Health and Nutrition Technical Specialist – National At Relief International

Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and well being.

Currently, RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT), Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and OPT.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program

Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming

Middle East Region

RI operates in six countries in the Middle East region: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and oPT, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity. We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.

1. Job Profile

Relief International (RI) currently seeks a dynamic, hands-on Health and Nutrition Technical Specialist to support our OPT Program. The Technical Specialist will provide technical direction to project staff and partners, actively participate in implementation of RI programs in OPT, and provide recommendation for improvements in RI’s service delivery and overall quality of the program. The capacity building of national teams and local partners will be an integrated component of his/her work. In addition, the specialist will support, on an on-going basis, the Technical Advisor in assessing current health and nutrition needs and assist in program development to secure funding for new projects from a range of donors. This position requires an individual who is used to the pace of emergency response programming, does not require close supervision or direction, and is flexible and highly responsive.

Key responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

1. Support the health and nutrition advisor in the development of longer term operational and strategic plans, and translate longer term strategy into departmental work plans.
2. Representation in different forms and influences and advises internally and externally
3. Works within general functional policies and industry guidelines, but with discretion to use judgement when applying to own work.

General management

• Review the short- and long-range plans for delivery of project services, and provide guidance to the RI staff, health facility staff and/or local partners to improve planning, management and delivery of quality services or various program components.
• Evaluate activity progress and determine necessary actions in short and long term.
• Supervise cross project functional roles: referral system, pharmaceuticals management and mental health (in collaboration with, Nutrition, Primary health care (PHC), secondary health care (SHC) and Protection team).
• Support medical audits to assess status of health and nutrition services, quality of supply and facilities, and on-site health information systems, in accordance with RI and international standards and policies.
• Review and share program-specific tools / resources / curricula and work with Regional and Global team members to contextualize and adapt global and country-specific materials.
• Coordinate with program managers, TAD and supply chain teams in procurement of medical supplies including pharmaceuticals in accordance with RI medical supplies procurement policy and donors’ regulations.

Program quality

• Provide technical support to program teams consistent with international and national standards and ensure that program design and implementation creates no harm in the communities, promotes human rights and has positive impact.
• Propose and implement capacity building activities aimed at enhancing skills of national teams, local health providers and/or partners in delivery of primary care, maternal and child health, reproductive health, etc.
• Provide direction to RI during public health emergencies including disease outbreaks.
• Share methods, approaches and tools with RI colleagues across the region, and contribute toward RI’s regional response strategy by ensuring programmatic coherence, innovation and responsiveness.
• Take the lead in monitoring RI quality benchmarks (QBs), fill and submit quarterly QBs performance and develop action plan for quality improvement.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

• Provide a summary of recommended areas of improvement, areas of success, and lead the commencement of an action plan with RI staff, local partners and/or health facility staff to evolve and make positive systems improvements where needed.
• Provide technical inputs and revision for donor reports and other types of reports (ex. assessment, KAP etc.) and ensure they are timely and meet quality methodological, institutional and donor requirements.
• In collaboration with RI MEAL team, develop and support effective monitoring and evaluation system by collection and analysis of health and nutrition data in order to improve the program interventions.
• Take part in field trips to assess project sites and provide support to team as needed.
• Assist the program teams to document and share lessons learned and best practices, including inputs on health program reports and technical publications.

Program Development

• Ensure that high quality, integrated, and needs-based proposals are developed and according to RI OPT priorities identified in its country strategy and Health sector strategy.
• Provide technical input, writing and budgetary input for new program design, as needed.
• Take lead in needs assessments to inform new programming of impact of RI current programs.

Representation/coordination with external actors

• Represent RI at health and nutrition clusters and technical working groups, coordination meetings as well during other stakeholder meetings (if relevant), and maintain a positive, continuous and visible presence for RI.
• Ensure RI’s mandate is shared and explained to relevant stakeholders.
• Pro-actively liaise and build rapport with community representatives, UN agencies, and any other relevant stakeholders.

Behavior and conduct

• Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional
• Reports any concerns

Management and leadership:

• Ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
• Embrace diversity, and model inclusive and equitable behaviour.
• Ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not adversely impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
• Ensure donors, partners and communities are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded in all the work we do
• Be responsible for ensuring a culture and systems in place for reporting
• Report any concerns

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria:

• Advanced degree in a health or nutrition field (M.P.H., MD, R.N);
• At least 5 years’ experience in public health, including at least two years in complex humanitarian setting, preferably in a conflict humanitarian setting in the Middle East
• Demonstrated technical expertise in more than one of the following areas: primary/Secondary health care, reproductive health, Child health Nutrition
• Able to transfer technical knowledge and skills and experience of coaching and capacity building of teams
• Demonstrated experience in project design, proposal development and fund raising
• Solid background and knowledge of UN agencies and other international emergency response systems, standards and modalities of work in Health and Nutrition sectors;
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently;

Desirable criteria

• Good Arabic speaking/writing skills
• Previous experience working in OPT

RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability