Ebola Response Officer

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in challenging global environments to protect children's rights and help them reach their full potential. The organization's mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, through programs, advocacy, and operations, with a focus on equity for the most disadvantaged. This specific call for applications aims to build a roster of professionals to support UN agencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with preparedness and response to Ebola outbreaks, requiring a multidisciplinary approach centered on communities and strengthened health systems.

Job Purpose

This assignment seeks to establish a roster of qualified professionals to bolster UN agencies' capacity in preparing for and responding to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Selected candidates will be prepared for short-notice deployment to support emergency operations. The role necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that prioritizes community engagement, strengthens health systems, and ensures access to essential services. Applicants with expertise across various technical areas are invited to contribute to critical outbreak response efforts, aiming to mitigate the impact of the epidemic and support affected populations.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities are diverse and depend on the specific area of expertise, including: Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE): Designing, implementing, and monitoring strategies to inform and empower communities, developing culturally appropriate messaging, establishing feedback mechanisms, and strengthening coordination with stakeholders. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) / PSEA: Delivering MHPSS services, designing programs based on needs assessments, developing tools for various age groups, strengthening partner capacity, and maintaining referral pathways. WASH - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Implementing and monitoring WASH and IPC interventions in communities and health facilities, ensuring adherence to protocols, training health workers, and supporting preparedness planning. Community-Based Surveillance (CBS): Strengthening community surveillance systems for early detection and response, training volunteers, promoting timely referral of suspected cases, and supporting data collection and analysis. Gender Specialist: Integrating gender equality and inclusion into the response, conducting gender analyses, advising on gender-responsive approaches, and supporting the prevention of gender-based violence. Ebola Health Expert: Providing technical leadership on Ebola prevention, case management, and outbreak control, supporting clinical care protocols, case investigation, contact tracing, and infection prevention measures. Nutrition and Specialized Care: Delivering integrated nutrition services, promoting safe feeding practices, managing malnutrition, and ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable populations. Data Analysis: Collecting, managing, analyzing, and visualizing programme and epidemiological data to support evidence-based decision-making, producing analytical products, and strengthening data quality assurance. Core Responsibilities (All Profiles): Supporting rapid assessments, programme planning, implementation, and monitoring; strengthening coordination; building capacity; ensuring accountability to affected populations; and integrating gender, protection, and inclusion.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience is required, preferably in humanitarian or emergency contexts, with a strong understanding of outbreak response, such as Ebola. Specific experience in data management systems is beneficial for data analysis roles. Excellent coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills are essential across all profiles.

Skills

Key competencies include teamwork, delivering results, managing and sharing knowledge, accountability, communication, inclusion and respect for diversity, integrity and transparency, professionalism, courage, and empathy. Specific technical skills may include crisis and emergency response, risk communication, community engagement, mental health support, WASH, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance, gender analysis, clinical case management, nutrition, and data analysis.

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