Regional Emergency Director

Organizational Context

The Director, EPR, reports to the Regional Director, overseeing organizational readiness, Member States preparedness, and emergency management. This role involves leading, coordinating, and implementing WHO AFRO's regional strategies and interventions for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), contributing to SDG targets within the WHO Transformation Program and GPW14.

Job Purpose

The role's purpose is to provide technical and managerial leadership, enhancing countries' capacity to prepare for, rapidly detect, and respond to health emergencies, preventing epidemics and pandemics. This includes ensuring operational readiness to assess and manage health risks and vulnerabilities. The incumbent integrates emergency preparedness into health systems strengthening, collaborating with HSS and DPC Clusters. A key responsibility is to ensure robust WHO management, coordination, and leadership during outbreaks and other health emergencies, including humanitarian crises and protracted emergencies. The position contributes to achieving Health Security, Universal Health Coverage, and SDGs in the WHO African Region by building Member States' capacity to manage risks and coordinating international responses when national capacities are overwhelmed.

Responsibilities

The incumbent provides technical and managerial leadership to strengthen countries' capacity for health emergency preparedness, rapid detection, and response, including preventing epidemics and pandemics. This involves ensuring operational readiness to assess and manage all-hazard risks and vulnerabilities, thereby contributing to health security and Universal Health Coverage. The Director advises the Regional Director on policy, strategic, and technical matters, and leads the development, implementation, and performance of WHO AFRO's regional strategies and interventions in Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR). Key duties include ensuring strong WHO management, coordination, and leadership during outbreaks and other health emergencies, such as acute humanitarian crises, disasters, and protracted emergencies. The role also involves incorporating emergency and outbreak preparedness into health systems strengthening through collaboration with HSS and DPC Clusters, and facilitating rapid, clear information flow with other Regions and Headquarters for policy and programmatic actions.

Work Experience

Essential: Minimum 15 years of national and international experience in managing and implementing health security, emergency, surveillance, and public health programs, with at least 3 years in senior management overseeing HR and finance. Proven experience in policy/strategy development and coordinating large-scale projects or pandemics in developing countries, including UN inter-agency coordination for health emergencies. Desirable: Diverse experience across developing and developed countries, including public health, private sector, NGOs, UN, or governmental health agencies.

Skills

Leadership, communication (written and verbal), teamwork, and multicultural environment proficiency. Extensive knowledge of public health emergency response policies, strategies, and interventions, including infectious disease epidemiology and control. Familiarity with WHO operations (Regional Office, Executive Board, WHA, Regional Committee for Africa). Ability to plan, execute, supervise, and manage large international health programs. Computer literacy, including standard office software and eHealth tools. Expert English with intermediate French, or expert French with intermediate English.

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