Emergency Health Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

On December 16, 2013, heavy military exchanges occurred between rival SPLA factions in Juba (Central Equatoria State). The fighting and violence quickly spread to other states in South Sudan, trapping thousands of civilians in Unity, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Jonglei States in UN bases or makeshift IDP settlements. Despite the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement, fighting has continued between Government and opposition forces, resulting in mass displacement. OCHA estimates that 1.3 million South Sudanese have been displaced due to insecurity, of whom 950,000 are internally displaced. It is estimated that around 87,000 IDPs are being sheltered in UN bases around the country.

After an initial scale up phase immediately upon the start of the conflict, IRC south Sudan is now launching a second scale up phase to further strengthen its response to the ongoing crisis. In particular, IRC will open new offices in Nyal, Koch and Guit, Unity state and launch two multi–sector rapid response mobile teams deployable anywhere in South Sudan for emergency deployments. Each new location as well as the mobile teams aim to deliver emergency assistance in health, protection, nutrition and water and sanitation. The mobile teams are deployable for up to 2 months in each location based on the decision of the inter-cluster. Deployment will be done alongside other mobile team partners. Offices in Nyal, Koch and Guit are located in recently accessible locations and will implement emergency interventions with an eye to extending the presence of the program beyond the current grant. 

Job Overview:

The IRC seeks an Emergency Health Coordinator for its emergency health operations in South Sudan. The Coordinator will guide the emergency health intervention strategy in selected locations, providing direct technical guidance to health managers on the ground and direct support to the emergency response through active coordination with the clusters, partner agencies, and existing IRC programs. He/she will be responsible for reporting and proposal development for all emergency health programs. 

Major Responsibilities:

Program implementation

• Actively support emergency health managers in the development and implementation of emergency health interventions in their area of operation, including mobile teams and new locations through technical guidance and support, information dissemination, coordination and Juba-level support.
• Actively liaise with partners, cluster members and the ministry to ensure inputs and in – kind supplies are provided in a timely manner and are consistent with program needs.
• Closely collaborate with the Health Coordinator to ensure coherence between regular health programming and emergency health programming.
• Carry out regular field visits to the emergency locations to identify opportunities for improved and expended programming.
• Actively work with the Mobile Team Leader to identify locations for interventions. 
• Actively work with the DDFM and DDP to troubleshoot emergency health programming issues, identify new program opportunities and identify areas for expanded emergency health programming.

Grants Management and Reporting

• Lead proposal development for emergency health grants.
• Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings.
• Prepare internal and external reports for all emergency health interventions within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.

Representation & Coordination

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community-based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination.
• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.
• Actively liaise with WHO, the Ministry of Health and the Health cluster to ensure harmonized and proactive programming.

Strategy Development

• Develop an emergency health strategy ensuring the proposed interventions are timely, realistic and fill identified gaps.
• Actively work to secure the resources ( financial and in – kind) to ensure the strategy can be put in place.

Job Requirements:

·         Health professional (MD or RN with a MPH is preferred) with strong public health background.

·         At least 5 years professional technical experience, including 3 years implementing health programs in emergency and conflict contexts; Program start up experience an advantage.

·         Experience in emergency settings / conflict areas.

·         Demonstrated experience in capacity building, project design, budget management and proposal development.

·         Strong understanding of emergency health principles and health concerns arising in the South Sudan context. 

·         Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders.

·         Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.

·         Excellent analytical and written skills, and good computer skills.

·         Fluency in English.

·         Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

Working Environment:

Security level orange. The situation in Juba is calm at the moment but remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

Lodging in Juba is in a private bedroom, with en suite bathroom, in a shared IRC guesthouse. In field sites, accommodation ranges from tent to traditional hut to permanent structures with common latrines and showers. All IRC sites have electricity and internet at least several hours per day. Food is the individual’s responsibility.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.