Epidemic Preparedness and Response Delegate – South Sudan

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. We act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

In this regard, the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) is engaged in a partnership with the South Sudan Red Cross Society (SSRC) to build resilience and provide durable solutions to water borne diseases prone vulnerable communities in the Equatoria States. NLRC, in consortium with Danish Red Cross (DRC) and South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) will be implementing a DG ECHO funded Programmatic Partnership pilot (PPP): “Accelerating local action in humanitarian and health crisis”, for which IFRC is a global grant holder (since this programme will be implemented in multiple countries). In South Sudan, the project is aimed at assisting SSRC in the fight against communicable diseases through strengthening both prevention and response. Therefor NLRC is recruiting for the following field position:

Position title: Epidemic Preparedness and Response Delegate – South Sudan

Duty station: Juba, South Sudan

Time period: 12 months

Starting Date: 1st October 2022

Status: Single posting with R&R

Purpose of the position

The project is aimed at assisting SSRC in the fight against communicable water borne diseases through strengthening both prevention and response. You will ensure technical oversight and coordination amongst the various budget holders, national societies and peers, since this programme is organized by multiple stakeholders and will be implemented in multiple countries. The technical oversight evolves around community health promotion, WASH interventions, cash assistance and implementation of epidemic control measures, also ensuring Cholera and epidemics contingency and response. They key is around enabling communities, as part of a larger community resilience programme.

Background

The Netherlands Red Cross has been supporting the South Sudan Red Cross since it foundation in 2013, to implement projects developed under their Strategic Plan. NLRC supported projects include complex and integrated programs with components addressing access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene aiming at reducing public health threats including water borne epidemics and pandemics.

Wash is an important pillar of South Sudan Red Cross 2022-2026 strategy, recognizing the dire needs of access to water, sanitation and hygiene in South Sudan.

The DG ECHO-funded Pilot Program Partnership (PPP) project in South Sudan will assist SSRC, among others, in the fight against communicable diseases through strengthening prevention, and response. The project is expected to play a substantial role in supporting the SSRC’s strategy in which epidemic preparedness and response (EPPR) is a key element. The project will enable communities and local actors to anticipate, prepare for, withstand, respond to, and recover from humanitarian and health crises. This is expected to be done through integrated multi-sector programming approach including community health promotion, WASH interventions, cash assistance and implementation of epidemic control measures and ensuring national Cholera and epidemics contingency and response plans are in place. In addition, the project also aims to build the capacity of SSRC staff and volunteers to detect and respond to any possible water borne epidemics or pandemics due to floods or indeed lack of WASH. The project will also support formation and training of Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) in the targeted communities. Furthermore, the project will support national and local authorities including MoH and other key stakeholders in terms of capacity building within the spectrum of water borne epidemic preparedness and response.

Position in the organization

The Epidemic Preparedness and Response Delegate will report directly to the NLRC Country Representative based in Juba, South Sudan. On technical matters related to the intervention, the Delegate will liaise closely with SSRC WASH Department, NLRC technical advisors, PMER and NLRC Data team (510), and other relevant actors within the NLRC HQ for support and guidance. The Delegate will work closely with the DRC Program Delegate who is coordinating all activities as coordinator on the country level.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Coordinate with the Danish Red Cross Program coordinator to actively monitor programs/projects in support of quality implementation;
• Provide project and technical support in planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting throughout the project cycle in accordance with NLRC and SSRC procedures (such as procurement and financial) and agreements as set in the project MoU;
• As NLRC budget-holder responsible for the project budget management, adequate and timely quality narrative and financial reporting according to NLRC and donor standards, and undertaking of project evaluations, all according to NLRC’s Standard Project Approach (SPA);
• Ensure that all required documentation by the back donors (IFRC and DG ECHO) and all other relevant key documents are being stored at NLRC’s digital system SPACE , making use of the required workflows for approval of budget, contracts and other key documents.
• Responsible for project related finance operations with support of local administrator in order to ensure proper procedures are applied as per MoU and ensure standard documentation is maintained for the project expenses and archived accordingly in NLRC accounting system
• Review project progress, together with SSRC, ensuring the tracking of project progress against targets, and reviewing quarterly program reports and financial reports with senior management;
• Provide accurate and up to date information to the SSRC HQ Program and WASH Departments, NLRC country representative and NLRC HQ regarding progress and deadlines;
• Provide appropriate mentorship, capacity strengthening and technical support to SSRC staff and volunteers including project management, financial management, assessment and identification of needs, priorities, objectives, outputs and core components and activities related to Epidemics and Pandemics preparedness and response and WASH;
• Undertake regular monitoring field visits and meetings with relevant actors including project partners in assessing the Epidemic and Pandemic trends, patterns and changing needs and consequently advise;
• In consultation with PMER teams, produce and submit required reports and develop/revise quarterly adjusted action plans and budgets.
• Cooperate actively with NLRC relevant advisors, Data team (510) and others as appropriate;
• Monitor budget and spending and follow up with SSRC to procure necessary wash and other project input in timely manner.
• Support national/branch level pandemic preparedness plans, linking to wider preparedness and anticipatory systems developed under the ECHO PPP project. Support implementation of the NS Preparedness for an Effective Response (PER) process and NS contingency planning related to pandemics.
• Provide technical support and training to the SSRC staff and Volunteers and MoH in the key areas of early (health) risk detection, early action, cash programming and organizational preparedness and WASH emergency response
• Review and test response plans, including early response actions, through exercises/drills, preparing test scenarios and background materials. Identify key stakeholders able to take part in early tests and prepare a testing schedule. Support and facilitate testing exercises at national /branch level and prepare and provide feedback for further strengthening plans and preparedness to respond to water borne epidemics;
• Support the development of community-based surveillance system in collaboration with MOH and other stakeholders as part of an early detection system for water borne diseases. Contribute to the development of water borne diseases response core capacity in SSRC and MOH if necessary. Facilitate training activities relating to early detection and response;
• Support SSRC in Health promotion through household visits and group sessions in the community using BHI approach
• Support SSRC in conducting wash needs assessment in targeted locations
• Ensure WASH activities and services (focus on WASH in HCF and rehab of existing WASH infrastructure) – rehabilitation of water facilities, hygiene facilities and sanitation latrines in health facilities or communities- Disability friendly are implemented according to National and international standards
• Develop Operations and Maintenance (form and train water committees, and pump mechanics) strategy for program area
• Collaborate with key stakeholders such as Ministry departments, WHO, and UNICEF on further developing harmonization of community-based water borne diseases detection and response within the country context;
• Encourage the development of networks and expertise with neighboring / border NS to strengthen epidemics and pandemics monitoring across borders. Collaborate with Sister NS and foster the exchange of competencies, experience and materials.
• Ensure integration of Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) into tools, implementation and learning.
• Ensure the implementation of the project meets required international standards by WHO and IFRC Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness framework in relation to cholera;
• Encourage SSRC to participate in inter-agency and internal coordination meetings related to relevant technical areas.
• Prompt SSRC to collaborate with all partners of the Red Cross Movement, key government officials, NGO partners, donors. Align on policies, strategies and best practices and approaches on global health security and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Prepare key project reports for IFRC, donors and other partners to keep them informed on program progress. Contribute to monitoring and evaluation, report on indicator status with timely and quality data.

Program Design & Development

• Contribute to NLRC South Sudan portfolio and concept note/proposal development and strategic country discussions
• Ensure with the other NLRC delegates, coherence between all NLRC supported interventions, like Chronic Crisis and Response Preparedness, with the ultimate goal to contribute to a one country programme for community resilience
• Contribute to the continuous scoping and development of the WASH and DM project proposal responding to emerging need, adapting to changed context.

Representation & Coordination

• In close coordination and collaboration with NLRC Country Representative, support SSRC in maintaining and coordinating external relations and partnerships with State and National stakeholders to the program, including relevant line ministries and agencies of government of South Sudan.
• Promote and contribute to coordination among RC/RC Movement partners (in line with the Strengthening Movement Coordination and Cooperation, SMCC), and ensure close alignment with other actors active in the area of humanitarian aid .
• Represent NLRC in Movement Coordination and collaboration meetings
• Advocate among humanitarian actors, relevant government ministries and the community for quality WASH and Disaster Preparedness activities/services to promote risk reduction among the targeted communities.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Required is a University degree or professional qualification in Public health engineering, WASH or equivalent professional experience
• At least 5 years of experience in in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on WASH and water borne epidemics preparedness and response.
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.
• Experience in working with DG ECHO and with implementing Actions funded by DG ECHO.
• At least 5 years of experience in community development related projects in collaboration with governments, humanitarian aid agencies, civil society, and I/NGOs;
• Experience in WASH/Public Health-related procurement activities in disaster response and early recovery operations
• Experience in designing and implementing development program: including community-based epidemics detection and response; rehabilitation and reconstruction of rural communities’ water infrastructures
• Capacity strengthening: Experience of training national staff and volunteers is required
• Experience in working in African context, preferably South Sudan
• Proven Experience in Resource Mobilization
• Experience in financial reporting
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience is required

Competencies and skills

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with independent decision-making capacity.
• Excellent communication with the ability to represent the NLRC and to negotiate and influence opinions.
• Understand and use various beneficiary registration methods.
• Knowledge of feedback and response mechanism, including of appropriate methods of beneficiary communication and channels.
• Ability to transfer knowledge, skills, and/or abilities to staff and volunteers.
• Excellent writing skills for reporting and proposal development.
• Data literate.

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with the possibility of extension
• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.