Health Expert COMESA

To manage the COMESA Health Desk and promote sustainable institutionalization of health matters in the COMESA regional integration mandate.

To facilitate and coordinate policy making in health, monitoring of its implementation, and networking with stakeholders at national, regional, continental, and global levels for seamless and well-coordinated programmes on health.

MAIN DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Under the direct supervision of Director of Gender and Social Affairs, the incumbent of the post will perform the following duties:

• Establish and manage the COMESA Health Desk and coordinate the development, implementation and monitoring of COMESA health programme, strategic plans, and projects,work plans in-line with the COMESA Treaty Provisions, Social Charter, Gender Policy, and other policy frameworks;

• Facilitate health regional policy making and coordinate documentation and sharing of good practices on communicable and non-communicable diseases including maternal and child health, adolescent and youth health through engagement with Member States and other stakeholders at regional, continental and global levels;
• Support and/or lead the pharmaceutical development and other health initiatives including those on supply chain in COMESA regional integration mandate;

• Provide technical and programmatic support on health matters in different thematic areas of COMESA – trade, infrastructure, transport, energy and ICTs, agriculture, industry and climate change, gender, youth and social affairs, governance, peace and security, statistics, research and planning, and information and technology, and others to ensure mainstreaming;

• Facilitate the establishment of centre/s of excellency on health in the region, and capacity building and knowledge sharing among Member States ;
• Provide technical and programmatic support to Member States in areas related to disease outbreaks prevention and surveillance mechanisms especially in cross border areas, in partnership with national and regional public health agencies such as national public health institutions, Africa- Center for Disease Control, and others;

• Develops strong relations with health focal points in Member States and various stakeholders including playing a strong role on advocacy , Coordination and disseminate information on commitments on health programmes and good practices through publications and press releases;
• Facilitate the creation of networking mechanism (including using social media platforms) among health focal points of Member States and advocacy forums on priority health issues and commitments in the COMESA region;

• Supports COMESA Divisions, Units and Institutions to mainstream health in respective programmes and projects drawing from experiences of COVID 19, HIV and AIDS and other factors including physical and psychological trauma;
• Engages and networks with relevant partners and stakeholders including Africa CDC, other RECs, relevant UN Agencies, USAID, US CDC, private sector, foundations, CSOs) at national, regional, continental and global levels on matters of health to be up-to-date with priorities, and share COMESA work on health, and mobilize resources. This includes the development of mechanisms for regular communication and collaboration among stakeholders;

• Undertakes research on health to inform policy and decision making; and ensure robust information management system that facilitates the collection, analysis, and dissemination of health-related data and information . This includes the development of a database of evidence-based health-related policies and practices;

• Prepares quarterly, bi-annual, and annual reports for management and donors;

• Service Policy Organ meetings (including the development of background documents;

• Identifies potential donors/strategic partners, develops proposals, and negotiates programmes and ensures coherence with key partners including African Union (AU) RECs/ Regional Mechanisms;

• Promote recruitment of health interns, and guide, mentor, assist and review their work; and

• Performs any other job related duties assigned by the supervisor from time to time.

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