Delegate, Public 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 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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.”  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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The Africa Regional Business Group is organised through cluster offices covering the National Societies in 15 Country Cluster Delegations.

In 2021, IFRC has established a Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This CCD is charged with the responsibility of supporting the National Societies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi in developing their long-term programmes as well as generating resources to support a framework designed to address the needs of individuals and communities across a range of service delivery areas focused on health and disaster risk management. The CCD is situated in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The regular occurrence of epidemics such as ebola, cholera, measles, polio, plague, M-Pox etc., requires more inclusive health system and community response. The National Red Cross Societies respond to public health emergency issues through community outreach, health promotion including risk communication and community engagement, dignified and safe burials, psychosocial support, screening, and awareness raising for infection prevention and control, while ensuring prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation, protection and inclusion of women and promotion of safety on the ground.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of CCD, the Public Health Delegate provides expert advice and support to four National Societies (NSs) in the Cluster in the day-to-day implementation, management, and coordination of public health responses. The Public Health Delegate effectively contributes to the assistance of vulnerable people through a Movement-coordinated approach and ensures proper technical support on areas such as Movement Coordination, Disaster Management (with focus on Health and WASH), and other areas needed by the NS and IFRC. The incumbent ensures that all activities are implemented in compliance with IFRC standards, while promoting capacity building of the NS and actively pursue community participation in the implementation of activities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Expert Advice and Guidance:

• Provide evidence-based advice to IFRC, NS and One Health Stakeholders including relevant government Ministries and lead the epidemiological work supporting programming related to outbreak preparedness and response in the IFRC in the Kinshasa Delegation.
• Support relevant teams on building core capacities for surveillance, early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health events of international concern, as required in the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
• Provide technical support to National Societies (externally when requested) to build capacity on community-based surveillance (CBS), including support for assessments in new locations, set-up of systems and structures, collaborative workshops and information management structures to continue the strengthening the NS and IFRC cluster capacity for epidemic preparedness and response.
• Ensure that the IFRC, NS and partners have access to all relevant existing country- specific health-related data. This includes national and sub- national datasets, such as demographics of populations affected by specific diseases (relevant age, gender, etc.) and time trends.
• Analyse CBS and other community-sourced data sets to provide additional insights on the health context and epidemiological situation within specific areas.
• Assist the government and relevant institutions on the enhancement of national capacities in epidemic and disease- trends’ forecasting and detection systems, including epidemiology and laboratory surveillance for monitoring and evaluating the core surveillance and real-time analysis of outbreak intelligence data.
• Lead and coordinate training for NS representatives, IFRC focal points and other relevant public health professionals on community-based surveillance, integrated outbreak analytics and/or the improvement of related data management.
• Collaborate with Health Emergency teams to promote country’s position and successfully influence national health authorities to develop infection prevention and control programmes in health care facilities, including (where and when required) focusing on preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics.
• Participate, as needed, in risk assessments for unusual health events.
• Collaborate with relevant authorities on the development and maintenance of a national system for collaborative data collection and trend analysis of public health events, including engagement with multi-sectoral teams and COUSP on integrated outbreak analytics.
• Encourage collaboration and develop innovative advocacy initiatives and project proposals for joint action and resource mobilization to augment national, operational responses to public health events.
• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for community-based surveillance and early action related to epidemic preparedness and response
• Collaborate with key partners such as MOH, WHO and CDC on further developing harmonisation of community-based surveillance and health information systems.
• Collaborate with public health experts from IFRC regional and global offices to provide expert advice to the National Societies (NSs) on preparedness, prevention, surveillance, and control of different epidemics in the region.
• Support NSs in the development of scenarios and contingency plans for the changing health situation, particularly during outbreaks.
• Provide effective technical guidance on the quality of the National Society public health response, including training materials and messages, and security measures for volunteers and staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Support the integration of a comprehensive community surveillance approach, drawing lessons from the IFRC's "Community Pandemic Preparedness Programme", to promote community acceptance.
• Ensure full implementation of lessons learned from public health and previous IFRC operational experiences in the CCD.

Operational Management and Internal Coordination:

• Ensure strong information sharing and coordination with NSs and other Movement partners.
• Develop health projects and budgets according to IFRC standards.
• Closely monitor the operational and financial implementation of the health programme and ensure that steps are taken to address any gaps or obstacles.
• Support efforts to update the action plan and emergency budget in the event of changes in the situation at the cluster level.
• Oversee and coordinate financial and technical support to the health operation, ensuring effective supervision of all dedicated IFRC staff.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting on the health programmes of the CCD.
• Ensure strong coordination and information sharing with relevant colleagues in the CCD, the Africa Regional Office and the IFRC Headquarters.
• Ensure that each health project implemented contributes to the development of NSs, in line with its overall strategy.

Program development and Resource Mobilization:

• Collaborate with senior NSs’ staff and IFRC colleagues at cluster, regional and global levels.
• Identify key humanitarian, public health and resilience needs and programming opportunities in the CCD in line with existing National Society strategic plans and the IFRC Strategy 2030.
• Develop draft project plans and budgets in line with IFRC best practice.
• Connect with other Movement components to ensure coherence and collaboration in health program design.
• Develop proposals, strategies, approaches and marketing material for potential donors.
• Maintain excellent lines of communication and reporting with donors.

External Coordination and Communications:

• Ensure effective IFRC and NS coordination and information sharing with external partners, in particular public health officials, humanitarian coordination mechanisms and donors.
• Promote strong visibility of NS efforts in coordination forums, joint sitreps and other forums.

• Ensure strong communication and coordination with Group NSs and all Movement partners on public health-related activities.
• Represent the Federation as required in Movement and external meetings, trainings and workshops related to various health projects and program.
• Ensure that IFRC and National Society operational and programmatic information is communicated to external partners to promote visibility and coordination.
• Research and identify decision makers and power structures relevant to IFRC activities and NSs of the countries concerned, opportunities for their promotion at regional and global level.
• Identify key opportunities, events, conferences, and forums where the IFRC and/or NSs should be present.

Promote knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices in public health between NSs

Education

• Relevant University Degree (Medicine, Clinical sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Sciences).
• Master’s Epidemiology or Degree in Public Health.
• Relevant professional experience and training (basic training courses for delegates/IMPACT).

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of work experience in managing public health programs in a humanitarian organisation in developing countries, with specific experience in epidemic response.
• Good understanding of the humanitarian environment, strong analytical skills, and capacity to translate analysis into strategy and planning.
• An excellent track record of networking, influencing, and negotiating and building relationships effectively.
• Experience in proposal development, report writing, and developing budgets.
• Experience in field-based implementation.
• Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent.
• Experience in financial management to ensure compliance.
• Experience in management and supervision of health staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Advanced computer skills (windows, spreadsheets, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and partner relationship building skills.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in programme management, project planning and budgeting, resource management, implementation ability as well as programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong understanding of IFRC finance, procurement, and logistics procedures.
• Skills in training and developing staff capacity.
• Excellent skills in networking with other agencies and organisations.
• Creative, results and solution-oriented approach and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment, strong interpersonal skills
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in written and spoken French

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.

 

Female applications are highly encouraged