Health Emergency Officer

Job Purpose

As the emergency and crises grow within the MENA region and with some (notably COVID-19 outbreak and the Syria crisis) becoming not only more complex but also being protracted, there are increasing challenges to ensure integration and coherence in operations management, so that the IFRC can continue to enhance its support to the National Societies of the region and the wider Federation around this crisis – and with a longer-term outlook and sustainability towards those affected by the crises, host community populations as well as enhancing and sustaining capacities of operating National Societies.

IFRC has been actively responding to the outbreak by focusing on both preparedness and response. China being in the epicentre of the outbreak is actively responding. Wuhan and surrounding cities of China have been locked down for in and out movement and many other cities like Beijing is observing enhanced restrictions for the protection of the Chinese citizens and guests of the country. The IFRC has launched a global appeal which focuses on preparedness and response across all regions. A global coordination cell has been established and is based in Geneva. A total laboratory-confirmed cases have reached more than 100,000 and approximately 4,000 associated deaths have been reported in 104 countries. 11 March 2020 WHO announces COVID-19 as a global pandemic virus that can still be controlled. We are not suggesting shifting from containment to mitigation. In MENA, Iran being in the epicentre of the outbreak and other countries with increasing cases are preparing and responding actively. For this pandemic response in the MENA region, the regional office has huge roles and responsibility to prepare, contain and mitigate this pandemic of COIVD-19.

The regional office has authority and capacity to engage more closely with National Societies to support effective and sustainable humanitarian work of National Societies providing core membership services; providing intensified capacity building support; facilitating the operation of operational alliances and of global alliances and the Global Agenda.

In this effort, the Region is supported by the Geneva Health & Care unit and the Health and Emergency Health officer for MENA is part of the global secretariat health team. The global secretariat health team consists of people around the globe who share global accountability and responsibility for implementing the COVID-19 global emergency appeal in the area of health.

The MENA regional Emergency Health is based in Beirut and line managed by the Head of MENA Health & Care Unit and has a technical reporting line to the Head of Health and Care department in Beirut. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• The Health and Emergency Health Officer is responsible for providing consistently quality work and support while engaging all relevant team members including Federation member and NS counterparts. The post holder is therefore accountable for:
• Engaging in a broad spectrum of external relation activities in order to improve the quality of the program activities and the availability of resources, and with particular attention to the nurturing of operational alliances.
• Being an active member of the global and regional health team and contributing to the global Federation health team effort in addressing public health in emergency needs, especially COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to the team projects on the research & learning agenda, developing a holistic health and resilience approach and building capacity in behavioural change approaches.
• Aligning regional health programs to the global strategic direction developed by the global health team.
• Mainstreaming new public health threat and health in emergency e.g. needs of ageing populations, non-communicable diseases, maternal new-born & child health, in coordination with the regional and global health team.
• Overseeing the implementation, monitoring and reporting of existing relevant secretariat strategies and programme plans including the management of related internal relationships and thus ensuring business continuity.
• Ensuring monitoring and evaluation of Federation-wide health activities, by directly engaging and/or by promoting and overseeing the monitoring activities of the National Societies in the operational region in close collaboration with the DCPRR and PMER staff on especially COVID-19 emergency operation.
• Contribute to regional mapping: risk, NS’s potential roles and capacity, contingency plans, National response teams etc.
• Support IFRC country/clusters offices in monitoring national epidemiological data, to ensure NS preparedness and response activities remain in line with the evolving epidemic.
• Support adaptation and roll out of health promotion and risk communication package for MENA NSs in close coordination with DCPRR, Coms, Health ( including community health and MHPSS ) and WASH team.
• Providing consistent operational reporting on Federation-wide health and care activities at the operational regional level, in line with the newly revised reporting requirements.
• Providing a first referral level for technical questions arising from Federation stakeholders in the operational region and re-directing these to the secretariat health department for further assistance as needed.

Supporting regional networks as relevant and establishing/reinforcing a system for knowledge sharing at the operational regional level including the systematic mapping of capacities and acting as a central repository of information concerning best practices and lessons learnt.

Knowledge, skills and languages

• Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context-Required
• Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them
•  Budget and finance management-Required
•  Demonstrated skills in analytical and strategic thinking-Required
• Comfortable working with current donors and communicating with potential donors - in particular, with National Societies-Required
• Knowledge of and the first-hand experience with the Federation of the Future, including the New Operating Model Agenda and the Framework for Action preferred.-Preferred

Competencies and values

Professionalism

Communications

Diversity

Accountability

Team work

Judgement and Decision making

Integrity

Experience 

• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in an international sector, focused on humanitarian needs.-Required
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including time in the field and with a National Society.-
• Experience working in a change management situation, preferably as an active participant in that change.-Required
• Management of a team with a minimum of 3 staff members.-
• Work experience with other international organisations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agency is preferred.