South Sudan: Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) Coordinator

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

On December 16, 2013, heavy military exchanges occurred between rival SPLA factions in Juba (Central Equatoria State). The fighting and violence quickly spread to other states in South Sudan, trapping thousands of civilians in Unity, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Jonglei States in UN bases or makeshift IDP settlements. Despite the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement, fighting has continued between Government and opposition forces, resulting in mass displacement. The security situation remains fragile and testing operational challenges abound. IRC operates in five of South Sudan's ten states with programming in several sectors, including health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation, food security and livelihoods, as well as women's empowerment and gender-based violence.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) program aims to decrease the high child mortality and morbidity rates in South Sudan with the integrated management of childhood illnesses (malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and acute malnutrition) by trained community-based health volunteers. Since 2005, the IRC has led the implementation of iCCM in South Sudan and now manages the largest iCCM program in the country with over 3000 community-based health volunteers. The iCCM Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the implementation of all of the IRC's iCCM programming in South Sudan which serves operates in three field sites, serving a total of four counties across two diverse states. S/he will provide technical and managerial leadership to the iCCM program and ensure all activities are of high quality. S/he will ensure program delivery is on time and on budget, as well as ensure special initiatives, expansion and scale up efforts align with iCCM specific and overall country program strategies. The iCCM Coordinator will work as a key member of the health unit and will partner closely with the nutrition and primary health programs to work towards .

This position is based in Juba with regular travel to the field. S/he will report to the Senior Health Coordinator. The iCCM Coordinator will work jointly with the Nutrition Coordinator on multi-year projects and research initiatives focused on strengthening the links between nutrition and iCCM programming.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management & Development

• Provide strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management support to the iCCM program in South Sudan.
• Lead design processes that ensure new or adapted programming for the child and community health sectors focusing on harmonizing best practices, improved impact and integrated approaches.
• Ensure that the iCCM program is utilizing standard protocols, policies and guidelines as prescribed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and WHO.
• Work collaboratively to integrate iCCM with other program sectors where appropriate, particularly with the nutrition, health, child protection and women's protection and empowerment programs.
• Work in partnership with the Nutrition Coordinator to support aspects of the strategic direction and leadership of the community-based nutrition programming guiding linkages and integration within iCCM programming.
• Manage partnership with prime recipient of key grants; work in collaboration to align donor requirements to iCCM best practices; coordinate with finance and monitoring and evaluation units on budget issues and reporting; diplomatically balance role as iCCM technical lead with prime's role as consortium-led grant management.
• Continue to explore and develop new strategies that support adapted iCCM programming implemented in emergency settings and camp-based contexts.
• Manage large, complex, multi-donor budgets that support both iCCM and Nutrition programming, as well as support operations in up to six sites; oversee monthly BVA meetings, semi-annual budget realignment exercises, and monitor burn rates that align with donor expectations.
• Conduct monthly meetings with Senior Health Coordinator and relevant senior staff to provide regular updates on spending (BVAs, burn rates), progress of achievements against set targets, program challenges and successeses, as well as ways forward for on-going implementation.
• Coordinate and manage all grant reporting for program in with inputs from multiple iCCM and Nutrition program managers and advisors; work in collaboration with grant and finance teams to meet all reporting requirements and deadlines in a timely manner.
• Provide strong leadership and guidance for dynamic complex drug and supply management system across multiple program levels to ensure best practices and donor compliance.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:

• Support the program managers and field teams in the implementation and monitoring of the work plans ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community; support and facilitate the development with effective work, spending, procurement, and training plans.
• Provide technical support to Field Coordinators supervising program staff in various field sites to ensure program implementation aligns with grant timelines and targets.
• Oversee the program's monitoring and evaluation mechanisms focused on strengthening data collection, information sharing, and data management systems; provide direct support to the iCCM M&E Manager in the overall M&E strategy, tool development, and efforts to improve data quality.
• Analyze health and nutrition data collected from the field to obtain evidence based trends in diseases and track program progress against set targets; lead and support program managers to utilize data for informed decision making on program direction.
• Lead quarterly data analysis review meetings with the Senior Health Coordinator, iCCM M&E Manager, and key iCCM team members to direct the utilization of evidence for program decisions.
• Provide technical support to the Nutrition in iCCM Advisor in all efforts to integrate nutrition compoments into iCCM; collaborate on innovative operational research iniatives; coordinate on capacity building for program staff to develop skills in monitoring nutrition related indicators and quality of care delivered by community-based health volunteers.
• In coordination with the primary health team, coordinate and plan visits from the Health Technical Unit providing support for child health, M&E, pharmaceutical management, and nutrition.
• Liaise regularly with the relevant Health Technical Advisors on special projects and research iniatives.

Operational Research, Surveys and Assessments:

• Work closely with iCCM M&E Manager and Program Managers to design, facilitate, and implement regular quality of care assessments in each field site.
• Continue working in partnership with UNICEF, both locally and globally, to lead innovative operational research initiatives on the role of iCCM in emergencies; support field-based qualitative and quantitative research in emergency areas; assess adapted iCCM models for feasibility and effectiveness in emergency contexts.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of operational research on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) use by community-based health volunteers.
• Coordinate client responsiveness initative focused on developing community-based feedback mechanisms; oversee pilot initative with internal and external data collection; support field teams in implementing and learning from pilot process as well as developing plans for long term integration into project design.
• Support the emergency preparedness and planning process with guidance and tools for assessing child health needs in changing humanitarian settings.
• Work in partnership with the Nutrition team and Health Technical Unit to design and implement operational research related to integrating nutrition services into iCCM models.

Representation and Coordination:

• Oversee the program's role as iCCM technical lead withint a consortium of implementing partners, key stakeholders, and the MOH; provide direct support to the iCCM Advisor in the overall technical assistance and capacity building role IRC holds with partners and the MOH to work towards harmonized policies and strategies based on best practices.
• Work in coordination with key consortium partners to provide technically sound perspectives and implementation strategies within the iCCM technical working group and relevant community health forums.
• In coordination with the health team, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in South Sudan including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Represent the iCCM program with national authorities, non-state actors, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors.
• Upon request by the Senior Management Team, organize and facilitate field visits for stakeholders interested in iCCM programming in South Sudan.
• Coordinate with field teams, supply chain, and logistics departments on major procurement and pharmaceutical management.

Staff Supervision:

• Provide on-going training, technical support and guidance to the program managers and advisors.
• Manage recruitment of international staff for key technical position within the iCCM program; work in partnership and coordination with Field Coordinators in the recruitment of technical program managers based in the field sites.
• Work in collaboration with program managers to recruit, train and supervise national staff.
• Provide on-going mentoring and training for international and national staff.
• Conduct annual and semi-annual performance reviews for technical staff, often in collaboration with Field Coordinators in relevant field sites.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree in relevant field required (public health, global health, international development with specific health focus/experience).
• Demonstrated qualifications and experience in program design, monitoring and evaluation of health programs, and provision of technical assistance; experience working in community health preferred.
• At least 5 years overseas professional experience working for an international NGO or equivalent in a program management capacity; experience working in a humanitarian setting preferred.
• Demonstrated strengths in project management, capacity building, and grant reporting; experience with operational research design and implementation preferred.
• Experience working in partnership and coordination with the UN, donors, INGOs, MOH, and other stakeholders.
• Previous experience working with low-literacy and illiterate staff and beneficiaries preferred, particularly in relation to training and health promotion strategies, materials, and tool development.
• Previous experience with drug management a plus.
• Excellent analytical and written skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of computer software packages; previous experience with District Health Information System (DHIS) database packages preferred.
• English fluency; strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
• Ability to work well both within a team and independently.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, creative, and innovative in a challenging and fast-moving multicultural environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Security level yellow - standard precautions apply. Concerns include common criminality, presence of armed troops, and tribal violence.

The position is based in Juba. Lodging is a private bedroom in a shared IRC guest house - with electricity, internet and cable TV. Food is the individual's responsibility. Field office housing is more basic, i.e. in traditional huts or tents with separate shared latrines and showers.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, 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.

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