Health Programme Coordinator - DRC

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” 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 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 Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been present in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) since 2002 and in Lebanon since 2013. DRC is considered a strategic partner of the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society – Lebanon Branch (PRCS-L). DRC’s work in Lebanon has focused on support for essential health care services, mainstreaming MHPSS services, and has integrated a strong focus on non-communicable diseases in its health response. d

This position will be contracted under IFRC and will be managed by DRC, based in the DRC Lebanon country office in Beirut. The Health Programme Coordinator is a key member of the Danish Red Cross (DRC) Lebanon Country Team and responsible for a portfolio of activities involving a range of health interventions. The Coordinator will play both a technical role in providing guidance and quality assurance across the health portfolio, as well as be responsible for the day to day project management of grants within the portfolio.

Job Purpose

The overall objective for the Health Programme Coordinator will be to develop a strong working relationship with the National Societies’ health departments, enabling the timely implementation of existing Programmes, ensuring the quality of the projects, while new Programme areas and funding opportunities are explored. The job description may vary over time based on the needs of the NS partners and DRC, but will build on the following:

• Develop a strong partnership with both LRC and PRCS-L.
• Develop strong cooperation with the other DRC team members and contribute to the team’s Country wide objectives.
• Manage the current DRC-supported health Programmes in relation to Primary Health Care (including Mobile Medical Units, NCDs) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) while ensuring the overall technical quality of these Programmes.
• Proactively support the capacity development of the health departments of both LRC and PRCS-L.
• Ensure capacity building efforts are well coordinated in the country with IFRC and other partners.
• Contribute towards the development of new partnerships and new funding opportunities with both institutional, corporate, and private donors - in cooperation with the Country Team.
• Support the Country Team with the development of new health interventions and Programmes - including writing of proposals.
• Contribute to developing strong relationships with existing donors specifically, Danish MoFA, The Danish Embassy in Lebanon, Novo Nordisk A/A and the Novo Nordic Foundation – based on good reporting, frequent meetings and understanding of the donor’s requirements.
• Prepare for and support emergency health interventions should they be needed.
• Further develop DRCs ability to support NCD Programing both with LRC and PRCS-L.
• Facilitate partnerships and consortia with private sector, research institutions, movement partners and other humanitarian actors in Lebanon especially in the area of NCD and in relation to a research component included in ongoing projects.
• Actively engage with DRC health advisors at Head Quarter - and elsewhere in the Health Matrix - to promote institutional learning.
• Work closely with other DRC Programme delegates to promote that Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI) is adequately mainstreamed within existing health interventions, with a focus on the relation between MHPSS and NCD.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Support (40%)

• Support NSs in development of health strategies based on identified community needs, priorities, and organizational strategies and objectives.
• Provide technical (health) support to implementation of health Programmes and ensure that health related interventions are in accordance with international and national technical guidelines.
• Work closely with the NSs to support their capacity strengthening plans and initiatives through training, mentoring, and resource development aimed at enhancing the quality and resilience of healthcare services, accountability, and project management in health.
• Be the in-country technical focal point for partnerships and Programmes on NCDs.
• Provide technical feedback and support to LRC and PRCS-L related to health portfolio interventions to ensure quality of implementation and continuous improvement.

• Facilitate health partnerships and stakeholder engagement in-country especially relating to NCDs.
• Participate in coordination meetings with the Ministry of Public Health, research partners/academic institutions and the NSs on NCD provision of care in humanitarian settings including the research.
• Participate as relevant in the Health Steering Committees and technical working groups.

• Develop new project proposals, in cooperation with the National Societies enabling DRC to react quickly when new funding opportunities are identified.
• Provide inputs for emergency health proposals and pre-disaster agreements based on National Societies’ capabilities and strength.
• Engage with potential new partners and donors.
• As relevant, develop new health activities aligned with sectors such as MHPSS, CVA, climate, health innovation etc.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Programme Management (50%)

• Provide Programme management oversight to ensure timely planning and implementation of Programmes in line with LRC/PRCS-L partner agreements, donor requirements and DRC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidelines.
• Oversee and provide support to ensure beneficiary accountability mechanisms are working and followed up upon by relevant staff / departments.
• Monitor Programmes’ resource allocation and utilization at country level in coordination with the DRC Finance Officer.
• Undertake regular budget monitoring and when needed budget revision.
• Coordinate and contribute as relevant to the preparation of quarterly finance reports and cash requests.
• Support the development of emergency requests and implementation of bilateral and multilateral emergency response in health.
• In technical coordination with the MHPSS Coordinator, support the integration of MHPSS activities across the health Programme portfolio
• Undertake regular field-visits in Lebanon as relevant.
• Support planning and undertaking of assessments, baselines, endlines, reviews and evaluations
• Strengthen NSs capacity for Project/Programme Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (PMEAL).
• Support NSs in setting up or improving Health Information Systems (HIS) for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Support pre-assessments/feasibility study, health assessments, baseline study etc. as relevant, together with NSs
• Support the development and monitioring of indicators that are realistic and workable for both the NSs and DRC.
• Prepare and / or support the NSs development of quarterly narrative and financial reports.
• Be responsible for DRC reporting in accordance with the yearly planning tool and Standard Operational Procedures. The reports include Programme Progress and Final Report, Quarterly Reports, Programme and Project Orientation (PPO) and reports to back-donors.

Other tasks (10%)

• Actively promote and contribute to an exchange within DRC’s health matrix to ensure technical quality, innovative elements and systematic institutional learning from health interventions.
• Provide surge capacity to multi-lateral and bilateral health in emergency and/or disease outbreak operations.

• Provide input as requested to relevant DRC internal and external communication and / or fundraising activities (re. health).
• Document challenges and lessons learned during implementation for the health projects including NCD, document thoroughly project impact.
• Contribute to advocacy policy discussions and promote evidence-based health interventions.

• Other ad hoc tasks as defined and agreed with the line manager.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

Academic degree at master level in public health, medicine, nursing, global health or similar (a bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience can be accepted). Required

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years relevant experience with community and primary health care Programmes - Required
• Documented experience with project management including Programme development, financial management, reporting, donor reporting and partnership management - Required
• Experience working in fragile and humanitarian contexts - Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Knowledge and Skills

• High proficiency in the areas of Programme proposal development, Programme assessments, reviews and evaluations - Required
• Broad range of technical knowledge across the spectrum of public health - Required
• Experience with implementing Programmes through Local Partners - Required
• Solid technical knowledge and skills and previous experience with NCD Programing and with development of NCD funding proposals and project reports will be considered a strong asset - Preferred
• Ability to support and impart technical knowledge of relevant colleagues and partners - Required
  

Languages

• Excellent written and verbal knowledge and command of English is essential - Required
• Fluency in Arabic with good spoken and written command - Preferred
  

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Excellent analytical, team working and communication skills. Flexibility and adaptability to changing situation and self-motivation
• Ability to work in an organised and systematic manner
• Excellent networking and facilitation skills
• Ability to work in demanding situations and sometimes under pressure and meet deadlines
• High attention to details and timeliness

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.

If you appointed to or undertake a role within IFRC, whether as staff, staff on loan or secondees, you will be subject to the organization's Code of Conduct, which is available here and on our website.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include prior professional conduct checks and review of criminal records. IFRC will request a conduct check from all prior employers for a period of 5 years, including but not limited to employers who like IFRC participate in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. For more details on the Scheme, please see THE MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE SCHEME — SCHR.

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities!