EPI Data Officer

BACKGROUND: 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview: 

The health sector in Ethiopia currently implements activities in three distinct settings: A refugee health program that is involved in delivery of community based reproductive health services as well as HIV/AIDS prevention activities; and a child survival community-based treatment program and community surveillance for measles, tetanus, and polio and also Emergence Response Mechanism (ERM). The IRC also secured funding from Pfizer for the purpose of activities related to work with zero dose and under-immunized children in four districts with in three zones of Tigray. The Pfizer project EPI Data officer Under the Senior Gavi REACH officers & EPI specialist, the EPI data officer will accountable for collecting statistical data from the IRC-supporting HFs, Pfizer project health officers and Gavi REACH officers and generating periodic weekly and monthly reports and as needed statistical reports for program follow up and supervision purposes. The position holder will take part in the data auditing and verification activities to coordinate the delivery of high-quality services. The EPI data officer is expected to update the Gavi REACH and Pfizer project reporting tools as well as DHIS2 and HMIS information management systems on regular basis.

Major Responsibilities:

·    Create and maintain databases and spreadsheets that meet programmed requirements.        

·    Manage data processing works through checking data entry quality, data cleaning, standardization, and analysis, and regularly back up data.

·    Produce scheduled reports and analyses (weekly, monthly, and quarterly, Annually) as required.

·    Produce ad hoc reports as requested by PF and donors as appropriate and authorized.

·    Support M & E Officer to collect quality data from the field.

·    Ensure appropriate security measures are taken to prevent unauthorized access to data.

·    Train program staff on data collection tools and methodologies

·    Conduct relevant and ad-hoc data quality checks on data from different intervention areas.

·    Ensuring all data collected and entered to databases is consistently accurate and complete.

·    Being responsible for ensuring that quality control queries of the database are followed up, ensuring identification of data entry errors and corrections.

·    Immediately reporting to the supervisor, any anomalies in the database.                                                                                     

·    Collect, review, and organize data of the treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases within the scope of the IRC Pfizer project. 

·    Ensure that database is backed up on a regular basis.                                                              

·    Support the HPM, Snr. Gavi REACH officers and EPI specialist in monitoring the proper reporting is maintained in the functioning of the Pfizer and Gavi REACH project.                 

·    Use data collection tools, such as excel to organize and maintain client’s data.

·    Work with staff to ensure care and communication is culturally sensitive and ensure clients confidentiality is always respected.

·    Ensure that data collection supplies are always available.

·    Build the Capacity of Health & Nutrition in data management & analysis through job technical support.

·    Other duties as assigned.

Grants Management

·    Responsible for preparation of activity, procurement, and spending plan.

·    Responsible for revision and updating detailed activity, spending and procurement plans accordingly.

·    Ensure budget activity lines are assigned well as per the description in the proposal.

Monitoring & Evaluation

·    Compile, and report project progress reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly) to Senior project officer and EPI specialist.

·    Ensure timely compilation of social mobilization field data, including social mobilization checklists within the overall polio and RI monitoring and evaluation framework.

·    Supervise and evaluate the program activities and make sure that monthly & quarter indicators met or not.

·    Provide technical support to evaluate the efficiency of the program implementation and recommended changes in goals, objectives, intervention strategies, measurable outputs, and timelines.

 Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

·    Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

·    Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Education and experience

·    Health informatics/Health information technician/ computer science from a recognized college/University.

Work experience:

·    Minimum of two years for degree holders and one year of relevant experience for postgraduate and five years of relevant experience for diploma holders.

·    Work experience in immunization, and PHEM is an asset.

·    Good project management skills. Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage the implementation of ZDC in hard-to-reach areas.

·    Understanding of Expand program of immunization (EPI) and diseases surveillance /PHEM/ policy in Ethiopia.

Personal specifications

·    Ability to work under pressure, long work hours and high workload.

·    Good interpersonal skills- verbal and written communication skills.

·    Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.

·    Work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required.

·    Ability to constructively address gaps and weaknesses.

Language Skills:    

·    Strong oral and written communication skills in English       

-    Strong oral and written communication skills in Amharic and Tigrigna is plus

Certificates or Licenses:

·    Renewed Professional license.