Working with Multilateral Organizations: Full and Part-time Opportunities - Old

and New Challenges

ABU Muslim Doctors Alumni Foundation

Roundtable Discussion

November 23, 2025

Tajudeen Raji, MD, MPH, FWACP

Deputy Director General a.i. Africa CDC

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African Union & Africa CDC

Opportunities

Conclusion

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Introduction

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Challenges

Safeguarding Africa’s Health

Introduction

Membership: Involves three or more countries, as against bilateral organizations which involve only two countries.

Structure: Often formed through treaties, resolutions, statute, or agreements between participating member states.

Purpose: To address global or regional issues that require cooperation; peace and security, economic growth, trade, humanitarian crises, and public health.

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Funding: Managed and funded by Member States Representatives, often using access contributions, voluntary contributions, foundations, DFIs, MDBs, and bilaterals. 

Multilateral organizations are 

international bodies composed of three or more countries that work together to solve common problems and address shared interests. 

African Union

• AU is an intergovernmental political body of 55 member states. It was formally called OAU (1963-1999).
• Vision - "An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena".
• This vision is the foundation for Agenda 2063, the continent’s socioeconomic blueprint.

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African Union Developmental Agenda

Historical background of Africa CDC

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

• Africa CDC is a continental autonomous health institution of the African Union.
• It is established to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats

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Opportunities at Africa CDC

• Africa CDC offers a broad range of job opportunities for professionals of diverse backgrounds, aspirations and potentials.
• A career at the Africa CDC offer a fulfilling environment/satisfaction by contributing to member states’ health security and universal health coverage.

Surveillance and Disease Intelligence

Build up proactive surveillance, disease intelligence gathering, and early warning systems

• Event-Based Surveillance
• Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance
• Molecular Surveillance
• Wastewater surveillance
• Health Information Exchange
• Capacity Building

Continental and Cross-border coordination of PHEM

Deployment of Surge Capacity for PHEM

Platform for Harmonized Africa Health Products Manufacturing:�60% by 2040 Agenda

• Agenda-setting and coordination

• Market design and demand intelligence
• Achieving sustainable and reliable economies of scale by launching mechanisms that create demand certainty for manufacturers while facilitating country procurement

Access to finance

• Stimulating a healthy market that result in sustainable and continuous investment in local manufacturing capabilities and broader ecosystem enablers

• Technology transfer and IP
• Establishing and accelerating technology transfer and intellectual property enablement to local manufacturers

• Regulatory strengthening
• Developing best-in-class National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), regional harmonization and World Health Organization prequalification, to enable the export of products

• R&D and talent development
• Building the continent’s workforce by investing in the development critical manufacturing skills and capabilities and local R&D capabilities to develop new and improve existing products
• -- Considered as two bold programs: Talent and R&D --

• Infrastructure development
• Continuing and accelerating infrastructure initiatives including investment in mega-projects, innovative technologies etc.

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1. Greater purchasing power - By consolidating demand to negotiate better prices and terms with suppliers.
2. Lower unit costs & overall procurement savings - Pooled volumes and streamlined processes reduce per-unit cost of health commodities.
3. Improved access & supply stability - Smaller or low-volume markets benefit from being part of a larger pool, ensuring more equitable access.
4. Stronger incentives for local manufacturing - Predictable aggregate demand gives local producers the confidence to invest, helping build regional value chains.
5. Enhanced regional integration and market shaping - APPM supports continent-wide health-industrial strategy (linking to manufacturing, trade, regulatory frameworks).

African Pooled Procurement Mechanism

Africa CDC’s Digital Health strategic priorities

PHC Digitalization Package

EHR, eCommunity-HIS, Africa Digital Health Card

National Health Intelligence Centers -

Real-time analytics hubs

Open Knowledge Analytics for public Health Insights (AI)

Continental Intelligence Layer

Data Governance (AI) Ensure Safe Equitable innovations

Programmatic Areas

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EPR, NPHIs, RMNCHAH, SDI, Supply Chain, Lab/APGI, DHIS2 Regional Hubs.

Evolution of Pathogen Genomic Capacity

From 7 in 2019 to 46 in 2025

Genomic Sequencing Capacity

From 14 in 2020 to 25 in 2024

Health Security in Africa: National Public Health Institutes

Evolution of NPHIs

From 14 in 2020 to 25 in 2024

Africa CDC Health Workforce Development Programme

• The Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme – equip PH experts with advanced leadership and strategic skills.
• Mental Health Leadership Program to promote mental health awareness and capacity across Africa.
• Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETP)
• African Epidemic Services (AES) Fellowship
• Biomanufacturing Fellowship (RCCN)
• Public Health Governance, Legal Preparedness and Diplomacy
• Ministerial Executive Leadership Program (MELP)

Joining Africa CDC/AMA/AUDA-NEPAD/AUC

Full-Time Opportunities

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Professional (Technical & Support)

• Regular
• Fixed-term
• Appointment of limited duration
• Advisor
• Political Appointes

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General

• Admin/Programme Assistants
• Secretaries - Bilingual

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Part-Time Opportunities

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• Rapid Responders
• Consultancies
• Internship
• Youth Fellowship
• Scholars/Diaspora Programme
• Secondment

Joining Africa CDC/AMA/AUDA-NEPAD/AUC

Surviving Multilateral Org.

• Integrity
• Personal Relations
• Ethical Conduct
• Diversity Management
• Cultural Intelligence
• Great at your role
• Continous improvement

• Over 70% decline in ODA for Africa: from $81B to $25B (UNCTAD, 2025)
• Escalating debt-servicing obligations: ~$81B from 2023 to 2025, surpassing external financing inflows (IMF, 2024)
• Low domestic resources and inefficiency on the use

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• 41% increase in outbreaks from 2022 to 2024
• Vulnerability of health systems to climate shocks
• Insecurity & humanitarian crisis from conflicts

• Over 90% of health products are imported

• Reversal of more than 20 years of health achievements in Africa (Africa CDC Modeling Report, 2024)
• An additional 2 to 4 million annual deaths
• Very high likelihood of another Pandemic
• 39 million more Africans into poverty by 2030 (World Bank, 2024)

Challenges

1. National leadership: Countries drive policies, priorities, and investment for UHC and health security.

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• Regional coordination: Regional bodies harmonize strategies, pool resources, and foster solidarity across borders.

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• Global support: Partners align with African priorities, providing catalytic financing, technology, and expertise.

Reform of Global Health Architecture

Regional platforms such as Africa CDC, Gulf CDC, and ASEAN are accelerating collective action for health sovereignty of their respective Regions.

africacdc.org

THANK YOU

Safeguarding Africa’s Health