About EVIHDAF

EVIHDAF (www.evihdaf.com) is an international research and development organization headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, which serves the West and Central Africa region. We have an office in Niamey, Niger, and a Data Unit satellite office in Parakou, Benin. Utilizing a diverse array of approaches rooted in rigorous design, adaptive, cutting-edge, and locally relevant methods, we provide services in Health Program Implementation and Scale-Up; Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (RMEL); Data Systems for Decision-Making; and Capacity Strengthening. We are positioned to serve as a Regional Hub for the coordination of various initiatives in West & Central Africa. Our practice areas include Health and Health Systems, Nutrition and Food Security, Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience, and Population Migration and Displacements.

Position Overview

EVIHDAF and its partners are looking for an experienced Surveillance & Epidemiology Lead in anticipation of a Global Health Security (GHS) project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Lead provides senior-level technical leadership and oversight for all surveillance components of the GHS project. The lead will liaise with other technical leads to ensure project synergies and efficiency.

The role focuses on strengthening indicator- and event-based surveillance systems – including community-based surveillance, points of entry, and outbreak detection and response – in strict alignment with the America First Global Health Strategy and new Bilateral Agreements on Global Health Cooperation. Reporting to the Project Director, the Lead works closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH), national public health institutes, laboratories, and other implementing partners to improve early detection, reporting, and strategic use of surveillance data for public health decision-making. This position requires a high degree of flexibility, the ability to work under pressure, and a strong capacity to navigate complex multicultural environments while facilitating the transition of surveillance functions to national ownership.

Specific Responsibilities

Program Management and Technical Leadership

• Leadthe design and implementation of the project’s surveillance and epidemiology strategy, ensuring alignment with national plans and the America First Global Health Strategy.
• Provide expert technical input to annual workplans, budgets, and performance reports, ensuring activities represent strategic investments that reduce long-term foreign dependence.
• Identify priority gaps in national and subnational surveillance systems and propose costed improvement plans to enhance Joint External Evaluation (JEE) scores and meet Bilateral MOU benchmarks.

Surveillance Systems Strengthening

• Support the MoH and national public health institutes to strengthen indicator-based surveillance (IDSR, EWARN) and integrate these with event-based and community-based surveillance (CBS).
• Provide technical assistance to improve surveillance of priority epidemic-prone diseases, zoonotic diseases, AMR, and emerging infections, facilitating the One Health approach.
• Strengthen surveillance capacities at points of entry (PoE) and in high-risk settings such as border districts and urban hotspots.
• Collaborate with the Health Informatics & Digital Health Lead to implement systems that enhance data visualization, ensuring these can be sustained through co-investment commitments.

Outbreak Detection, Investigation, and Response

• Strengthen national and subnational capacities for early warning, alert, and response (EWAR) to achieve the 7-1-7 target.
• Provide technical guidance for outbreak investigations, including field epidemiology, contact tracing, and analytical reporting.
• Coordinate with Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to ensure accurate reporting to international systems like IHR and WAHIS.

Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Support national leaders in formulating and implementing strategies for the public health surveillance workforce, focusing on mapping health workers to partner government payrolls over a multi-year period.
• Develop and adapt training materials, SOPs, and job aids focused on field epidemiology and data use.
• Support the integration of surveillance content into Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) to foster institutional self-reliance.

Coordination and Representation

• Serve as the primary technical counterpart on surveillance to the MoH and CDC, ensuring coordination with partners, including faith-based organizations and the private sector.
• Represent the project in national technical working groups (TWGs), task forces, and GHS coordination forums.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• Educational Background: Advanced degree (PhD, MPH, MSc, or equivalent) in Epidemiology, Public Health, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public health surveillance and field epidemiology, including extensive work with IDSR systems in low- or middle-income countries.
• Donor Expertise: Prior strong experience on U.S. Government (USG) funding projects is essential. Familiarity with CDC-funded projects and GHSA indicators is highly desirable.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in outbreak investigation, surveillance data analysis, and the translation of findings into policy recommendations.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English; fluency in French is mandatory given the regional focus on West and Central Africa.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in epidemiologic software and tools such as Excel, R, STATA, Epi Info, or DHIS2 analytics.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel within the region and to remote settings (up to 20%).

How to apply?

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application package via email to , with subject line “GHS Surveillance & Epidemiology Lead”.

The application package must include:

1. A Cover Letter (maximum three pages) detailing the candidate’s relevant experience and suitability for the position.
2. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum of seven (7) pages), including the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional referees.

Candidates from the West and Central Africa region are particularly encouraged to apply.

The position will remain open until it is filled.

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