Mena Epidemiologist

Background: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / أطباء بلا حدود   is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF works in over 60 countries around the world. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. In the Middle East and North Africa, MSF works to provide humanitarian medical assistance to populations affected by lack of access to healthcare as well as the current violent conflicts. The medical response has had to evolve in line with changing medical needs and service provision challenges in a region affected by upheaval, large population movements and public health systems that are under extreme pressure. The MENA epidemiologist position will be in charge of capturing and analysing these changing needs in order to support MSF’s projects to deliver the most pertinent medical response to our patients.   Provide strategic and technical support to medical projects for medical surveillance  Provide support to set up a systematic surveillance at a regional level and in the missions, including projects in Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. Train the staff involved in the surveillance at different levels of the projects Translate findings from surveillance into alerts, project adjustments, project proposals and medical advocacy in collaboration with missions   Provide technical support for medical data collection and analysis Provide support for definition of relevant medical indicators, the collection of medical data, case definitions and routines for data analysis for internal and external use Support in harmonizing of data collection tools and routines in existing projects  Support the implementation of MSF data collection tools in new projects/activities Provide staff technical trainings in data collection tools and routines Oversee the quality of the data collection in projects and provide on the job coaching to the staff involved when required   Oversee management of data systems and ensure accurate, high quality databases   Initiate, support and supervise operational research at regional and mission level Provide support and advice on methodology, implementation and analysis for specific operational research projects Where relevant, contribute to defining the objectives of operational research, develop research protocols and methodology including patient inclusion criteria and data management processes  Coordinate execution of operational research with partners ensuring compliance to MSF protocols. Provide training to and supervise the team that will participate in performing the research. Ensure patients included in any research have received the correct information in a format they can comprehend and have freely given their consent to participate, in accordance with international medical ethical guidelines. Ensure compliance with MSF laboratory guidelines Review data collection and undertake analysis as appropriate, reporting on a regular basis to the functional referent about study progress, and any relevant information for the mission/project. Support in writing operational research reports and participate in writing scientific papers Ensure dissemination of findings to the community as described in the study protocol   Build and manage medical networks for MSF’s operations in MENA Develop a medical networking strategy in line with the operational needs of the MENA missions Implement the medical network strategy by engaging with identified medical networks Contribute MSF’s medical work, surveillance and operational research in events, debates, trainings and advocacy efforts by relevant medical networks Ensure MSF medical projects benefit from relevant knowledge and innovation of medical networks in the region   Contribute strategic support, technical advise, medical knowledge and medical networks to the implementation of the MENA hub’s overall objectives Responsible for the coherence and regular sharing of medical data to the MSF communication teams to ensure clear and reliable data for external communications Ensure medical data and findings are correctly represented in advocacy and public communications efforts and act as medical spokesperson   Provide support to medical recruitment outreach activities   Qualifications Minimum 5 years of work experience in epidemiological surveillance/public health research Proven track record in field-based operational research Proven scientific report writing skills Published author or co-author of scientific articles in reputable medical journals Experience of academic presentations in relevant medical conferences/events Commitment to MSF’s humanitarian values and to humanitarian work MSF field experience an asset Proven written and oral and written communication in English and Arabic Highly organized with proven experience from project management, with ability to handle multiple priorities at a time Skills and interest in training and coaching Working knowledge of medical data base Strong interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills Pro-active and resourceful, results oriented Collaborative, constructive, team oriented Flexible work approach and flexibility to travel