Roving Delegate, Community Epidemic and Pandemic Programme (CP3)

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 the 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.”  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 delegation 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.

As part of the Africa Region, the Cluster Delegation for Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi facilitates sub-regional cooperation for ongoing emergency operations, development programmes, and provide direct support to these NSs. The central thematic focus of this Country Cluster Delegation is on food security and livelihoods, public health outbreaks, Floods, climate change, resource mobilization and partnerships, and any other emerging disasters.

The Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3) is a global initiative that currently covers 7 countries with possible further expansion. The program focuses on building epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the community level to ensure early detection and early action to public health threats. The project also builds capacity of NSs to ensure local action and collaboration with government, ministries of health, the United Nations, and other civil society partners.

The Roving Delegate will support country-level implementation of CP3 in Malawi and Zambia. The position will play a key role in operational support and coordination at the country-level, ensuring timely and effective implementation. The post holder will be required to collaborate with a large network of internal and external partners that are working and innovating in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) field. The role requires experience and knowledge of participatory community engagement methods, community health programs, capacity building, epidemic preparedness and/or response, and an understanding of surveillance systems of infectious diseases.

Job Purpose

The CP3 Delegate will provide oversight and support of CP3 implementation to the NSs and other partners to ensure quality implementation and sound financial management. The Delegate will regularly represent IFRC and CP3 at national-level meetings and with the donor.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the implementation of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program in Malawi and Zambia

Coordination and Partnership Development

• Participate and/or represent IFRC in appropriate inter-agency and internal coordination meetings related to relevant technical areas.
• Collaborate with all partners of the Red Cross Movement, key government officials, NGO partners, and donors.
• Use policies, strategies, best practices, and approaches to global health security and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Collaborate with the ‘One Health’ initiative to ensure engagement with environmental and animal sectors in epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
• Represent IFRC and engage the donor at the country level regarding program development and activity rollout.

Technical support

• Provide technical support to NSs’ CP3 Program staff to build the capacity of the community and NS in the key areas of early detection, early action, social behaviour change, and organisational preparedness.
• Plan and supervise the ongoing development of health literacy and community-based surveillance (CBS) by the NSs and support integration and expansion of the activity in conjunction with relevant stakeholders Internal.
• Support implementation of the NS Preparedness for an Effective Response process and NS contingency planning.
• Respond to emergencies in the country as relevant.
• Collaborate with key partners such as Ministry departments, WHO, FAO, and CDC on further developing harmonization of community-based surveillance and epidemic response within the country context.

Reporting

• Actively monitor programs/projects to support quality implementation.
• Work closely with CP3 Africa Regional and HQ Advisors to carry forward recommendations on implementation.
• Prepare key project reports for IFRC, donors, and other partners to keep them informed on program progress.
• Ensure program accountability, financial due diligence, integrity.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation, report on indicator status timely and with quality data.

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team:

• Be accountable to the regional team by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Be flexible in work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a proactive team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Support the NS CP3 Program staff in strengthening financial standards in the team and ensure budget needs are met and reported upon in a timely and efficient manner.

Education

• University Degree level in health or social services. (Required)
• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, or other relevant public health subject. (Preferred)
• IMPACT or equivalent knowledge. (Preferred)

Experience

• At least 3-5 years of progressive experience in the management of health systems and health programmes.(Required)
• Experience in training, mentoring and/or leading staff, and capacity-building.(Required)
• Experience in strategic planning and implementation in health programming.(Required)
• Experience of working in public health in emergencies. (Required)
• Experience in preparing and monitoring project plans, writing reports and developing project proposals. (Required)
• Experience working within different components of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. (Required)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Good knowledge of participatory community engagement methods, community health programs, capacity building, epidemic preparedness and/or response, and an understanding of surveillance systems of infectious diseases. (Required)
• Knowledge of public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning. (Required)
• Programme and financial management. (Required)
• Highly motivated self-starter able to lead a process, engage others and create ownership. Capable of influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control, as a member of multinational team, and managing remote relationships to achieve results. (Required)
• Outstanding networking, representation, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive. (Required)
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills and able to develop positive professional relationships with teams. Openness to the inputs of team members and colleagues for a dynamic program implementation. (Required)
• Experience collaborating with colleagues by-distance and proactive at working in partnerships. (Required)
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality. (Required)
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels. (Required)
• Excellent analytic and computer skills (Ms Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint). (Required)
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment. (Required)
• Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines. (Required)
• Willing to travel and operate in a demanding working environment. (Required)
• Fluent spoken and written English. (Required)
• Good command of spoken and written French. (Preferred)
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic). (Preferred)

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