Senior Field Officer in support to the Immunization service Continuity in the Context of the Ebola outbreak– Isiro, Haut Uele

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This position is based in Isiro, Haut Uele.

DRC for Ebola through Gavi’s First Response Fund/Gavi Continuity of vaccination services in the context of Bundibugyo virus disease in the DRC.

Under the supervision of the Vaccine Implementation Country Lead of PATH, the Senior Field Officer will provide technical support to health zones affected by the Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak within the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Antenna of Isiro, Haut-Uele Province, DRC. The purpose of this support is to ensure the continuity of routine immunization and vaccination campaigns during the BVD outbreak response, in accordance with EPI guidelines.

The incumbent will collaborate with all immunization staff, the FRF project team, various PATH personnel, Ministry of Health services, and implementing partners operating in the field.

Responsibilities:

1. Coordination Support

• Provide technical support for the planning and routine monitoring of EPI Antenna activities.

• Support the preparation and organization of provincial EPI coordination meetings (CCPeV, CSSE pillar meetings, PNCPS, and CREC pillar meetings).

• Support the consolidation of micro-plans from the health zones served by the EPI Antenna of Isiro in Haut Uele.

• Support the organization of quarterly reviews of vaccination activities and monitor the implementation of corrective action plans addressing weaknesses identified in health zones.

• Support the development and monitoring of the provincial outbreak response operational plan.

2. Monitoring & Evaluation and Vaccination Data Management Support

• Conduct an initial assessment of vaccination data quality and completeness and estimate the number of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in intervention health zones.

• Support the establishment of data collection and reporting tools required for monthly monitoring (data discrepancy tracking tools, monthly report templates).

• Strengthen capacity in data analysis and other technical areas at the antenna and health zone levels through regular coaching.

• Support health zones in collecting, compiling, analyzing, and reporting routine immunization and campaign data through various systems (DHIS2 and monthly SNIS reports).

• Support the planning and implementation of quarterly joint supervision visits to health zones.

• Contribute to identifying and reducing discrepancies among different data management tools (vaccination registers, tally sheets, SNIS monthly reports, and DHIS2 reports).

• Support vaccine stock inventory activities.

• Support monthly and quarterly data validation meetings at the antenna level.

• Support the identification of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children through data analysis and monitor follow-up vaccination efforts.

• Produce monthly monitoring reports on vaccination indicators and data completeness.

3. Community Engagement Support

• Support health zones in mapping social mobilization structures, including non-traditional partners (NTPs) and youth clubs, that can help increase demand for and utilization of vaccination services.

• Identify, through community assessments, specific barriers that parents and caregivers face in accessing routine immunization services for their children during the BVD outbreak.

• Develop appropriate tools to monitor activities and continuously collect quantitative and qualitative data to measure the results of community engagement initiatives aimed at improving vaccination access.

• Support health zones in mentoring and coordinating engaged non-traditional partners and youth clubs through training, activity monitoring, organization of online or in-person meetings, and provision of communication materials and tools.

• Ensure the operationalization of a social listening system to address rumors and misinformation.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Master's degree or other advanced degree in Medicine or Public Health.

• Experience in planning, coordinating, and supervising immunization services at provincial and health zone levels.

• At least three years of relevant professional experience providing technical assistance to immunization programs.

• Good understanding of vaccination indicators and immunization programming in the DRC.

• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive situations in a challenging political environment.

• Strong communication skills, particularly with Provincial Health Division (DPS), health zones, and communities.

• Knowledge of donor regulations and procedures, particularly Gavi processes.

• Experience using the national health information system (DHIS2).

• Skills in data quality assurance methods and data analysis.

• Excellent report writing and communication skills.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and specialized software such as ODK/Kobo Collect.

• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and multicultural environments.

• Ability to work under pressure.

• Fluency in French and relevant local dialects is required; English proficiency is an asset.

• Ability to travel within the targeted health zones and sites covered by the Antenna of Isiro, Haut Uele