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.
Strategy 2030 is further positioning National Societies within the Universal Health Coverage Agenda with a strong focus on community health and epidemic pandemic preparedness and response. Health, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), is a top crucial contribution from National Societies towards strengthening resilience of communities in the face of protracted and severe crises and a changing climate among other risks in the region. The IFRC MENA approach 2022-2025 has well-articulated as well the need for an enhanced support to the MENA National Societies on those related thematic areas.
The MENA Regional Office based in Beirut; Lebanon supports 17 National Societies in the region. The MENA Health and Care Unit within the MENA Regional Office and works with unified regional plan as well as provides the technical support & thematic quality assurance to country/country cluster delegations. Most of the National Societies in MENA Region are heavily engaged in emergency health including pre-hospital care and medical services, MHPSS, community-based health and WASH interventions.
Job Purpose
Under the direct supervision of MENA Deputy Regional Director and the technical management of Health and Care Team in Geneva, the Regional Head of Health and Care is responsible for supporting MENA National Societies on the strategic and operational side of strategic priority of Health and Care of Strategy 2030. More specifically, the position holder will work closely with the other heads of units to ensure Health and Care programmes are informed by and contributing to other thematic areas ensuring an overall integrated approach to programme design and delivery.
This role ensures the relevance, coherence, and timeliness of IFRCs regional thematic leadership in the critical area of health and care and position regionally IFRC at the forefront of development of humanitarian competencies of health and care including WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). The incumbent will facilitate the design and execution of all related deliverables and coordinate delivery in this important area of work in relation to health and care policy dialogue and capacity building activities, as well as ensuring collaboration with external stakeholders on related areas of work, while positioning IFRC and the NSs in the region as key actors.
The incumbent will also work closely and support coordination with the Red Cross Red Crescent relevant reference centres (e.g., PS Center, GFARC…etc).
The post holder will be also serving as an outreach technical surge capacity (up to 4 weeks per mission) to be deployed on short technical missions to country/cluster delegations to deliver specific Health and Care ToRs.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Technical Advisory and Leadership:
- Guided by Strategy 2030, coordinate the formulation of the regional approach to health and care and follow-up its implementation across all IFRC Secretariat programmes and operations in the MENA region.
- Provide though leadership and oversight in the region to tackle effectively new public health threat and health in emergency e.g., needs of ageing populations, non-communicable diseases, migrants, maternal new-born and child health, WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, MHPSS, in coordination with the global Health and Care Team.
- Provide technical direction for regional roll out of the global flagships on Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Cholera.
- Provide guidance to MENA National Societies, technical and thematic leaders of WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, MHPSS, for delivery against key regional results in high quality and accountable manner,
- Coordinate and facilitate capacity building activities at the operational level, and directly providing training when relevant.
- Strengthen the regional health and care networks/groups that promote cross-country cooperation and identify opportunities that enable the Membership to form action-oriented partnerships that improve the health of people in vulnerable situations.
- Coordinate the development and implementation of regional WASH programmes, both in developmental and emergency contexts, in coordination with global WASH team.
- Promote and coordinate the development and integration of health components in all sectors in the MENA Region and technical support to the National Societies' emergency health functions.
- Support capacity building of respective human resources in MENA, in collaboration with relevant technical and thematic teams.
- Maintain an up-to-date overview of the MENA public health risk profile.
- Actively participate in and support IFRC’s knowledge and peer-to-peer networks, promote the engagement and utilization of Red Cross Red Crescent reference centres and contribute to “shared leadership” initiatives for better utilization and optimization of technical capacities and resources.
- Support the roll-out and adaptation of the 'IFRC's global health and care tools and strategic frameworks, develop best practice information and capacity in training to contribute to effective management of the health and care portfolio.
- Contribute to the global IFRC Health team effort in addressing public health emergency and development needs.
Management
- Responsible for the day-to day management and coordination of MENA regional Health and Care programmatic functional area activities including project management, risk management and quality assurance aspects as required.
- Accountable to the Deputy Regional Director on achievement of results of the Unit’s Operational Plan as a proactive manager and dynamic member of the MENA SMT team.
- Select, mentor and manage team members under the programmatic functional area, including ensuring that they have well-defined results-based priority plans and capacity to provide technical support to response operations at any time.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning, individual and team accountability in the programmatic functional area by setting individual and team objectives, monitoring team performance and conducting timely performance reviews.
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
- Ensure that the thematic staff members work closely across all strategic priorities and crosscutting thematic approaches functional areas of other thematic units and coordinates other units within MENA Regional office, CDs, CCDs and Geneva as well as with ICRC, Partner National Societies, relevant IFRC Reference centres and key external stakeholders throughout the programming cycle.
- Develop annual plans for the health and care programmatic functional area in coordination with the relevant team members to mobilize, manage and monitor the use of available financial resources and facilities by the team to ensure that delivery of agreed activities is in line with approved ceilings and finance procedures.
- Oversee regionally implemented WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, MHPSS, and the timely and quality delivery of all project outputs.
- Support and contribute to fundraising efforts to support MENA National Societies and IFRC health and care initiatives in collaboration with the strategic engagement and partnership unit.
Coordination and networking:
- Contribute to the design and execution of policy dialogue engagements to promote WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization and MHPSS
- Support coordination and partnerships related WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization and MHPSS with relevant regional stakeholders with and outside the RCRC Movement.
- Build and nurture solid relationships with key regional partners such as WHO – including academia and the private sector – to promote health and care collaboration and act as a knowledge broker for the Membership with a strengthened emphasis on WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization and MHPSS.
- Ensure technical-level engagement with relevant entities of sub-regional bodies as essential stakeholders in attainment of global agenda targets including those of the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Ensures high quality preparation and participation of IFRC network in inter-agency and inter-governmental processes in collaboration with Geneva counterparts, pursue opportunities and explore partnerships for research as a base for evidence aimed at supporting advocacy on expanding investment in WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, MHPSS programming.
Representation:
- When requested and as required, represent IFRC – in regional inter-agency events as a key actor, influencing regional policies, advocacy and agenda.
- Responsible for ensuring that IFRC is represented in relevant inter-agency initiatives and events focusing on WASH, health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, MHPSS
- When requested and as required, represent IFRC in meetings with national and regional health authorities as key actor, advocate for RCRC societies.
- When requested and as required, represent IFRC in meetings with regional donor institutions, governments and partners as technical lead to support resource mobilization.
Education
Required
- University degree in relevant discipline (professional qualification as a health practitioner)
- Relevant post graduate degree or master’s in public health
Preferred
- Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.)
- Basic Delegates Training Course/IMPACT
- Further qualification in Tropical health or SOS/HELP course, CAP/FACT training course is preferred
Experience
Required
- At least 10 years of experience in health program management with a strong community-based focus, of which three years are in a senior position in the IFRC, NS, government department, national/state level NGO or international bi-lateral or multi-lateral organisation
- Work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including time in the field and with a National Society or a similar organization.
- Experience working in a change management situation, preferably as an active participant in that change with remote management experience.
- Proven experience in management of a team with a minimum of 3 staff members for at least 3-5 years.
Preferred
- Work experience with other international organizations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agency.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
- Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context
- Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them
- Budget and finance management
- Demonstrated skills in analytical and strategic thinking
- Comfortable working with current donors and communicating with potential partners - in particular, with National Societies
- Strong communications and diplomacy skills
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks
- Fluent in written and spoken English
Preferred
- Knowledge of and first-hand experience with the Agenda for Renewal and its operational model preferred.
- Valid international driving license
- Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic or/and Frensh)
Competencies, Values and Comments
- VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
- CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust
- MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development
- FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others
IFRC Disclaimer
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 ont-style: italic;">THE MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE SCHEME — SCHR.
IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities!
