The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is looking for Manager, Health and Care

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is looking for Manager, Health and Care(Strong Candidate Identified) 

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Job Purpose
Reporting to the Head of the Yaounde Cluster, the Health and Care Manager will lead and coordinate the Federation’s support to National Societies in the west Coast cluster ensuring that the public health components and emergency health of disaster preparedness, response and recovery programs, as well as preparedness and response programs to disease outbreaks and/or epidemics, adhere to Federation policies and strategies, meet established public health/humanitarian standards and technical guidelines, and reach the most vulnerable.

These components may include (and/or be closely integrated with), but not limited to, first aid, control of communicable and emerging diseases, psychosocial support, nutrition, water and sanitation/hygiene promotion, HIV /AIDS, Immunization activities, MNCH and Malaria. The Health Manager in close collaboration with the NS’ health counterparts will assist and support to plan, review, implementation and coordinate all public health and emergency health programs.

The health manager will collaborate and coordinate closely with relevant Governmental and non- Governmental actors addressing public health and emergency health issues as well as represent IFRC in different relevant coordination forums.

In addition to health technical expertise and familiarity of Red Cross approaches to all health-related areas, the role requires significant experience in working in partnership with national societies, in liaising with different authorities and ministries of health, in addressing health needs, planning and implementation of proposed public health and emergency health programs, and in performance monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (PMER).

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for the following duties:

Coordination and representation

•  Establish and maintain a strong coordination platform for all public health and emergency health activities implemented by the NS’ in the cluster in close collaboration with Health coordinators of the NS’ and PNS’ in the cluster.
•  Represent Health sector in all internal and external coordination mechanisms

Strategy and program support

• •  Coordinate and monitor the implementation (planning, monitoring and evaluation) of the public health and emergency health activities (basic health care, first aid and community health) across the cluster
  •  Support the Movement partners in ensuring that public health and emergency health activities are based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, guidelines, and tools.

•  Assist the West Coast NS and together with partners, in the achievement of public health and emergency health component outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
•  Work with National Societies and Movement partners in periodic monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution, ensuring that health interventions are responsive to current and emerging health needs and threats.
•  Promote and assist in the development, implementation, and reviews of contingency plans for identified health threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within National Societies for emergency response.
•  Monitor the health situation and disease risks or outbreaks in the cluster. Conduct field visits, when necessary.

Programme Development and Capacity Building

•  Support, in collaboration with West Coast National Society capacity strengthening in public health and emergency health particularly in the development of strategies, programmes and plans, but also training and management of staff and volunteers.
•  Promote, and where possible facilitate, the integration of National Society public health and emergency health programmes/activities with National Society Development, Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response programmes/activities, as well as the co-ordination/co-operation between NS public health and emergency health programmes/activities and those supported by bilateral/partner NS, ICRC, UN agencies, governments and non-government actors, to maximise synergies and impact, and to avoid service gaps and unnecessary overlaps.
•  Further, and where feasible, promote the development of cross-country RCRC co-operation in public health and emergency health.

Support the Mapping of Emergency Health and Epidemic Control (EHEC) capacities and resources in West Coast and support NSs in developing and implementing their capacity building plans for the subject.

•  Identify fundraising opportunities and lead the dialogue with potential partners, with support from resource mobilisation.
•  The delegate will focus on rolling out and adapting standardised IFRC health tools and guidelines.
•  Develop and adapt the use of early warning systems in coordination with the Africa Region.

Technical Support

•  Enforce and disseminate international emergency response standards (SPHERE, etc).
•  Provide technical guidance, and where necessary, direct and coordinate the international public health response in emergencies in an accountable manner, and in cooperation with all relevant partners. Where necessary, participate in assessments and start-up of projects within the West Coast.
•  Provide technical input to implementation of nutrition interventions operations according to best practices and quality standards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

•  Support the West Coast Cluster NS in all public health and emergency health related activities (HIV/Malaria/MNCH/Immunization etc)

Knowledge Management

•  Monitor regional and national epidemiological data, standard health indicators and disaster patterns for analysis and early detection of trends, disease outbreaks and/or epidemics. Facilitate the identification of necessary actions and corrective measures to be taken, where necessary.
•  Ensure high-level emergency health response preparedness capacity in West Coast through the effective use of Disaster Management Information System (DMIS), Emergency Appeals, Field Assessment and Co-ordination Team (FACT), Emergency Response Units (ERU), Regional Disaster Response Teams (RDRT), including medical logistics/supply lines.
•  Obtain and collate information, reports and case studies from health projects by NSs and establish best practices on public health, emergency health and epidemic preparedness and response and share knowledge within and outside the Movement.
•  Assist National Societies and partners, in the conduct of reviews that enable National Societies and IFRC to measure the impact of its public health, health emergency interventions, as well as inform its future capacity strengthening and programming priorities.
•  Ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.

Resource Mobilization

•  Support in mobilizing resources for public health interventions
•  Contribute in identifying and engaging with potential donors, and in preparing project proposals and documents.
•  Ensure that IFRC health financial resources, stocks and equipment are managed correctly and efficiently

Education

• Master’s in public health / Epidemiology

Experience

•  At least 5 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on global health, epidemiology, surveillance and community based action
•  Experience in responding to epidemics
•  Coordination and representation experience in a cross-cultural environment
•  3 years management and supervisory experience including budget management

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

•  Knowledge of public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning.
•  Programme and budget management
•  Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
•  Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
•  Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
•  Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
•  Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
•  Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
•  High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
•  Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
•  Fluently spoken and written English and French
•  Good command of another IFRC official language ( Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability; Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity ; Sensitive to cultural diversity; Advanced verbal and written communication skills;Self-motivated with good judgement and initiative

HOW TO APPLY?

Click here to apply online 

Closing date: 15-Feb-2023