Consultant – Care in Communities

Terms of Reference

Consultant – Care in Communities

Background and Rationale

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies (NS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies to prevent and alleviate human suffering, thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during, and after disasters, health emergencies, and other crises.

The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General and provides the central capacity of the IFRC to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main Divisions: (i) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization (GRHDD); (ii) Management Policy, Strategy, and Corporate Services (MPSCS); and (iii) National Society Development and Operations Coordination (NSDOC). The Health and Care department is part of the NSDOC division. It consists of three teams, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene promotion (WASH), Emergency Health and Community health team.

The Care in Communities (CIC) programming supports the IFRC’s programmatic vision for community health and its translation into programmatic interventions, in close collaboration with IFRC Regional Offices, and reference centres by providing technical advice, support, representation and coordination to the Federation’s programmes in the areas of care in the community (CIC), COVID-19 response and adaptations of existing health approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic, Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs), Healthy Ageing (HA), Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and First Aid (FA).

Consultancy objective:

To support the Manager – Care in Communities in strengthening information sharing and dialogue through different working and reference groups, development of tools, guidelines and frameworks, reports and briefings, case studies. This will include adaptations of CIC approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic, analysis of likely needs of different National Societies over the coming years through mapping, and surveys for Care in Communities, Non-Communicable diseases, Healthy ageing, MHPSS, and First Aid programming.

Key Deliverables:

The Consultant will support Manager – Care in the Communities to lead, test, develop, coordinate and support National Societies (NSs) in implementing the RCRC Movement’s approach to CIC (including CHW programming), NCDs, HA, MHPSS, and FA especially focusing upon:

• Support the development of a platform for regular mapping of the Care in communities’ programmes, lessons learned, research and evaluations.
• Mapping Healthy ageing programs of National Societies and preparing the survey reports of Non communicable diseases (NCD) programmes.
• Assist to develop the strategic frameworks, tools, guidelines, discussion papers, and global evidence-based care in communities service delivery packages for community-based management of Communicable Diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (SRMNCAH), and Community mental health care packages in close consultation with NS and IFRC field offices.
• Organize and support IFRC regional offices in conducting webinars to disseminate new strategies, framework, guidelines and showcase the work of National Societies in CIC, NCDs, HA, MHPSS, and FA programmes.
• Assist in the pilot test of CIC packages, rolling down evidence-based community health interventions and support capacity building activities in different regions.
• Assist in scaling up of Care in communities projects in different regions.
• Further strengthening and sustaining information sharing, intra-team dialogue, and dissemination of stories and useful documents from the field.
• Assist in the development of MOOCs courses for different Community health tools
• Assist in research initiatives and university collaborations
• Assisting in review, development, and timely submission of reports, case studies, success stories, videos, briefings, and PowerPoint presentations for internal and external stakeholders for promotion of IFRC and NS work
• Producing quality, evidence-based content that supports impactful communication and advocacy initiatives for better positioning of CIC, NCDs, HA, MHPSS, and FA programming.
• Support in organizing and participating in relevant meetings, events, technical working groups, and reference groups within and outside the RCRC movement
• Assisting in developing key messages, briefing notes, and minutes to all strategic, high-level, and important events and meetings where IFRC will deliver statements, speeches, and messages.
• Assist in developing proposals and technical documents for CIC, NCDs, HA, MHPSS and FA in close consultations with National Societies and IFRC field offices.
• Assist in updating the IFRC and Fednet websites and social media platforms for CIC, NCDs, HA, MHPSS and FA.

Management of the consultant

The consultant will be line managed by the Manager – Care in Communities, Community Health team, Health, and Care Department, IFRC Geneva. The position will be home-based with travel as required.

Proposed time frame:

About 200 working days (1 Jan to 31 December 2023)

Minimum Requirements for the consultant

Education

Relevant university postgraduate degree.

Nursing/ Medical graduate

Experience

Experience in working with RCRC and/or IFRC

Experience from humanitarian aid organisations and global health will be meriting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Languages

Knowledge of public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge to policy, programs, and positioning, preferably in emergencies will be meriting.

Program and project management

Results-oriented and demand-driven self-starter, entrepreneurial, ability to perform in

unusual and ambiguous situations.

Experience in research, scientific writing, and research methodologies

Fluency in English is required.

Spanish, French, Russian or Arabic will be meriting.

Notes

• The consultant will be contacted by the IFRC, and the standard contractual terms will apply.
• Agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed at a cost in accordance with the IFRC’s relevant

regulations.