Manager, National Programme

IFRC Niamey Country Cluster Delegation supports the National Societies of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast are currently facing various types of crises including climate change impacts on population with drought, floods, security shocks due to conflict and food insecurity.

The Mali Red Cross is implementing a pilot project to vaccinate children in zero doses, including reaching priority populations for COVID19 vaccination. The project will run for 12 months, from January to December 2024. The project is being implemented in the regions of Kidal, Sikasso, Gao, Timbouctou, Ségou and Kayes. The Malian Red Cross will act as an auxiliary to the Ministry of Health, helping it to strengthen its capacity and to intervene in areas where people are difficult to reach. The donor expects the Malian Red Cross to bring innovative approaches to increase routine and Covid 19 vaccination coverage and identify children who have not received any doses.

The Mali Red Cross is implementing an Emergency Appeal of the Food Security Crisis. This appeal includes activities on food security, livelihoods, nutrition, community engagement and accountability.

The National Program Manager is responsible for supporting the Mali Red Cross to assure an effective management of the GAVI funded immunization project and the Emergency Appeal.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Coordinator, Programmes and Operations, the National Program Manager – Gavi funded immunization activities Mali is responsible to manage and coordinate IFRC support to the Mali Red Cross Society’s immunization activities, according to the 12 months proposal agreed to with Gavi, in coordination with the ICRC and Red Cross Red Cross Movement partners supporting CRM health activities.

The position will provide technical and management support, together with IFRC Program Coordinator, to CRM immunization programmes, in close liaison with relevant focal points in the Centre Nationale d’immunisation (CNI) and through field staff, with a view to ensure high quality project implementation, monitoring and evaluation,and timely and quality reporting to Gavi.

The position will work closely with MoH focal points to understand resource needs for gaps in immunization services, especially the community component and outreach immunizations throughout the country. As needed, the position will make timely funding proposals to support the work of IFRC and the National Society in filling the immunization gaps, especially in hard-to-reach and conflict areas, for mobile populations, and especially for community and outreach components.

The position will oversee all compliance and reporting requirements agreed to with Gavi.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

GAVI vaccination

• Support the CRM in the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of immunization activities through agreed strategies, targets, common risk management approaches, and effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms.
• Attend weekly immunization/health meetings with the Centre National d’Immunisation. (CNI)
• Facilitate CRM engagement to collaborate and coordinate with the CNI in order to ensure that health programs adhere to national standards, priorities, policies and partnership modalities.
• Support and encourage the CRM to liaise regularly with authorities, UN agencies and other respective immunization stakeholders and to attend weekly immunization meetings.
• Mainstream a gender-sensitive approach and gender minimum standards across health program design and implementation.
• Develop CRM health team management capacities through IFRC tools, concepts and training opportunities utilising Africa Region and Geneva resources.
• Ensure the production of regular, timely, accurate and quality narrative and financial reports as per the reporting templates agreed with Gavi as well as any other required updates and situation reports; Facilitate the generation of quality content which can be used for publicity and promotional purposes.
• Promote documentation and dissemination of achievements and undertake advocacy actions.

Management of the Food Security Emergency Appeal

• Ensure accurate and timely reports to IFRC Secretariat as well as donors, in compliance with approved PMER Procedures and related guidelines.
• Conduct/support NSs in monitoring, mid-term review, end of operation evaluation.
• Assure quality of implementation of the Food Security Emergency Appeal by CRM through regular coordination meeting’s, coaching and monitoring visits
• Support the CRM in resource mobilization for the Food Security Emergency Appeal.

Other Duties

• Ensure close collaboration and coordination with Regional and Geneva counterparts for health programme management, reporting or resource mobilisation.
• Ensure effective working relationships with Mali Red Cross Society counterparts and technical leadership.
• Ensure effective working relationships, close collaboration and effective teamwork with IFRC Country Office technical leads and colleagues.
• Strengthen the collaboration with relevant government agencies and other non-Movement actors including UN and governmental bodies to inform and participate in coordinated response strategies.
• Participate and contribute to the work of the coordination mechanism and other relevant meetings i.e., humanitarian Clusters, regional and national level coordination platforms to promote the RCRC position.
• Represent the IFRC at community or local official level and liaise with the inter-agencies and organisations when/where appropriate and be the focal point for Inter-Agency coordination and other NGO meetings, task forces and governmental DM co-ordination mechanisms (National/regional ECOWAS, OCHA, EU platforms) as required, fostering co-operative alliances where appropriate.
• Support the IFRC office and Mali Red Cross in any upcoming needs as discussed with the line-manager.

Education

• University or equivalent post-graduate degree in Public health/Health planning/management.

Experience

Required

• Relevant experience on project and budget management.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in health programming, including field operational experience.
• Proven experience of capacity building and training.
• Experience in project cycle management (Project writing, Log Frames, Financial management, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation).

Preferred

• Experience setting up, managing, and coordinating immunization programmes.
• Experience of working for Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• Experience with donors programming requirements, preferably Gavi.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Creative and result-oriented problem-solving skills.
• Information analysis and report writing skills.
• Ability to work with a degree of autonomy.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills.
• Time management and organisation skills.
• Good drafting and research skills.
• Fluent spoken and written French.

Preferred

• Proficiency in English

Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability