Job Opportunity at IRC, Health Coordinator

Requisition ID: req10086

Job Title: Health Coordinator

Sector: Health

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Kasulu, Tanzania

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation, and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression, and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation, and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Tanzania since early 90’s , and currently programs across five core sectors 1) Health 2) Women’s Protection and Empowerment, 3) Child and youth protection and development , 4)Protection and rule of law and lastly 5) Education.

In Health, the IRC is working closely with other health agencies in refugee camps on the Western side of the country to support the scale up of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including family planning and comprehensive post abortion care services as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services across the all three camps (Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli). The IRC also supports the host community to improve adolescent sexual reproductive health including menstrual hygiene management through partnership with the ministries of health and education and currently has expanded its support to include MHPSS and SRH in emergency services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), the Health Coordinator will be responsible for the immediate implementation and management of IRC’s health program in Tanzania, working in collaboration with the senior management team both in Dar es Salaam and in the field. As the focal point for health programs in Tanzania, the Health Coordinator will also ensure the continued implementation of quality primary and reproductive health care, as well as Mental Health and Psychosocial programming, in IRC’s operational areas in Western Tanzania and other parts of the country. In addition to operational implementation, the Health Coordinator should also provide a strategic vision for the programme within Tanzania.

S/he will provide technical support to the health program to ensure that IRC programs are of high quality and that programs are driven by data and learning, working in conjunction with other colleagues in the IRC Tanzania program. The Health Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including government stakeholders, and donors as new opportunities for coordination and funding arise. S/he will also play a strong role in mentoring and training the health team.

Key Responsibilities:

Program management, Technical Monitoring and Program Quality:

Provide technical supervision and guidance to all IRC health programming and extend technical support and assistance to other relevant stakeholders within the Tanzania refugee and host community operation as the need arises.
Ensure that the health projects in Tanzania utilize standardized protocols, policies, and guidelines, as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), UNHCR, SPHERE, and WHO health standards in emergencies as well as development contexts.
Ensure that all activities are consistent with established best practices.
Promote the quality of the IRC’s health programs by maintaining and /or setting up quality assurance mechanisms
Oversee the collection and timely reporting of data and statistics for all health programs in line with IRC’s Research, Evaluation & Learning (REL) guidelines as well as MOHSW and donor requirements.
Ensure that the stated goals and objectives of all health projects are met with strong monitoring and evaluation (M&E) follow up, including any required operational research, with technical support from the research and innovation hub and the Country Technical Advisors for health and nutrition as needed.
Participate in the design of robust M&E plans and design/adapt health information systems including surveillance systems for the IRC health programs in Tanzania.
Ensure sound data collection and information management systems are in place for ongoing performance analysis and programmatic action based on data and identified needs.
Lead technical assessments as a basis for primary health care program development.
Monitor evolving needs of the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary

Grants Management and Program Development:

Participate in the development of annual program budgets; ensure implementation of Health-related activities in line with approved budgets and spending plans.
Ensure that programmatic and financial reports for donors and IRC country program are prepared as required, ensuring these are of the highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor.
Ensure and review that program managers prepare all necessary documentation for Grant Opening, Review and Closing meetings.
Assist with the preparation of a realistic budget, authorizing and monitoring expenditure in line with the budget, donor guidelines and IRC’s grant management and financial regulations; Where necessary, in collaboration with program managers, revise plans and budgets to maintain program quality and progress; work with the Grants Team and DDP to ensure that all program activities are implemented in compliance with donor requirements.
Identify opportunities for program development.
Collaborate with other in-country program teams to ensure an integrated strategy to achieve health outcomes as in the country’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
Develop program and project proposals, including theories of change, logical frameworks, program design and implementation plans and SMART indicators for the IRC Tanzania health program under the supervision of the DDP and in consultation and collaboration with field-based technical and management staff.
Identify and develop jointly with DDP and other sector team leaders’ areas of enhanced linkages with other programs to ensure that the health team contributes to the success of all outcomes in the country program portfolio.

Health Systems Strengthening

Ensure that IRC programs are working with MoHSW structures at district, regional and national levels to support health system reforms and strengthening.
Apply knowledge and expertise in health policy and programs to design and develop activities that promote health policy reforms/development.
Support current health programs to transition their approach to ensure that health system strengthening is a key component of their approach.
Work at the policy level with key decision makers from various district and regional government levels and with donors and strategic technical partners, participating in strategy development and technical discussions relating to future direction of the health program.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Ensure that the health sector’s capacity to respond in the event of an outbreak based on the current country program’s priorities which may include deployment of ERTs as well as availability of medical supplies and drugs to manage the outbreaks.

Staff Development

Develop/organize training opportunities to build the capacity of the health staff and local partners to transfer skills. This includes staff training in program management areas such as reporting, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and supervision.
Provide technical support and participate in reviewing health program staff performance reviews
Develop and implement continuous staff capacity building plan to ensure quality gender-sensitive programming.
Ensure respect for IRC HR policies within the health staff team; Promote the IRC Way with all supervisees.

Business Development and Fundraising:

Write timely and quality proposals and review donor reports in collaboration with Program Managers, other Technical Coordinators and the Health Technical Advisors.
Develop strategic partnerships with local and international organizations, where possible.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy:

Represent IRC Tanzania in external Health related forums; actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in Tanzania including donors, government actors, UN agencies (especially UNHCR), international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors; identify health related advocacy issues in consultation with the country management.

Qualifications

Medical degree in health e.g. MBChB, MD, MBBS. Advanced degree in Public health is highly recommended
Experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming
Experience in Reproductive Health programming
Minimum 5 years’ experience in primary health programs in resource poor settings with at least 3 years in project management position.
Previous INGO experience in humanitarian or development contexts; previous emergency response, conflict/post-conflict experience preferred
Must be knowledgeable of DFID, ECHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO procedures and familiar with their approach and strategies.
Experience and competency in proposal development, report writing and grant management.
Competent in Windows, MS office programs, email and database (HIS, EPI-Info etc) experience.
Strong communication, people management, organizational and analytical skills.
Fluency in English and Swahili, spoken and written required
Ability to work in complex environment, multitask, manage pressure and flexibility
Good interpersonal skills to work effectively with different stakeholders including different communities in the target areas, humanitarian actors, service providers, local and national authorities

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