BACKGROUND:  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 people impacted by conflict and other crises. 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.

The IRC launched an emergency health response in Libya in September 2016 as the humanitarian situation in the country was deteriorating following the 2014 civil war. Since then, the IRC has broadened its portfolio with health, protection, and governance programs aiming to employ a holistic approach to meeting the needs of crisis affected and vulnerable communities to survive, recover, and gain control of their futures.

The scope of IRC Libya’s health programming includes a combination of lifesaving interventions, recovery, and health systems strengthening for integrated primary health care, including mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).. In the design and development of responsive, client-centered health programming, working both directly and in partnership with local actors, IRC Libya integrates health and protection (with e.g., sexual and reproductive health, MHPSS) while also promoting improved access to health services for vulnerable populations.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Health Coordinator is a highly experienced, dynamic individual with a strong technical background and team and program management experience. The Health Coordinator leads the design, development, and management of a robust health program able to meet the health needs of vulnerable people, aiming to improve the quality and accessibility of health services throughout multiple locations in Libya. Strong capacities and adaptive, evidence-based approaches in health are integral to the delivery of the IRC Libya country strategy through both dedicated and integrated programming toward improving outcomes for target populations. The Health Coordinator plays a critical role in building staff technical and program management capacities, driving forward implementation and coordination with other actors, ensuring quality data is produced, analyzed, and used effectively, and participating in IRC and multi-agency advocacy efforts.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Program Quality and Management

Serve as a technical lead in quality program design and concept note and proposal development to further fund and develop IRC Libya’s health programming, with a specific focus on health system strengthening, including capacity building of health workers, improving health infrastructure, and enhancing health leadership, policy and governance. Ensure that IRC Libya health program activities and deliverables are planned effectively and delivered on schedule, are of high quality, meet humanitarian standards, mainstream protection, align with IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework, are based on learning and technical best practice, and respond to community and monitoring feedback. Identify linkages between the country program strategy and IRC’s global health strategy and facilitate strategy delivery planning and monitoring in collaboration with key internal stakeholders.Liaise with IRC Technical Unit advisors to ensure relevant support, tools, and other resources are being provided and integrated into programming.Proactively identify, assess, monitor and implement measures to reduce or control risks that may impact program delivery, quality, or compliance.Promote joint work across all health teams to enhance the quality of programming and a holistic approach to addressing safety risks.  Effectively manage IRC health program resources and facilitate the strengthening of program management capacities across the team.

Grant Management

 In collaboration with the Grants & Partnerships, Finance, HR, and Supply Chain departments, ensure smooth and IRC- and donor-compliant management of project work plans, procurement plans, and budgets (i.e., actively and effectively engage in budget forecasting, spending planning, procurement plans, Item Forecasts, BVA reviews), promoting best use of resources across activities and delivering on time, to scope, and within budget. Through direct liaison with the Supply Chain Coordinator, help ensure timely procurement of supplies (including pharma) in compliance with donor and IRC rules and regulations through timely planning, specifications development, and collaborative relations with Supply Chain colleaguesEnsure that all internal and external reporting requirements are met, that reports are of a high quality and are submitted on time.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Work with program managers/senior managers and MEAL/information management teams to analyze program performance, including through technical data reviews, and course correction actions needed, including internal tools amelioration. Ensure close and effective collaboration with MEAL staff in the design of program M&E plans and promote adherence to internal MEAL standards.Conduct regular technical data reviews, as well as reflection or program review meetings with field-based staff, to assess the level of achievement and draw on learning and data trends (including client feedback) to further inform program design and management decisions.

Partnerships and Health Systems Strengthening

In collaboration with other program coordinators and dedicated partnerships support staff, actively participate in the identification of, and promote coordination and work in partnership with, Libyan organizations and stakeholders.Support partnerships staff to conduct participatory capacity needs assessments of prospective partners and stakeholders and assist in regular performance monitoring of active partners and stakeholders (through various modalities) to achieve program objectives.Ensure IRC’s health programming in Libya is developed and implemented in coordination with health authorities and based on national guidance or policies.Support delivery of capacity strengthening and sharing plans for partner organizations and stakeholders as needed.Lead initiatives to strengthen health systems by: Conducting analyses of the health system, and identifying areas that can be strengthened at national, regional, and local levels.Enhancing health workforce capabilities through training and mentorship programs.Improving health information systems for better data management and utilization.Supporting policy development and advocacy for health regulations and practicesDeveloping strategies to ensure equitable access to quality health servicesCollaborate with local health systems to integrate NGO health services with national health frameworks.

Representation and Coordination

Attend relevant coordination forums inside Libya and represent the IRC Health program in coordination with local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required. Collaborate closely with other program departments in order to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from training best practices. Identify, monitor, and report unmet needs; explore the potential of the IRC to address those needs within the parameters of the country program’s Strategic Action Plan while preventing duplication with other actors and taking advantage of synergies.Work closely with senior health staff in the promotion of enhanced internal coordination and integration.

Strategic Leadership

Establish and drive common strategies and approaches to Health that reflect and contextualize Strategy 100 and the Country Strategic Action Plan. Lead all aspects of Health functions across multiple sectors and multiple geographical areas. Champion an organizational culture where data is routinely used for evidence-based decision making and program adaptation.Shape and implement Health systems and approaches that meet IRC standards and practices, are responsive to program needs, and enable accountability to clients, partners, and donors.Develop, coordinate and strengthen capacity sharing partnerships with Health counterparts of partner agencies and local organizations as required. Reinforce integration of cross-sectoral priorities in Health, including integration efforts with protection team, safeguarding, disaster risk reduction, Health Systems Strengthening, Equality and Inclusion, and Do No Harm.Proactively contribute to business development for the Libya Health portfolio through development of concept notes and proposals to existing and new donors, maintaining a coherent strategy across IRC’s areas of intervention in Libya aligned with the IRC Libya Strategy Action Plan.

Staff Management and Development

·  Establish an efficient and responsive staffing structure for the Health department which considers a balanced workload and optimal ways of working to support a large multi-sector program. Supervise the Health team across geographical areas. Set clear performance objectives, schedule regular check-in meetings, manage staff work plans, conduct regular performance reviews, champion a positive working environment for professional development, and foster an inclusive and respectful team climate.Coach, train, supervise, and mentor Health program staff. Promote the growth and development of the team. Assess proficiencies and develop and lead a targeted learning and training strategy Develop and implement capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the health team.

 

Safeguarding

·         Ensure the integration of safeguarding principles within all health-related programming. Oversee the training of health staff on safeguarding policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), and appropriate response mechanisms for handling disclosures, referrals, and reporting of safeguarding concerns.Collaborate with other technical coordinators and relevant SMT members to ensure that safeguarding is mainstreamed across all health activities, including case managementand  ensuring adherence to IRC’s safeguarding policies.  Assign and train safeguarding focal points within the team, ensuring they are equipped to address safeguarding concerns and act as key resources for the program.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

·         Ensure that all team members are trained on DEI principles, with a focus on integrating these principles into day-to-day activities, program design, and staff management practices Develop and implement strategies to increase the representation of diverse groups and female in the health program, promote equal opportunities and prevent discriminationAssign and train DEI focal points within the team to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all program activities and ensure DEI principles are integrated into the workplace culture

Other

·         Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC Health objectives.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: The Health Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director for Programs. The Health Coordinator directly supervises 5 staff (Roving Mental Health Specialist, Senior Health Manager West, Roving Quality Assurance Specialist, Health Manager – East, Health Manager – South). Other key working relationships include:

-          Internal: Grants & Partnerships Coordinator; MEAL Coordinator; HR Director; Supply Chain Coordinator; Deputy Director Finance/Finance Controller; Integrated Protection Coordinator; Advocacy/Communications Lead(s). Effective coordination/collaboration with human resources, finance, supply chain and other operations staff/teams is essential.

-          External: Relevant multi-agency coordination forums and working groups; international and Libyan partner organizations; Libyan authorities.