Health Delegate

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 NSs 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. 

In February 2022, a new phase in the armed conflict in Ukraine started. The intensification and spread of hostilities have affected all of Ukraine, causing massive humanitarian needs across all sectors and destroying essential civilian infrastructure. Millions of people are displaced in Ukraine, more than 5 million people have fled to other countries. 

IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and impacted countries. ICRC, IFRC and numerous Partner National Societies (PNSs) are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response to the Ukraine Red Cross Society (URCS) and in the neighboring countries. Operations in Ukraine are led and coordinated on country-level, through the Programmes and Operations Manager reporting to Head of Delegation.  In August 2023, IFRC Ukraine determined that it would shift the majority of its focus to National Society Development (NSD), which includes elements of programmatic capacity strengthening and more fundamental organizational development. IFRC is also drawing down in-country technical advisors in programmatic areas in light of changed needs.  However, operational support also continues (in particular around procurement) and the possibility of a dramatic change in the humanitarian situation requires an ongoing readiness for scaling up.  At the same time, URCS is consolidating its approach to recovery activities, to which IFRC will lend its support. Consequently, this role is combining functions of operations management and capacity strengthening programmatic support. 

 

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Programme and Operations Manager, and with a technical reporting line to the Health and Care Manager in the Regional Office, the Health Delegate collaborates with URCS, Movement partners, and other international partners to support URCS work in the health sector.

In support of the URCS One Plan, the Health Delegate (i) supports and monitors URCS implementation of health and social support programming funded by IFRC, (ii) assists URCS to analyse evolving health needs, develop internal quality standards, and incorporate community engagement, protection, inclusion concepts, (iii) assist URCS in developing sustainable long term strategies, its positioning and advocacy within the health sector including with relevant authorities and (iv) assists URCS and Partner NSs in promoting standardization, coordination and information sharing related to health-related work.   

Job Duties and Responsibilities

IFRC-funded programmes

• Support URCS in the design of health and social support programmes to be funded by IFRC.
• Monitor IFRC-funded URCS health and social support programmes to ensure that they are planned and implemented effectively and in a timely manner, with adequate quality and budgetary oversight.
• In case of any gaps, provide timely corrective advice and support, when needed, through agreed URCS channels.
• As needed and requested by URCS, provide mentoring and capacity strengthening advice and support to URCS staff.
• Act as an advisor to IFRC regarding health needs and interventions, ensuring links to relevant IFRC structures.

Analysis and standards

• Support URCS to analyse trends and develop forecasts for health-related needs, the availability of health services and the development of the health sector in Ukraine.
• Support URCS and Movement partners in refining systems for health data collection and analysis.
• Support URCS to develop and roll out standards for health-related programming, striving for all medical standard operating procedures to be evidence based, and drawing on best practices.

Strategies, positioning and resource mobilization

• Support URCS in commissioning expert analysis and advice and developing positioning strategies related to its health services, positioning in the health sector and market, auxiliary role the area of health and integration of health aspects into overall URCS recovery strategy.
• Support URCS in the development of medium and long-term strategies for the evolution of its health and social support-related services, in areas including but not limited to: home-based care, mobile health units, health promotion disease prevention, mental health and psychosocial support, physical rehabilitation, first aid and pre hospital care and health infrastructure.
• Support URCS to plan and launch a nursing school and plans for the development of the nursing profession in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.
• Support URCS health colleagues to design concepts and proposals for future funding for health-related programmes.

Coordination and information sharing

• Assist URCS and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners supporting it to ensure consistent approaches and application of URCS’ agreed standards in health programming, working in collaboration with IFRC field coordinators and inter-regional teams.
• Support URCS technical leads to ensure strong coordination with Movement and other humanitarian partners in various aspects of URCS health programming.
• Promote regular and effective information flow within the Movement about health programming progress, challenges and opportunities at the national, regional and local levels
• As needed, support URCS in coordination and connections with external coordination systems such as participation in the Health Cluster.

People management

• Work with and supervise staff to ensure clear roles and workplans (respecting the URCS substantive management line for embedded staff and implementing approaches promoted by the new IFRC NSD Competency Framework).
• Ensure consistent communication, coaching and oversight of supervised staff.
• Create a working environment that ensures staff growth, motivation and satisfaction.

Education

Required:

• Professional certification in a health and care science (Medical Doctor, Registered Nurse).

Preferred:

• Relevant post graduate degree.
• IMPACT or equivalent knowledge.

Experience

Required:

• At least 4 years of professional experience in the health sector.
• 3-5 years health programme management experience.
• Experience in collaborating with national health authorities or WHO.
• Experience in health emergency risk management.

Preferred:

• Direct experience in the fields of nursing education, physical rehabilitation, and/or mental health
• Experience in supporting local actors in their humanitarian response.
• Experience of working with Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Familiarity with current international health standards and guidelines.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and manage stress.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• Effective writing skills, including proposal development.
• Good mentoring and coaching skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual and cross-functional context.
• Ability to travel extensively.
• Ability to travel extensively.
• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Familiarity of IFRC and Movement health policies and standards.
• Good command of Ukrainian or another Slavic language.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

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  

Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development

Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others