV).
2. A valid African passport.
3. Relevant academic qualifications, including diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, and other certificates relevant to the applicant’s area of expertise.

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are submitted and that the information provided in the application is complete and accurate.

14. Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications is November 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. East Africa Time (EAT).

Only candidates who meet all the job requirements and are shortlisted for interviews will be contacted.

15. How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online through the official African Union recruitment portal using the application link below.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Applicants should verify the vacancy details and duty station preferences on the official portal before submitting their applications.

Job Type: Full-Time

Application Deadline: November 11, 2026