Higher Education and TVET Expert for Strengthening National Human Resources in the Pharmaceutical Ecosystem (M/W)

Responsibility:

Based in Kigali, the position for the Higher Education and TVET (Technical, Vocational Education and Training) Expert for Strengthening National Human Resources in the Pharmaceutical Ecosystem is under the direct responsibility of the Team Leader based also in Kigali.

The Higher Education and TVET Expert for Strengthening National Human Resources in the Pharmaceutical Ecosystem will support the Team Leader in the overall coordination of the project’s component: HR capacity and skills development.

Working closely with the project team (Team Leader, Financial and Administrative Manager, Country Support Unit, and the Project Officer in Paris) the Education and TVET Expert will be responsible for the following tasks in particular.

Support for operational management of project activities under the Component HR capacity and skills development

• Liaise with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant governmental bodies to ensure educational initiatives align with national health and education policies
• Foster partnerships with international research organizations, such as ANRS, and other technical operators active in Rwanda, including Swedish cooperation, CEPI, WHO LPA, WHO Academy and the Bio Manufacturing Initiative and Africa CDC, to enhance collaborative efforts in pharmaceutical education and research
• Assist the Team Leader in planning, implementing and monitoring Higher Education and TVET activities ensuring that milestones are met, raising alarms and redirecting actions if necessary
• Assist and support in the coordination of meetings with national and international partners for the implementation of higher education and TVET activities;
• Assist in setting up and follow the governance of the project’s HE activities;
• Contribute to frame the consultancy assignments and assist the Team Leader in proofreading deliverables and documents produced under the project to ensure technical quality control in liaison with Expertise France Pharmaceutical expert and the other Experts;

Management and coordination of Experts under the Component HR capacity and skills development.

• Ensure the effective implementation of the activities together with the Team Leader who will be supervised by national and international experts;
• Participate in the recruitment of short-term experts;
• Coordinate the experts on their activities ensuring that objectives are met and redirecting actions if necessary.
• Collaborate with the University of Rwanda, the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) and Rwanda Polytechnic to assess and update existing curricula, ensuring alignment with industry standards and the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical sector.
• Facilitate the integration of practical training components to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry application
• Organize workshops, seminars, and conferences to promote continuous professional development among academic staff and students.

Project or context description

Overview:

Expertise France is the French public agency for international cooperation. The Agency focuses on four priority areas:

• Democratic, economic and financial governance;
• Stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations and security;
• Combating climate change and favoring sustainable urban development;
• Strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France engineers and implements capacity-building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and acts as a project coordinator, bringing together public expertise and private know-how. With a business volume of 390 million euros and over 400 projects in 145 countries, Expertise France’s activities are part of France’s international cooperation policy and official development assistance.

Context:

The African Union Commission and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call for local production of 60% of Africa’s needed vaccines by 2040 as well as expanded local manufacturing of other health products.  The European Union and Member States are supporting these goals through the Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (TEI MAV+).

The project aims to bolster Rwanda’s pharmaceutical sector by enhancing higher education and vocational training, thereby increasing the number of qualified national professionals to support the growth of local health product manufacturing.

Expertise France together with the German cooperation (GIZ), the Belgian cooperation (Enabel) and the Swedish cooperation (SIDA) as well as with the support of national institutions (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Universities, Research Centers) and with international support, will help to reinforce and maintain a strong pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Required profile

Profile

Qualifications and skills:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in pedagogy, andragogy, educational sciences or a related field;
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in higher education and/or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with a focus on curriculum development through the skills-based approach and capacity building in the pharmaceutical or health sciences sectors
• Good knowledge of the Rwandan higher education, TVET and certification systems;

Skills:

• Experience in promoting gender equity in STEM fields, including initiatives to support and encourage underrepresented genders in pursuing scientific careers.
• Comprehensive understanding of the intersection between climate change and health, particularly in the context of pharmaceutical production and healthcare delivery.
• Experience in developing curricula that prepare students to address the health impacts of climate change and to implement eco-friendly solutions in the pharmaceutical industry would be an asset
• Organizational skills: autonomy, rigor and method, sense of responsibility;
• Communication skills: diplomacy and communication with private and public, local and international partners;
• Capacity to liaise and coordinate with various actors.
• Full command of standard computer applications (Microsoft Office)
• Team spirit;
• Ability to adapt and react to unforeseen situations;
• Ability to produce an analysis/diagnosis, to design and propose a solution adapted to the context;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Perfect command of English; Fluency in French is a strong asset.

General and specific professional experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ professional experience working on higher education and / or TVET projects;