Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, November 28 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Job Description
The World at Abt
Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.
We are a team of 3,000+ people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.
To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.
Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.

The Opportunity
Abt Global has implemented indoor residual spraying (IRS) for PMI since 2011, delivering high-quality IRS programs and gathering the most comprehensive routine entomological data in the world. Under this contract, Abt Global will tailor entomological monitoring to guide national malaria programs focused on insecticide-treated mosquito nets and IRS and continue to assist PMI in reducing the burden of malaria through vector control and capacity building in 22 malaria-endemic countries in Africa.
The purpose of this position is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) in entomological monitoring for evidence-based planning and implementation of malaria vector control interventions. The successful candidate is expected to strengthen the capacity of the vector control staff in entomological surveillance and monitoring operations at the NMEP. The Senior Entomologist will provide leadership and management oversight of the national program’s entomological surveillance activities, managing and coordinating the activation or reactivation of all the NMEP’s monitoring sentinel sites supported by the MOH’s National Malaria Elimination Centre and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the country. Ensure that all key entomological monitoring activities are implemented following standard protocols, and data is generated, analyzed, and interpreted to guide key country-level vector control decisions. The duties will entail:
• Perform management, formulation, review, and implementation of policy on malaria.
• Conduct vector control training programs to strengthen capacities in the prevention and control of malaria.
• Undertake technical support services to Provincial Health Office, District Health Office, Health Facilities, and communities to guide malaria vector control.
• Supervise timely preparation of sectional budget to facilitate mobilization of financial resources.
• Supervise and undertake monitoring and evaluation of malaria vector control interventions to facilitate implementation of appropriate interventions based on evidence, and provide any other required support on vector control to the NMEP.
• Coordinate vector control activities of the NMEP with other partners, where feasible and desirable.
The position shall be based at the National Malaria Elimination Centre in Lusaka. The Senior Entomologist will work closely with existing staff and report directly to the Vector Control Unit Head, National Malaria Elimination Centre, and is accountable to the PMI Evolve Zambia Chief of Party.

Core Responsibilities
• Develop and operationalize a sustainable procedure for the mobilization of Global Fund resources for entomological monitoring activities in Zambia.
• Lead the development of an annual national entomological monitoring plan for Zambia in consultation with local partners.
• Provide strategic and analytical direction to entomology activities in collaboration with relevant partners.
• Support the national technical working groups to develop/maintain an integrated, data-driven vector control policy and an insecticide resistance management strategy and plan.
• Establish and/or maintain entomological sentinel sites in selected districts as per the approved national malaria elimination strategic plan.
• Provide technical oversight and ensure that entomological monitoring activities at all sentinel sites in Zambia are conducted following the World Health Organization (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and US President’s Malaria Initiative PMI guidelines, and the best practices of other international centers of excellence in vector control.
• Strengthen leadership of entomological surveillance by providing direct supervision and mentorship to the NMEP’s entomological team and the provincial and district-level field teams of entomological technicians who perform mosquito collections and tests.
• Manage and strengthen all data collection activities, data recording, data analysis, data interpretation, and preparation of entomological monitoring reports.
• Lead the management of the Zambia DHIS2 Entomology database and ensure data is consistently entered timely into the database from all sentinel sites and facilitates the efficient storage and easy retrieval of information.
• Coordinate with entomological implementing partners in Zambia to ensure routine mosquito collection, data reporting, and data use for evidence-based decision-making.
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of the following set of entomological field activities in all GRZ/GF sentinel sites:
• Vector surveillance using standard mosquito sampling methods.
• WHO cone bioassays on walls or on insecticide-treated nets (ITNs).
• Insecticide resistance testing.
• Molecular and biochemical analysis of mosquito samples.
• Updating, and disseminating standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and timelines for mosquito collections and vector control activities.
• Dissemination of entomological results to all in-country partners.
• Promote and strengthen local insectaries aimed at enhancing mass production of susceptible mosquito colonies to support contact bioassays and insecticide susceptibility tests in the country.
• Train entomology technicians on maintaining mosquito colonies in an insectary, different field mosquito sampling techniques for both adult and larvae, on species morphological identification, preserving, storing, and transportation of mosquito samples from the field to the insectary or entomological working sites aimed at ensuring knowledge transfer of technical skills to the provincial and district levels.
• Support and implement needs assessment and capacity-strengthening efforts to increase and expand the skills of local counterparts and field team technicians working towards ensuring the country undertakes high-quality entomological monitoring activities.
• Develop training manuals for entomological surveillance per WHO standards.
• Support vector control operational research and program evaluation activities as applicable.
• Publish the results from entomological monitoring and operational research activities in peer-reviewed journals as applicable.

What We Value
• Master’s Degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional work experience or PhD with a minimum of 6 years of relevant professional work experience) in Medical Entomology, or another relevant field.
• Professional experience directly related to planning/conducting/overseeing entomological monitoring activities including insectary and mosquito colony maintenance.
• Experience with Global Fund and USAID projects is highly desirable.
• Experience with malaria vector control Operations including IRS, ITNs, and larval source management (LSM).
• Experience interpreting entomological data, developing programmatic recommendations, and communicating effectively with decision-makers and stakeholders in a clear and digestible manner.
• Experience in training entomology technicians on entomological monitoring and field activities
• Strong management and planning skills in project tasks and budgets.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal communication, and computer skills.
• Fluent in English (both writing and speaking).
• Willingness to travel within Zambia.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 72

Level of Education: Associate Degree

Job application procedure
What We Offer
• We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits and professional development.
• Abt Global Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
• Disclaimer: Abt will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.
• Abt is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate background checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Abt also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
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