Swedish Red Cross Health Delegate, Syria

Title: Health Delegate
Place of assignment: Damascus, Syria (with regular travels in the country)
Type of posting: International Delegate, non-family posting
Desired starting date: As soon as possible
Contract period: 12 months, with the possibility of extension

Background

The Swedish Red Cross (SRC) has a close cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and has been present with staff in Syria since 2019, with the aim of supporting the National Society’s efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs and to build resilience of vulnerable communities in the country. SRC is supporting SARC’s health programming, specifically, primary health care clinics, emergency health point and mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as contributing to relief operations. The SRC also works in collaboration with the various Red Cross and Red Crescent movement partners present in Syria.

Your role in the organisation

The Regional Unit for Middle East, North Africa and Europe is part of the SRC International Department and managed by the Head of Unit. The Health Delegate position is based in Damascus, Syria, and reports to the Country Representative who is responsible for SRC’s programme activities in the country. The Health Delegate works closely with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and in coordination with IFRC and other partner national societies supporting SARC’s health programming.

Through regular follow up, monitoring, facilitation, technical input, and capacity strengthening, the Health Delegate contributes to and supports SARC in effective and qualitative project implementation, with special attention to mainstreaming of protection, gender, and inclusion. The Health Delegate also ensures proper evaluation and reporting as per donor regulations.

Key duties and responsibilities

Health program management:

• Oversee and support in the implementation of health program activities as per identified program operating principles and within established budget and timeframes
• Assist in monitoring program progress including regular and frequent field visits with SARC counterparts and partners
• Support relevant SARC focal points with developing technical and program management skills, including monitoring and analysing the data for various project components
• Ensure a technical level of analysis, troubleshooting and recommendations on health activities of SRC projects funded by ECHO, Radiohjälpen and other externally funded activities
• Ensure the cross-cutting themes (protection, gender and inclusion, community engagement and accountability) are mainstreamed in project implementation and taken into account in monitoring, reporting and learning of health activities
• Review available health information and based on regular assessment of situation, identify gaps in service delivery and opportunities to enhance SRC’s support and SARC’s work in reaching the most vulnerable
• Monitor and analyze the development of health needs in the Syria and support SARC in adapting its response and mitigation strategies according to the changing situation
• Promote and adhere to RC/RC Movement policies, strategies, procedures, guidelines and quality standards for all project activities, particularly as related to health, including mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI)
• Other duties as required and agreed with the SRC Country Representative and Head of Region

Coordination and representation:

• Maintain a continuous dialogue with SARC Health Department and Community Services Department staff about achievements and challenges in the cooperation with SRC
• Coordinate requested technical support from SRC to SARC, including visits from SRC HQ to the project site
• Represent SRC in relevant technical coordination meetings organised by SARC or other relevant health actors

Your profile

The position demands that you excel in team work, adapting to the various stakeholders engaged in the program to collaborate and build relationships, demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively, especially when faced with challenges in program implementation.

As a successful candidate, you are flexible, pragmatic, results orientated and are good at planning and organizing your work. You find solutions to problems with a focus on continuous learning and development for you and those you are working with. You are a champion of accountability, respecting everyone you meet, inspiring trust and dependability in your actions and decisions.

As an SRC employee, you share the Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian values including diversity and actively work against all forms of discrimination. You understand, respect, and comply with the SRC Code of Conduct and security rules and regulations.

Required qualifications:

• Minimum five years’ experience in health programming/management with at least two years field experience with a humanitarian organisation/RCRC National Society in an international environment (preference given to complex environments)
• Academic degree in relevant field e.g., Master’s degree in public health, nursing, medicine or similar
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing project planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, for health-related projects
• HEAT training successfully completed (or similar training that may be recognized by the SRC)
• Excellent command of the English language – spoken and written. Good command of Arabic is an asset

Desired qualifications:

• Experience in and knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa
• Previous RCRC Movement experience
• Expertise and/ or experience in mental health or mental health programs
• Expertise in protection, gender, inclusion, and community engagement and accountability

Other requirements:

• In line with the principle of neutrality, SRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and are required to pass a medical check-up prior to departure in the field
• Candidates must hold a manual driving license and have experience in driving manual transmission vehicles