Emergency Health Coordinator

POSITION TITLE:  Emergency Health Coordinator
COUNTRY PROGRAM:  Rwanda
RESPONSIBLE TO:  Mahama Site Manager
STATUS:  Full Time Temporary (9 months)
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY:  Mahama Health and Nutrition team 
START DATE:  Immediately
LENGTH OF ASSIGNMENT: 9 months (contingent upon funding)

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION

Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, ARC established relief programs to rebuild the country`s health structure and ease the repatriation of large numbers of refugees who had fled the violence.  Since then, ARC has been providing a response to the emergency needs of war-affected populations fleeing eastern Congo. ARC/Rwanda is active in all six of the current refugee camps in Rwanda in the areas of shelter/infrastructure, WASH, health, and livelihoods. The overall aim of the program is to improve the well-being of target populations by addressing their immediate humanitarian needs and contributing to long-term community stabilization.

Presently, pre-electoral tensions in Burundi and the recent announcement by incumbent President Nkurunriza to seek a third term have caused thousands of Burundians to seek shelter in neighbouring countries. As of April 29, 2015, over 22,482 Burundian refugees had crossed the border into Rwanda (figure includes data only for the reception centers and Mahama refugee camp), of which 58% are children and 54% are women. The rate of refugees arriving in the country has rapidly increased in the last week to an average of close to 2,000 people per day, requiring rapid and urgent response from the humanitarian community. 

On April 27th, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) projected that up to 100,000 refugees would be displaced within three months if the current rate trend continues.  While over 8,000 refugees have been relocated to the new Mahama camp since April 21, there is an urgent need to increase basic services there (8,672 refugees hosted in Mahama camp as of April 29, 2015).

Refugees from Burundi are crossing the border with little or nothing in their possession, the majority having no additional clothes other than those they arrived with. The original influx of refugees were from very poor households. At this time, it is the heavy rainy season in Rwanda, which increases the need for appropriate shelters for those arriving, as well as access to food, health care and other basic services. 

UNHCR has selected ARC/Rwanda as the partner for Shelters & Infrastructures, and Health for the new camp established in Mahama, Kirehe District.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Emergency Health Coordinator is responsible for establishing the Health, Nutrition, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS program in Mahama camp for a population of up to 60,000. The Emergency Health Coordinator provides leadership, direct management and technical guidance to the primary and reproductive health team in Mahama camp and is accountable for the and implementation of high quality health services. The Emergency Health Coordinator identifies qualified staff, and establishes clear systems and protocols to ensure services are of quality and meet international and nationally accepted standards. The Emergency Health Coordinator also represents ARC at donor meetings, Health Cluster meetings and other inter-agency meetings and contributes to the development and implementation of new programs and services, as required to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving situation.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Conduct health assessments to determine immediate, critical health needs.
• Establish primary and reproductive health service for a refugee population of up to 60,000. Services must be conform to Rwandan national health policies and guidelines, and offer the same level of services as Gihembe and Nyabiheke camps, where ARC also manages health service delivery.
• Coordinate closely with Nutrition Expert to establish comprehensive therapeutic and supplemental feeding programs to address the urgent nutrition needs of the target population.
• Assist in identifying, training and supervision of local health staff
• Establish functioning referral systems with government-run secondary and tertiary care facilities.
• Coordinate and implement other targeted emergency health interventions, as needed (e.g., in the case of disease outbreak).
• Track mortality, morbidity and cumulative health statistics and provide weekly situation reports on emerging health indicators.
• Collect information and statistics and prepare reports according to internal ARC, donor, and MOH reporting guidelines.
• Develop concept papers, proposals, and budgets in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team

• Establish protocols and systems for drug management and ensure that Mahama camp has a constant supply of essential medicines and equipment.

• Provide technical oversight in the integration of health activities in the WASH sector.

• Travel frequently to Mahama camp for supervisory visits, and other field sites, as necessary and as the situation evolves.
• Represent ARC in donor and other health related forums and meetings liaise and coordinate activities in the field with MoH, UN agencies and other INGOs and NGOs.

• Performs any other duties assigned by the Senior Program Coordinator.

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Health professional (MD, RN) with MPH degree preferred or related experience.
• Minimum 2 years overseas experience implementing and developing health programs in emergency and post conflict environments with limited/degraded local resources and infrastructure in insecure environments
• Experience in representation and interaction with donors, government officials, international organizations, and NGO representatives concerning health issues and initiatives in complex humanitarian emergencies
• Demonstrated experience in conducting rapid health assessments

• Strong coordination and leadership skills with proven ability to work across multiple technical areas simultaneously, supporting multiple staff members.

• Experience in project management and managing budgets.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, including integrated disease surveillance reporting and DHIS2.
• Familiarity with US government, UN, and multi-lateral donors, especially UNHCR and the U.S. Bureau for Populations, Refugees and Migration (BPRM)
• Familiarity or experience with Sphere Standards
• Strong proposal and report writing skills with proven organizational/multitasking skills.
• Must be fluent in English; knowledge of French and/or Kinyarwanda a plus.

• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

• Highly motivated self-starter who takes direction well, but also works independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, effectively managing multiple priorities.
• Prior experience working in Africa and in complex emergency settings.
• Extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations
• Willingness to frequently travel and live in remote areas with limited infrastructure.
• Cultural sensitivity essential.