The Emergency Preparedness Specialist will lead activities under the Multi-Phase Approach Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (MPA-HEPRR) Project. The role focuses on strengthening preparedness, response, and continuity of essential health services during public health emergencies (PHEs). The specialist will support regional and national health authorities in emergency planning, risk assessment, workforce surge capacity, emergency supply management, health systems resilience, and digital health solutions.

Project

Multi-Phase Approach Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (MPA-HEPRR) Project

• Public Health Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response
• Health Systems Resilience
• Continuity of Essential Health Services
• Emergency Supply Chain Management
• Cross-Border Health Workforce Mobilization

Key Responsibilities

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Lead implementation of emergency preparedness activities under the MPA-HEPRR Project.
• Support continuity of essential health services during public health emergencies.
• Develop mitigation strategies and operational guidelines for emergency response.
• Strengthen preparedness and resilience capacities at regional and national levels.

Health Workforce Surge Capacity

• Support activities that strengthen regulatory and management mechanisms for health professionals.
• Enhance regional surge capacity systems.
• Facilitate rapid mobilization of healthcare workers across borders during health emergencies.
• Strengthen workforce preparedness and deployment mechanisms.

Research and Knowledge Management

• Generate regional knowledge and evidence through:
  • Operational research
  • Analytical research
  • Health emergency assessments
• Contribute to evidence-based emergency preparedness and response planning.
• Support dissemination of research findings and best practices.

Emergency Supply Chain Management

• Improve forecasting systems for emergency health needs.
• Support pre-positioning of emergency stockpiles and critical medical supplies.
• Align emergency supply planning with identified risk profiles.
• Strengthen preparedness for priority health emergencies.

Health Emergency Assessments

• Support periodic preparedness assessments and evaluations, including:
  • State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR)
  • Joint External Evaluations (JEE)
  • After-Action Reviews (AAR)
  • Intra-Action Reviews (IAR)
• Monitor preparedness and response performance during health emergencies.

Risk Assessment and Mapping

• Lead health authorities in assessing existing and emerging health risks.
• Conduct risk mapping exercises.
• Support development of risk mitigation strategies.
• Strengthen emergency preparedness planning based on identified risks.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Collaborate with project stakeholders to assess health needs of affected populations.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and response activities with relevant partners.
• Support multi-sectoral collaboration and information sharing.

Digital Health and Innovation

• Provide technical input into the development of digital platforms supporting:
  • Health surveillance
  • Emergency response
  • Continuity of health service delivery
• Promote use of digital technologies and eHealth solutions during emergencies.

Technical Leadership and Coordination

• Contribute to agenda setting and coordination of RAC meetings.
• Co-lead Communities of Practice as assigned.
• Provide technical guidance on public health emergency preparedness and response.

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in any of the following fields:
  • Public Health
  • Medicine
  • Clinical Sciences
  • Related Health Field

Preferred Qualification:

• Postgraduate qualification in:
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Related field

Work Experience

Required:

• Minimum two (2) years of clinical practice experience.
• Experience in public health emergency preparedness and response.
• Experience using digital technologies and eHealth systems for:
  • Health surveillance
  • Emergency response
  • Public health service delivery
• Experience implementing prevention, care, and control measures during health emergencies.

Technical Skills

Public Health and Emergency Management

• Public Health Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response Coordination
• Health Systems Strengthening
• Risk Assessment and Mapping
• Emergency Planning
• Emergency Supply Chain Management

Research and Analysis

• Operational Research
• Analytical Research
• Data Interpretation
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Monitoring and Evaluation

Digital Health

• eHealth Systems
• Digital Health Technologies
• Health Surveillance Systems
• Emergency Information Systems

Reporting and Documentation

• Technical Report Writing
• Scientific Writing
• Policy Brief Development
• Documentation and Knowledge Management

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent report-writing and scientific publication skills.
• Diplomatic and negotiation skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Leadership and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure during emergency situations.

Additional Requirements

Demonstrated Ability:

• Proven analytical skills.
• Proven writing ability demonstrated through:
  • Technical reports
  • Scientific publications
  • Public health documentation

• Lead implementation of emergency preparedness activities under the MPA-HEPRR Project.
• Support continuity of essential health services during public health emergencies.
• Develop mitigation strategies and operational guidelines for emergency response.
• Strengthen preparedness and resilience capacities at regional and national levels.
• Support activities that strengthen regulatory and management mechanisms for health professionals.
• Enhance regional surge capacity systems.
• Facilitate rapid mobilization of healthcare workers across borders during health emergencies.
• Strengthen workforce preparedness and deployment mechanisms.
• Generate regional knowledge and evidence through: Operational research, Analytical research, Health emergency assessments.
• Contribute to evidence-based emergency preparedness and response planning.
• Support dissemination of research findings and best practices.
• Improve forecasting systems for emergency health needs.
• Support pre-positioning of emergency stockpiles and critical medical supplies.
• Align emergency supply planning with identified risk profiles.
• Strengthen preparedness for priority health emergencies.
• Support periodic preparedness assessments and evaluations, including: State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR), Joint External Evaluations (JEE), After-Action Reviews (AAR), Intra-Action Reviews (IAR).
• Monitor preparedness and response performance during health emergencies.
• Lead health authorities in assessing existing and emerging health risks.
• Conduct risk mapping exercises.
• Support development of risk mitigation strategies.
• Strengthen emergency preparedness planning based on identified risks.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to assess health needs of affected populations.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and response activities with relevant partners.
• Support multi-sectoral collaboration and information sharing.
• Provide technical input into the development of digital platforms supporting: Health surveillance, Emergency response, Continuity of health service delivery.
• Promote use of digital technologies and eHealth solutions during emergencies.
• Contribute to agenda setting and coordination of RAC meetings.
• Co-lead Communities of Practice as assigned.
• Provide technical guidance on public health emergency preparedness and response.

• Public Health Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response Coordination
• Health Systems Strengthening
• Risk Assessment and Mapping
• Emergency Planning
• Emergency Supply Chain Management
• Operational Research
• Analytical Research
• Data Interpretation
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• eHealth Systems
• Digital Health Technologies
• Health Surveillance Systems
• Emergency Information Systems
• Technical Report Writing
• Scientific Writing
• Policy Brief Development
• Documentation and Knowledge Management
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent report-writing and scientific publication skills.
• Diplomatic and negotiation skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Leadership and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure during emergency situations.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Proven writing ability demonstrated through: Technical reports, Scientific publications, Public health documentation.

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Medicine, Clinical Sciences, or a Related Health Field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Emergency Medicine, Public Health, or a Related field (Preferred).