CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date: 31 Oct 2014

Role and Responsibilities

Provide technical advice and support to the field management and the health staff. Develop, lead, monitor, and evaluate the health aspects of the country programme. Coordinate and network at a senior level with national and regional health authorities and other NGOs. Lead on all health elements of proposals and reports, providing capacity building for national and international staff, promote best practice in the health programmes and contributing to the overall management of the country programme.

Take a look at Medair’sHealth & Nutritionwork.

Project Overview

Emergency health projects targeting displaced, war affected and vulnerable populations in North East Congo. Developmental projects aimed at long term and sustainable behaviour change in general population and state health employees to improve public health outcomes. Potential project includes emergency responses and/or expansion of initial programmes into areas with critical needs.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.

Workplace

Bunia, D.R. Congo. Take a look at Medair’s work inD.R. Congo.

Starting Date

October 2014

Initial Contract Details

Full time, Minimum contract of 12 – 24 months

Key Activity Areas

Health Project Technical Oversight

• Maintain an overview of the country health programme and of the regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and/or surrounding regions, and proactively planning for responsible exit.
• Give technical advice to field managers and HQ on potential involvement in new health interventions and internal health capacity for implementation.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for the medical aspects of Medair’s work in country, in consultation with HQ advisors, field managers, in line with government and intl. guidelines.
• Provide technical support to health teams in all project sites, including evaluation and impact analysis of current projects and the writing of donor proposals and reports within the required timeframes.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with field managers, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes and in accordance with recognised international standards.
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection (qualitative and quantitative), analysis and follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, donors, partners / other agencies.
• Maintain an oversight of medicines and health supplies ordered for the health projects, supporting the health and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of health supplies.
• Input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of the project.

Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with Ministry of Health, UN, NGOs, donors, partners and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships. Seek out relevant networks or task groups on specific health-related humanitarian aid issues and actively participate, if possible.
• Represent Medair, as appropriate, at national health cluster, coordination, sector and bilateral meetings, working groups, with national and/or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events, facilitating supportive synergies and overall progress in the health sector and avoiding duplication with the work of other agencies (e.g. NGOs, UN, etc).

Staff Management

• Ensure that all health staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material as required with support from HQ advisors as needed.

Financial Management

• Work with the relevant field managers and HQ staff to plan and construct health budgets.
• Ensure the health project expenditure is in line with approved budgets, advising on potential under/over spend and recommending appropriate corrective action.

Quality Management

• Ensure health projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards e.g. Sphere and HAP standards, WHO recommendations, etc. Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations to HQ advisors as well as field staff on the quality of health programmes and interventions.

Qualifications

• Clinical degree or diploma (nurse, midwife or doctor), or Public Health degree; Medical doctor desirable
• Clinical degree in Public Health strongly desirable; Degree in Tropical Medicine desirable

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English and French (spoken and written)

Experience / Competencies

• 3 years’ post-qualification experience in managing Primary Health Care programmes in developing countries, with at least 1 year in a humanitarian emergency context
• 1 year managing and coordinating emergency responses – outbreaks, displaced populations, and/or nutritional emergencies desirable
• Competent with statistical database such as EPI Info, SPSS or STATA desirable
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, Sphere and HAP Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of public health programmes
• Experience dealing with donors and govt. officials, representation at national and local levels desirable
• Advanced leadership, project management, planning, assessment and analytical skills
• Good report and proposal writing and negotiation skills; networking and advocacy skills desirable
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels

Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience
• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values
• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder
• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)
• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

Working Conditions

• Bunia is a rural town. The improving security situation means that we are currently able to move quite freely within a specified area of Bunia, however this may change if security deteriorates.

How to apply:

Follow this link: www.medair.org/work-with-us, check if you are an Experienced or New Relief Worker and that you fit our standard working criteria, then:

a) apply for this vacancy(or another position that matches your profile),or

b) apply for a Medair ROC(where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.