Senior Officer, Health.

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.
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.
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.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
The IFRC office in Dakar is the hub to support the National Societies of the Dakar Country Cluster Delegation (Cape Verde, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia) and has a status agreement with the Senegalese government. The Dakar country cluster delegation delivers the IFRC mandate in the sub-region, focusing on Disaster Management, Capacity Building of the National Societies, and Humanitarian Diplomacy.


Job Purpose
Reporting to the Coordinator, Programs & Operations, the Senior Officer-Health will provide technical expertise and lead the discussions with the Delegation’s National Societies (Cape Verde, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia) on all health and care portfolios, which includes developing and managing strategic partnerships with governments, development partners, other humanitarian counterparts and Movement Partners on emergency health preparedness program as well as overall health programming. A special focus will be given in support of the Malaria Program in The Gambia.
The Senior Officer, Health will work with National Societies (NSs) to ensure that health initiatives are aligned with national Ministries of Health strategies, national society strategies, and with the health and wellbeing pillar under the IFRC’s Strategy 2030.

The Senior Officer, Health will:

• Provide strategic support to the National Societies Health and Care Programmes and effectively address emerging issues, risks and opportunities identified.
• Support the National Societies in the development of proposals for funding with an aim towards expanding the current health portfolio including vaccination and ensuring long-term programming that addresses the needs of individuals and communities in countries covered.
• Provide technical support to National Societies to ensure quality design, implementation and monitoring of health programs, including emergency health and preparedness programme. A special focus will be given in support of the Malaria Program in The Gambia.
• Liaise with partner National Societies and other partners to identify opportunities for National Societies engagement and positioning.
• Lead the development of the annual unified plans for the Health and Care Department for the Country Cluster
• Delegation based on identified needs and priorities.
• Support knowledge sharing and reporting relevant to the National Societies’ health programming.
• Work with National Societies to enhance its visibility, positioning and partnership vis-à-vis the Ministries of Health and relevant Agencies.
• Steward/Manage health programming related resources.
• Job Duties and Responsibilities
• The Senior Officer-Health will undertake the following specific duties and responsibilities.

Health Programme Management and Coordination
• Lead and coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health and care projects under the cluster.
• Provide strategic and technical input for proposal writing, reporting, and donor liaison related to health programs.
• Ensure that all health programmes align with IFRC policies, global health standards, and national health strategies applicable in the geographical scope.
• Guide National Societies in developing and updating health strategies, operational plans, and emergency response frameworks.
• Manage IFRC health staff, promote training, standardization, best practices and learning on IFRC health policies and strategies, with technical support from the Regional Health and Care Unit
• Manage the health budget, expenditure and procurement with the delegation health, finance/administration and logistics teams, monitor implementation and ensure timely and efficient financial reporting.

Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM)
• Provide technical guidance, and where necessary, participate in assessments, planning and supporting public health response emergency operations in close collaboration with the Operations team.
• Support national societies (NS) to conduct PHEM risk and capacity assessments and develop preparedness plans/contingency plans and response plans.
• Support NSs to lead risk assessments for outbreak-prone and cross-border areas for health threats through a one health approach.
• Support NSs to establish and enhance community-based surveillance (CBS) systems to detect and report public health threats. A special focus will be given in support of the Malaria Program in The Gambia.
• Support NSs to strengthen One Health surveillance by integrating human, animal, and environmental health data. A special focus will be given in support of the Malaria Program in The Gambia.
• Support NSs to work with cross-sectoral teams to ensure early detection, risk assessment, and timely response to emerging health threats with focus on cross border areas.
• Support NSs to conduct training and simulations for public health emergency preparedness and response through a one health approach. A special focus will be given in support of the Malaria Program in The Gambia.
• Support NSs and governments to establish and maintain communication channels with neighbouring countries to enhance cross border coordination.
• Develop and implement capacity building programmes for facility and community health workers, volunteers and community representatives on public health emergency management through a one health approach.
• Ensure that IFRC tools for Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA), (PMER toolkit), Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV), Community-Based Surveillance (CBS), and Community engagement and accountability (CEA) are adopted and utilized to their full potential in community-based health programs of the National Societies.

Capacity Building and Technical Support
• Provide strategic advice on health and care including the elaboration of health strategies and program plans
• Lead technical training and mentorship of National Society staff and volunteers on health programming, emergency response, and community health approaches.
• Identify National Societies capacity development needs and ensure that they have appropriate training.
• Facilitate institutional development of NSs through workshops, trainings, mentorship, coaching, and field visits to strengthen NS capacities.
• Coordinate external and movement support toward building NS capacity in health programming
• Support National Societies in quality assurance, accountability, and knowledge management processes including the Malaria Program in The Gambia.


Stakeholder Coordination & Cross-Border Health Collaboration
• Liaise with and encourage National Societies to engage effectively with other key health sector stakeholders at national level including ICRC, relevant government ministries, NGOs, UN agencies, CSOs, CBOs and community health structures community groups, beneficiaries, academia and the private health sector where appropriate.
• Strengthen cross-border collaboration on disease surveillance, information sharing, and joint response planning and implementation through a one health approach.
• Working with the Officer, Information Management, Health teams, and RCCE Working Group members, support the compilation and updating of the 4Ws (Who does What, Where, and When) mapping at the country cluster level.
• Represent the IFRC in relevant health sector technical, policy and advocacy forums and networks in the country as well as in relevant subregional platforms. Develop credible and good quality information and advocacy documents about RC/RC technical knowhow, impact and lessons learned (integrated programming as well as specific technical areas) and share among these sectors and forums.
• Support the NSs in defining risk management frameworks, mitigation, and control measures. This is done in collaboration with technical colleagues in IFRC and the National Societies as well as the Regional Emergency Health Delegate focal point.


Education
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in public health, Medicine, Nursing or Health management or related discipline
Preferred:
Master’s degree in public health, Medicine, Nursing or Health management or related discipline


Experience
Required:
• Minimum of 5 years of job-related experience in clinical, public health, emergency health community health, humanitarian response,
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in health programming/management
• Minimum 3 years of field experience in humanitarian contexts
• Experience overseeing project planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, ideally for health-related projects
Preferred:
• Experience working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement
• Experience managing and supporting staff

Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required:
• Proven experience from project management, including needs assessments, project design, MEAL, planning and reporting
• Experience in training, facilitation, coaching and development of staff and volunteers
• Operational management and reporting skills
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite and other relevant software/programs
• Motivated, self-started personality, sense of responsibility and organization skills
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and prioritize workload to meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills
• Flexibility and ability to travel to the operation’s areas
• Fluently spoken and written English and French
Preferred:
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic, Spanish)
• Good command of Portuguese will be an added asset


Competencies, Values and Comments
Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.