Senior Officer, Public Health (Pandemic/Epidemic Preparedness 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. 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 National Societies 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.

The Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3) is a global initiative that has been implemented in seven countries and currently expanding to six more (including Thailand). The programme focuses on building epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the community level to ensure early detection and early action to public health threats. The programme also builds capacity within the National Societies of the Red Cross/Red Crescent to ensure local action and collaboration with government, ministries of health, the United Nations, and civil society partners.

The IFRC is seeking a dynamic Senior Officer to support country-level implementation of CP3 in  Burund. The position will play a key role in providing operational and coordination support to the Burundi Red Cross (BRC)  at the country-level with a geographical focus on the border with DRC, Rwanda and Tanzania, ensuring timely and effective implementation in the selected areas. The role will be required to collaborate with a large network of internal and external partners that are actively contributing towards the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in Burundi,. The role requires experience and knowledge of participatory community engagement methods, community health programmes, capacity building, epidemic preparedness and/or response, management of zoonotic diseases, one-health approach, and an understanding of surveillance systems of infectious diseases in Burundi

 The Health Senior Officer will provide oversight and support BRC and other partners to ensure quality implementation and sound financial management of the CP3 programme. The Officer will regularly represent IFRC at national and local level meetings, together with BRC , and relevant partners and donors. The Officer will also regularly visit target areas and support BRC in strengthening its capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

Job Purpose

To support Burundi Red Cross and cluster in implementing its community epidemic and pandemic preparedness programme by providing high-quality technical guidance, due diligence, and coordination while contributing to the programme’s overall goals.

To ensure the planning, roll-out, monitoring, and reporting of program activities by BRC, and contribute to knowledge sharing, evidence-based programming, and National Society preparedness.

To ensure the effective coordination and collaboration between relevant stakeholders that contribute to improve epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the country and regional level.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the quality and timely implementation of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme in Burundi

 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 International Red Cross and Red Crescent 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 human, environmental and animal health actors in epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
• Represent IFRC and engage the donor (USAID) at country level regarding programme development and activity rollout.

Lead the systematic mapping, assessment, and analysis of the health hazards, as well as the capacities and shortcomings of existing health systems, infrastructures, and actors and their coordination mechanisms, with a geographical focus on targeted area in Myanmar – Thailand border area.Technical support

• Provide technical support to BRC  CP3 Programme staff to build the capacity of target communities,  BRC and other key stakeholders in the key areas of early detection, early action, social behaviour change, and organisational preparedness.
• Work closely with the IFRC cluster, regional and relevant Health staff in IFRC Headquarters in Geneva to provide effective technical support to the BRC CP3 Programme staff in charge of its implementation.
• Plan and supervise the anticipated CBS assessment in targeted areas
• Support implementation of activities that increases BRC capacities in preparing and responding to epidemics (including the development of assessments, plans, etc.).
• Collaborate with key partners such as Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of fishery and agriculture WHO, FAO, and others on further developing harmonization of community-based surveillance and epidemic preparedness and response within the country context.

Reporting

• Actively monitor the programme to support quality implementation.
• Work closely with the IFRC Africa team and CP3 global team to carry forward recommendations on implementation.
• Be accountable to the donor (USAID), BRC and IFRC by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Ensure programme 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 a proactive team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance, and cost-effectiveness.

Support the BRC CP3 Programme staff in strengthening financial standards in the team and ensure budget needs are met and reported upon in a timely and efficient manner.

Education

• Master’s in public health /Global/Internal health/ Epidemiology / Health Sciences or other health related sciences is required

Experience

• At least  5 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on global health, epidemiology, surveillance and community-based health programs
• Experience in responding to epidemics
• Coordination and representation experience in a cross-cultural environment
• Experience in Health Information Systems and Surveillance
• Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Knowledge of public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning.
• Programme and financial management
• Good networking, representation, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Effective communication skills and able to develop positive professional relationships with teams. Openness to the inputs of team members and colleagues for a dynamic program implementation.
• Experience collaborating with colleagues by-distance and proactive at working in partnerships
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Fluently spoken and written both French and English

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