The IRC restarted operations in Sudan in November 2019 after operating from 1982 until 2009, successfully obtaining re-registration in Khartoum with the transitional government, and launching initial programs to support displaced populations in urban settings around Khartoum.

Sudan is experiencing multiple challenges generating including macroeconomic crisis, armed conflicts and displacement, protracted refugee situations and natural disasters, as well as Covid-19. The result of this crisis is large-scale humanitarian need across the country leaving an estimated 9.3 million people in need. On top of this, In November 2020, fighting in the Tigray region of Ethiopia led to the flight of around 60,000 refugees to eastern Sudan, with planning figures estimating up to 100,000 refugees by June 2021.

In response to growing needs in recent months, the IRC has scaled up capacity through the emergency response team, and expanded humanitarian activities in the east of the country in response to the Tigrayan refugee crisis. The IRC currently has one field base in Gedaref in addition to the head office in Khartoum, and is looking to expand in program scale, scope and geographic support over the coming months.

Job overview/Summary

The Health and Nutrition Coordinator will ensure the implementation of high-quality primary health, Nutrition and reproductive health programming with strong infection prevention and control measures at IRC supported facilities. The Health Coordinator is expected to spend time in the field location, working and mentoring health teams. In addition, the health coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners including the ministry of health, UN agencies and other NGOs including Humanitarian Aid Commission in Sudan. This position is based in Khartoum with frequent travels to field sites (at least 50% travel to field offices).

The Health Coordinator will work in collaboration with all support departments. He/she will report to Deputy Director Programs (DDP).

Main Responsibilities

1. Program Strategy & Program Development

   • Provide strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management support to the Health and Nutrition programming, ensuring it is needs-based, context-appropriate, in line with international standard methodology, responsive, coherent, collaborative, and operationally feasible.

   • Ensure inputs into country-level strategy, ensuring a contextualized strategy for Health and Nutrition activities, in close collaboration with the DDP.

   • Grow the Health and Nutrition portfolio according to the strategy, through proactive engagement with key partners and donors, additionally leading in the technical development of concept notes, proposals, and budgets for existing and new donors.

   • Ensure high quality program design processes, based on thorough analysis of gaps and needs (including needs and market assessments).

   • Application of identified lessons learned, community-feedback, and ensuring adherence to evidence-based approaches linked to theories of change and application of global standard methodologies in programming.

   • Ensure programmatic priorities are regularly reviewed for relevance and adaptations proposed through analysis of needs, gaps and coverage of humanitarian and development actors, and government agencies.

   • Ensure integration opportunities are explored and demonstrated across IRC Sudan program areas, specifically Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Child Protection, Environmental Health (EH/WASH), Economic recovery and development (ERD) to enhance the quality of programming and a broad approach to addressing the economic needs of the target populations.

2. Staff Supervision & Development

   • Directly supervise Health and Nutrition Managers and lead overall Health and Nutrition team (2-4 people)

   • Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

   • Overall responsible for staff work plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities.

   • If/as required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

3. Grant Planning & Program Implementation

   • Based on assessments and strategy; draft technical proposals and budgets to enable programs required to meet the immediate needs of the affected community.

   • Responsible for the overall achievement of all Health and Nutrition grants in country

   • Anticipates plans and manages programmatic and structural transitions.

   • Has significant budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.

   • Responsible for ensuring the achievement the overall grant timeline and completion date.

   • Provides direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the work plan and quality of technical activities,

   • Lead technical reviews of overall program implementation in conjunction with the Health and Nutrition team members.

4. Program Development

   • Contribute to, development of country strategic direction and implementation plans.

   • Develop and feed into Health and Nutrition specific strategy.

   • Write and design technical proposals that are in line with overall country program strategy.

5. Grant Monitoring & Reporting

   • Development/ maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.

   • Ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.

   • Ensure IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements are produced in quality.

   • Work closely and coordinates with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings

6. Coordination & Representation

   • Foster and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with external partners, representing IRC, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.

   • Represents IRC in external Health and Nutrition forums and is the key Health and Nutrition focal point in the Health and Nutrition clusters.

   Other

   • Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and collaborating closely with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.

   • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

   Job Requirements

   • The ideal candidate will be a health professional with public Health and Nutrition training and experience.

   • Excellent English language in written and verbal communications skills are required.

   • Previous experience working in infection prevention and control, with demonstrated experience in IPC personnel management, supervision, and the development of SOPs/protocols.

   • Experience in coordinating, implementing, and managing Health and Nutrition programs in emergency contexts inclusive of reproductive health programming.

   • Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

   • Able to function effectively in a complex work environment, setting appropriate priorities and manage competing priorities and pressure.

   • Competent in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel

   • Strong budget management experience

   • Strong coordination and representation skills and well versed in convincing and clarification of views and points. Ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people.

   • Should have excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment.

   • Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation.

   • Knowledge of Arabic is desirable

   The International Rescue Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. International Rescue Committee considers all candidates on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

   The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.