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Médecins Sans Frontières – OCBA (Operational Centre Barcelona - Athens)
is looking for a
EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR
THE EMERGENCY UNIT
GENERAL CONTEXT
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent medical humanitarian action-driven
organisation, providing aid to populations in need, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to the
people affected by armed conflicts, without discrimination and regardless of their race, religion, belief or
political affiliation (MSF Charter).
The operations are implemented by field teams and the mission coordination teams; together with the
organizational units based in Barcelona, Athens and decentralised in Nairobi, Dakar and Amman. The
field operations are guided and supported by 4 Operational Cells, the Emergency Unit and other
departments supporting operations, including the Logistics Department.
Emergency responses fall under the responsibility of the Operations Department, specifically the
Emergency Unit (EU).
The operational plan is channeling most of its energies and capacities to-wards providing lifesaving and
comprehensive care for victims of acute and protracted conflict and violence, emphasizing high quality
interventions and the safety and dignity of patients. In doing so, OCBA will have Emergency response to
acute needs at the forefront of our organizational priorities and culture, in a range of 20 to 30% of our
operational volume.
We will continue improving timely and appropriate emergency response in conflicts, to outbreaks and to
acute nutritional crises.
JOB GENERAL OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXT
Hierarchically accountable to the Head of the Emergency Unit (REUE) and/or its deputy, and functionally
under the Operational Cell-based Medical Responsible (TESAUE). (S) he is part of a team composed of
around 20 people of MSF OCBA “Emergency Team”, or emergency pool.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
To reinforce quality on MSF-OCBA emergency interventions by:
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Providing epidemiological technical support to emergencies.
Supporting emergency medical teams in collecting and analysing health-related data.
Supporting emergency medical teams in providing epidemiological training to national and
expatriate staff.
Supporting the implementation of the Health Information System (HIS) and other data collection
initiatives in emergency interventions (and if needed to modify HIS according to the needs of
the intervention).
MAIN ACTIVITIES
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Conduct rapid epidemiological health assessments on request.
Implement and adapt the MSF-OCBA Health Information System for emergency interventions.
Analyse the data together with the medical team to orient emergency interventions being
implemented.
Conduct epidemiological follow-up with regards to epidemics and implementing specific
monitoring systems and databases for diseases with outbreak potential.
Participate in the creation of technical documents, working tools, related to relevant issues of
interest for the EU.
After the emergency to analyse the epidemiological data for the purpose of internal and donor
reports, and advocacy (if needed).
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If deemed necessary by the EU, to participate in any evaluations post-emergency.
Collaborate with the OCBA/Epicentre epidemiologist in Barcelona on epidemiological issues
SELECTION CRITERIA
Education and experience
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Epidemiologist, preferably with specific training in Epidemiology and Public Health.
Knowledge of and interest in Public Health and infectious diseases.
Experience in field epidemiology contexts of acute epidemics (meningitis, cholera, measles…)
desirable.
One-year MSF experience or a similar organisation.
Basic knowledge of standards in terms of health in MSF projects, including emergencies and
epidemics.
Good knowledge and experience with regards to IT software for processing texts, graphics and
statistics.
Able to work in teams and under stressful conditions.
Fluent English a must. French and Spanish both desirable.
Capacity and skills
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Good communication skills.
Good English writing capacity.
Analysis and synthesis capacity.
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Others
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Availability to travel frequently & be based overseas
Availability to work in unstable contexts
CONDITIONS
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Based in the field during interventions.
Salary defined by the MSF-Spain salary grid (pool UE conditions, IRP2)
Commitment: minimum 1 year.
To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and cover motivation letter under the reference “EPI
EU”:
Médicos Sin Fronteras / Dpto. RRHH
recruitment-bcn@barcelona.msf.org
Closing date: 15th April 2015
Replies will only be sent to short-listed candidates