Health Specialist (Data management – Polio), (P-3), Temporary Appointment, Kinshasa, DRC (6 months)

The DRC was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2015 but circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV1 and cVDPV2) remain a significant public health threat. Between 2017 and 2025, the country reported 1,292 variant poliovirus cases. Intensified response efforts reduced cases from 540 in 2022 to 18 in 2025. In 2026, four cVDPV2 cases were detected in Maniema Province, while the latest cVDPV1 case was reported in June 2025 in Tsopo Province. The DRC remains among the highest-risk countries in the WHO African Region, requiring sustained campaigns and stronger routine immunization.

Routine immunization is hindered by persistent bottlenecks, limited cold chain capacity, weak stock management, inadequate temperature monitoring, poor equipment maintenance, stock-outs, and inconsistent data quality, all of which undermine vaccine potency and programme performance.

Under the technical supervision of the Polio Coordinator, the Health Specialist (Data Management – Polio) will strengthen the cVDPV1 and cVDPV2 outbreak response, focusing on data quality, equity analysis, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.

The incumbent will contribute to: (i) improved quality, availability, and use of polio and routine vaccination data; (ii) evidence-based decision-making for outbreak response; (iii) improved performance and equity of vaccination campaigns; (iv) strengthened accountability through digital payment systems; and (v) sustained progress toward interruption of cVDPV transmission in the DRC.