AVoHC Kofi Annan Scholars Program – Procurement Specialist (AfCDC) Full Time NEW

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• Transparency and Accountability                    • Integrity and Impartiality

• Efficiency and Professionalism                       • Information and Knowledge Sharing

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Organization Information

Position: AVoHC Kofi Annan Scholars Program – Procurement Specialist
Reports to: N/A
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Division: Health Workforce Division
Number of Direct Reports: N/A
Number of Indirect Reports: N/A
Job Grade: Rapid Responder
Number of Positions: 20
Contract Type: Volunteer
Location: N/A

Purpose of Job

In June 2015, the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government, through Decision AU/Dec.570 (XXV), mandated the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with Member States and partners, to establish the African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC). The AVoHC was conceived as a continental mechanism to rapidly deploy skilled African public health professionals in support of Member States during health emergencies and other priority public health interventions, strengthening Africa’s collective capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats in a timely and coordinated manner.

Africa CDC’s mandate is anchored in advancing Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty agenda, which refers to the continent’s ability to independently prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats through strong institutions, sustainable financing, skilled human capital, and locally owned data, systems, and decision-making processes. Health security, in this context, goes beyond emergency response and includes the long-term institutional capacity of Member States to plan, finance, manage, and sustain public health functions. Health sovereignty complements this by emphasizing African ownership of public health priorities, data, financing mechanisms, and implementation pathways, ensuring that national and continental responses are driven by local evidence.

Achieving this agenda requires not only technical interventions, but also strong leadership, robust public financial management, procurement management, and systems-level thinking within Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, and other key health institutions. Persistent gaps in these areas continue to limit the ability of Member States to translate policy commitments into sustainable, domestically driven action.

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Visionary, principled, and technically competent leadership is therefore critical for Africa to safeguard its health and economic security in an increasingly complex global context shaped by pandemics, geopolitical shifts, trade protectionism, and digital and financial dependencies. Strengthening institutional capacity, particularly in strategic planning, financing, and resource mobilization, is essential to achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063.

In response to this need, the African Union Commission launched the Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Program (KA-GHLP) on 25 May 2020 as a flagship initiative of Africa CDC, in partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation. The Program aims to build a pipeline of African public health leaders capable of advancing Africa’s health security and sovereignty agenda. KA-GHLP consists of three complementary components:

1. The Public Health Leadership Fellowship,
2. The Public Health Scholars Program, and
3. The Public Health Policy Forum.

The Kofi Annan Scholars Program (PHSP) deploys experienced African public health professionals, including experts from the African Diaspora, into time-bound, results-oriented placements within Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, and other strategic national or continental health institutions. These deployments are designed to provide high-level technical assistance, strengthen systems, support institutional transformation, and deliver clearly defined outputs aligned with Africa CDC priorities.

Recognizing the African Diaspora as the sixth region of the African Union since 2012, the Scholars Program also serves as a structured mechanism to harness diaspora expertise in support of Africa’s health security, institutional resilience, and sustainable financing for health.

Within this framework, Africa CDC seeks to establish a roster of qualified Procurement Experts under the AVoHC mechanism as part of the Kofi Annan Scholars Program. Inclusion in the roster does not constitute recruitment into a staff position; rather, it enables paid, time-bound professional deployments based on programmatic needs, availability of funding, and agreed deliverables. Scholars engaged through this mechanism receive remuneration and benefits in accordance with applicable AU rules, regulations, and enumeration guidelines, reflecting the seniority, expertise, and outputs expected from the assignment.

The overarching objective of the Scholars Program is to deliver high-quality technical outputs, strengthen national and regional public health systems, and advance Africa CDC’s mandate on health security and sovereignty, while fostering leadership, knowledge transfer, and sustainable capacity building across the continent.

Main Functions

The Procurement Specialist will serve as a technical advisor embedded within key national institutions, working to improve procurement systems, governance, and institutional efficiency. The Specialist will guide the development of policies, manuals, and capacity-building strategies, while supporting Africa CDC’s broader vision, including pooled procurement and local manufacturing under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead diagnostic reviews of existing procurement frameworks, identifying systemic gaps and opportunities for reform.
• Develop or update comprehensive procurement manuals aligned with national and AU regulations.
• Facilitate adherence to both Member State procurement laws and international procurement standards.
• Analyze procurement trends (e.g., vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics), identify challenges, and conduct SWOT analyses to guide national strategies.
• Support efforts to design or optimize pooled procurement mechanisms, aligned with Africa CDC’s strategy and AfCFTA commitments.
• Deliver targeted capacity-building workshops for procurement and finance teams.
• Introduce contract negotiation, supplier evaluation, and risk mitigation practices into daily operations.
• Establish internal controls, procurement KPIs, and performance monitoring tools.
• Engage stakeholders across government and development partners to promote transparency and accountability.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s or Doctoral degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional certification such as CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in procurement, contract management, or policy development.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement planning, evaluation, and supplier management.
• Familiarity with public procurement regulations and institutional reform processes in Africa.
• Prior experience collaborating with ministries, government agencies, and policy-makers.
• Excellent writing, reporting, and communication skills.

Required Skills

Functional Skills

• Proven ability to conduct procurement gap analysis and lead strategic planning.
• Advanced knowledge of AU and international procurement standards.
• Capacity to draft high-quality procurement manuals and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Personal Abilities

• Resilience,    adaptability,    and    emotional    intelligence    in    high-pressure environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings.

Language Requirement:

• Proficiency in at least one AU working language (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili).
• Knowledge of two or more additional AU working languages is an asset.

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TENURE OF APPOINTMENT
The Kofi Annan Scholars – AVoHC Team Members will be deployed on an on-call basis, based on request from member states. The Africa CDC will determine the duration of deployment in consultation with member state authorities.
GENDER MAINSTREAMING:
Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
REMUNERATION:
This is a call for AVoHC membership. Successful applicants are not entitled to any monetary incentives during membership.  However, during the assignment, deployed experts will have rights to the following:

• Stipend provided for the duration of deployment.
• All travel, accommodation, and deployment-related expenses covered by Africa CDC.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact assignments with government and regulatory authorities across Africa

Advantages of becoming an AVoHC member 

As an AVoHC member, you will learn about different cultures and languages, expand your networks and gain unmatched professional and life experiences. During your membership, you will have the following opportunities:

• Contribute directly to Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty agenda by supporting NPHIs and member states in mobilising their resources and achieving health security.
•  Collaborate with Member States Ministries of Health, NPHIs, and different stakeholders.
•  Gain continental-level exposure and influence.

AVoHC members come from 55 countries, representing diverse cultures. They bring a wide variety of perspectives and approaches, which lend a dynamism to the volunteering assignment. Your membership and assignments will enable you to make a lasting impact. It can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the immediate results of your efforts – both for the people you serve and yourself.

How To Apply

Applications must be made not later than April 12, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
-Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
-Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

Application Link: https://jobs.au.int/job/AVoHC-Kofi-Annan-Scholars-Program-Procurement-Specialist-%28AfCDC%29/2733-en_US