The Danish Red Cross is looking for a talented Health Coordinator to support its activities in Iraq.
The Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been present in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) since 2002 and in Iraq since 2013. Initial support in Iraq was focussed on building the capacity of the Iraq Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to implement Psychosocial Support (PS) activities, later extended to emergency relief projects in WASH, PSS and health. In 2019 DRC started implementing emergency cash interventions and building IRCS technical capacity on cash as a modality of assistance. In September 2021, a cash consortium led by DRC was established in Iraq and a national cash officer was hired to further build this sector and upgrade IRCS capacities.
DRC programme in Iraq is funded mainly by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and focuses on areas where humanitarian needs are greatest, including Health and PSS, but it is increasingly seeking to contribute to durable solutions and building communities’ ability to cope with, and transition from, the prolonged and protracted crisis.
The new Country strategy 2022- 2025, based on DRC Global and Regional Strategy, aimed to contribute to the equal and continuum access to quality primary health care including PSS and services and to build resilient, inclusive and cohesive communities. Thus, in 2022, DRC will continue to support IRCS’ capacity to provide essential assistance in areas of acute need, with an emphasis on primary healthcare including Non-Communicable Diseases NCD; Reproductive, Maternal, New-born and Child Health, MHPSS, as well as livelihood and cash-based-assistance.
The main purpose of the position is for a Health Coordinator to provide technical support to IRCS and hands-on guidance and capacity building for implementation of health interventions with focus on Primary Health Care (PHC), Mother and Child Health (MCH) and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). The position is also to support new applications and project development within the scope of health.
Your tasks
Technical support, develop health interventions, and strengthen PMER of health:
- Support IRCS to implement existing Primary Health Care (PHC) project in permanent health facilities, including the establishment of a Mother and Child Care Unit and in mobile PHC
- Support IRCS to strengthen community Mother and Child Health (MCH) care interventions, including the establishment and running of Mothers clubs by trained IRCS volunteers
- Provide technical and managerial support and advice to IRCS in planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and review of a newly initiated NCD project, with a focus on NCD awareness raising on risk factors and peer-support group interventions.
- Technical support for a Maternity health project on building capacity among health professionals for safe deliveries
- Support IRCS for a strengthened PMER capacity within the area of health interventions incl. needs assessments, baseline studies, reviews, evaluations and reporting
- Assist IRCS in development of ideas, programme documents and proposals to donors for potential new health interventions, including within PHC, NCD, CASH for health, and Climate change & health
Other important tasks:
- Provide relevant support for mainstreaming of strategies, SOP’s and tools
- Support IRCS to prepare and implement capacity development plans and activities within health projects
- Actively promote and contribute to an exchange within Danish Red Cross’ health matrix to ensure technical quality, innovative elements and systematic institutional learning from health interventions
The requirements for this position are:
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant International experience in health sector with humanitarian organizations, including at least one year work experience in conflict affected countries.
- Technical skills within PHC and NCD in emergency/humanitarian context.
- Experience with project management and working with local partners, public health systems and community engagement.
- Proven record in building capacities of local partners, ideally within the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement
- General project cycle management experience as well as report writing for humanitarian response operations.
- Experience in assessments, programme development, proposal writing and development of M&E systems for Health interventions is required.
- A relevant academic degree in the health sector
- Excellent English speaking and writing skills.
- The ability to work in Arabic will be a plus.
- Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and as self-supporting with computers as possible.
Key competencies for the role:
- Good communicator and a team player, but also structured, systematic and good at meeting deadlines.
- Integrity and professionalism, feels accountable, able to work collaboratively and in teams, focused on beneficiary needs.
- Confident in situations of stress, including due to uncertainty, and able to handle a heavy but varied workload for a long period.
- Results-oriented, but aware that careful preparation and local ownership are key to achieving results in a sensitive environment.
- Good cultural awareness and sensitivity, patience and the ability to train, mentor and develop Host National Society staff and volunteers.
- Excellent diplomacy, communication, coordination, negotiation, networking and facilitation skills.
- The ability and willingness to live and work under restricted conditions in Baghdad and travel around the country under ICRC security rules
- The ability to work both independently but also with their direct supervisor as a cooperative team-player
How to apply
The right candidate will be offered a 1-year contract, beginning as soon as possible, with potential for a possible extension (funding permitting). Non-family duty station, where the incumbent must follow DRC procedures built on ICRC security regulations. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the DRC Terms and Conditions for Coordinators.
Further information is available in the job description. If you have questions related to this position, please address these to DRC Country Manager Iraq, Luisa Rueda Solache on [email protected]
Deadline for submission of applications; 7th of May 2023. Technical test and Interviews immediately thereafter.
Please do only submit the required documents on-line, including cover letter in English and Updated CV. We look forward to receiving your application. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
To apply, follow this link: Røde Kors – Health Coordinator, Iraq (easycruit.com)
