Pharmaceuticals R&D Expert
Details
Description
Pharmaceuticals R&D Expert
(m/f/x) – Ethiopia
Enabel is the Belgian development agency. It implements Belgium’s governmental cooperation. The agency also works for other national and international donors. With its partners in Belgium and abroad, Enabel offers solutions to address pressing global challenges - Climate Change, Urbanisation, Human Mobility, Peace and Security, Economic and Social Inequality - and to promote Global Citizenship. With 2,000 staff, Enabel manages about 170 projects in twenty countries, in Belgium, Africa and the Middle East.
Background
Africa today only produces 1% of the vaccines that are needed on the continent. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown large inequalities in access to quality health services and demonstrated the need for strong health systems and better pandemic preparedness all over the world. Universal health coverage can only be achieved when there is affordable access to safe, effective, and quality medicines and health products.
The Team Europe Initiative Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (TEI MAV+) aims to facilitate equitable access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential vaccines, medicines and health technologies for all Africans. It is a new three-year project that aims at boosting local manufacturing capacities in Africa and strengthening pharmaceutical systems in Africa. The TEI operates at continental and national levels on 3 dimensions: supply side, demand and enabling ecosystem. The TEI MAV+ is mainly composed of the European Commission (DG INTPA), European Member States, development agencies and institutions such as the European Medicine Agency which are engaged in enhancing access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies. It works in close collaboration with African Union, particularly Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and the recently created African Medicine Agency (AMA).
The Team Europe Support Structure Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (TESS MAV+) – ‘the project’ aims to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential vaccines, medicines and health technologies for all, in alignment with SDG 3.8 and in the context of promoting universal health coverage (UHC).
The specific objective of the project is to enhance TEI MAV+ coordination, technical expertise, progress monitoring and communication.
The project includes four outputs:
1. Operational support to the European Commission to facilitate the overall coordination of Team Europe members and the TEI monitoring, evaluation and communication
2. Technical Support to TEI-MAV+ workstreams
3. Technical Support to PAVM Secretariat
4. Technical Support to strengthen equitable access to quality health products in Africa
The project is a consortium of 3 European agencies: Enabel (lead), Expertise France and GIZ gmbh.
Job description
As Pharmaceuticals R&D Expert within the MAV+ project team and under the supervision of the Project Manager,
· You advance the vaccines, medicines and health technologies R&D agenda for Africa by identifying entry points for action, providing requisite technical and scientific subject matter advice, identifying next steps, and a strategy for action as required for PAVM’s strategy setting in the areas of R&D.
· You advise on necessary next steps for creating a well-functioning, healthy market for vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa, with a focus on involvement in or potential support to initiation of alliances and networks in this highly dynamic field.
· You identify areas in which PAVM can promote R&D in member states with the aim of exploring synergies and entry points within the African region and guide the workstream to work closely to achieve outcomes.
· You advise on how to institutionalize a R&D strategy within Africa through procurement and other incentives, at the regional and sub-regional levels.
· You guide the accomplishment of synergies with PAVM’s work agenda. Support Africa CDC and PAVM with general strategic advisory services on direction of the current and future projects and programmes in this regard, as applicable, and as needed.
· You advise on expansion of the full vaccines, medicines and health technologies R&D ecosystem in Africa.
· You advise on and coordinate Africa CDC’s global R&D partners.
· You contribute to the coordination mechanism with other TESS Experts.
· You contribute to the implementation of the TESS by providing inputs for planning, execution, coordination and monitoring and evaluation of activities in order to ensure that the results of the program (outputs – outcomes) are achieved within the set execution deadline.
Key tasks/responsibilities:
· As a Vaccines, medicines and health technologies R&D expert
o You analyse situation, good practices, lessons learnt, and priority needs with regards to R&D in the pharmaceutical sector
o You contribute to strategic and operational planning
o You identify the additional technical expertise required to carry out the activities
o You engage with academic institutions in Africa and abroad for R&D in Africa
o You promote inter-university twinnings or collaborative activities
o You define or revise the technical specifications when preparing public procurement tender specifications
o You continuously update the information so that the M&E systems have information and the performance of the program can be measured
o You keep the factual data (evidence) that will guide decision-making up to date
o You develop/complete the databases in order to allow for digital and up-to-date management of information
o You provide for mechanisms and methods allowing for correct scientific monitoring of results situation analysis
· As a Technical advisor
o You keep abreast of recent and interesting developments in pharmaceutical R&D
o You participate to technical and scientific meetings in R&D
o You carry out required prospecting to remain innovative and creative in achieving the expected objectives or target
o You provide structured and clear feedback to all members of the team on a regular basis about the progress and ensure knowledge management
o You facilitates exchanges of experience and lessons between the different implementing actors and ensure proper communication on results.
o You produce inputs to the strategy notes and technical notes needed with and for the partner
o You participate to the strategy dialogue at the sector and technical level
o You ensure the dialogue with the national and international institutions and organisations
o You actively participate to the alignment, consistency and coordination of the various technical and financial partners
o You actively seek third-party assignments and contribute to the development of proposals
· As a knowledge manager
o You produce strategic, policy and technical communication on the progress of the program
o You produce factual data (evidence) on the innovations and achievements and present them (posters, presentations on the occasion of colloquia, etc.)
o You contribute to the development of a knowledge-based and evidence-driven approach
o You assist in the monitoring to the TEI MAV+ Joint Intervention Logic in the field of pharmaceutical R&D
o You identify opportunities for high level communication
Your profile
Required qualifications
· Master’s degree in health sciences, chemistry or related ;
· PhD degree in the above sciences is a key asset ;
· Specialization in the area of pharmaceutical sciences or pharmaceutical industry is a key asset.
Required experience
· Minimum 5 years experience in research or academic setting;
· Minimum 5 years in an international experience outside your country of origin or in development cooperation;
· Experience in providing training in the area of expertise;
· Experience in the field of vaccines or health products manufacturing or R&D is a key asset.
Required skills and knowledge
· Broad and in-depth understanding of the diverse aspects of development cooperation and sustainable development;
· Good knowledge of pro-active multi-actor partnership building and knowledge management;
· Pro-active results-oriented advisor;
· Adaptability and flexibility with priority setting capacities;
· High interpersonal and relational skills to build trust within the team and with the partners;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills
· You are fluent in spoken and written French and/or Dutch. You work in an international environment; knowledge of English is therefore required.
Specific competences or knowledge considered an asset:
· Excellent knowledge of African and the global vaccines, medicines and health technologies R&D ecosystem and innovation processes;
· Experience with coordinating multi-actor partnerships;
· Experience with the private pharmaceutical sector;
· Work experience in Africa.
Applicants are also required to commit to the vision, mission and values of Enabel (https://www.enabel.be/content/enabel-vision-mission-values).
We offer you
· A challenging and varied job in an international environment.
· A contract until December 31st 2025. You are based in Addis Ababa.
· A salary package in accordance with our salary scales (employed by Enabel in the function of “Sector & Thematic Expert” - Class 6), and Enabel expat benefits such as a remoteness, assignment and hardship allowance, (capped) coverage of housing expenses, a moving compensation, an installation compensation, (capped) coverage of school expenses for children accompanying, an insurance package for the whole family, including repatriation insurance, and an annual round-trip flight ticket for each family member.
· In case of expatriation without the (dependent) members of the family, up to six additional round-trip flight tickets to the country of origin or another destination (capped in accordance with Enabel rules).
· The various amounts vary in function of relevant recognised experience for the function and family composition.
Following this recruitment procedure a shortlist of successful applicants may be constituted which may be sourced in the next three years for similar job openings.
The contract for this position can only become effective once the required authorisations have been received from the authorities.
Every person who fulfils the conditions listed in our job advertisements can apply. Enabel is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in its workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability status or any other factor other than competence.
Are you interested?
Apply here on-line with an application letter and your updated CV, at the latest by 18 July 2023.
Only applications that are registered here via our on-line portal will be considered.
