Health Cluster Subnational Co-Coordinator

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Job Title: Health Cluster Subnational Co-Coordinator Unit: Health Salary Band: 6B Start date: 01 December 2023 Duration: 12 months Duty Station: Kharkiv, Ukraine

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation, and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression, and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC has been working in Ukraine since March 2022, initially supporting emergency response and early recovery interventions for IDPs affected by the conflict.

The Health Cluster in Ukraine scaled up to a nationwide presence in all 24 oblasts to coordinate the growing number of organizations involved in the humanitarian response at the national and sub-national levels. By placing sub-national coordinators in Dnipro, Vinnytsia/Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa hubs, the Cluster prioritized operational presence, localization of the response, and strengthening accountability to affected populations. In early 2023, a cluster membership application process was rolled out, generating an enhanced accountability and predictability of the response, along with a fully rebuilt partners’ list and contacts dashboard. More than 18 months into the country wide conflict escalation, the situation remains highly volatile and access to the East remains critical. Damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure in areas of active fighting and those affected by airstrikes and shelling continue to impede people’s access to water, food, health care and other basic services. Large population movements are still ongoing. The scale-up of the humanitarian response to reach the capacity needed has not yet been reached due to the complex challenges faced in this rapidly evolving emergency context.

The engagement of a sub-national co-coordinator through IRC is aimed at improving ownership of the operational response by partners and local authorities and have a meaningful involvement in co-leading an effective humanitarian response which is adapted to the local context and implemented in strong collaboration with local communities and other stakeholders.

This position will be based in Kharkiv, with occasional travel to Dnipro and Kyiv necessary.

JOB SUMMARY: The Subnational Health Cluster Co-Coordinator will support the Sub-National Health Cluster Coordinator in performing dedicated coordination, needs assessments, strategy adaptation, resource mobilization, and supporting the implementation and monitoring of the joint incident management system and advocacy function in the Subnational Health Cluster.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: Build and maintain meaningful and consistent relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including partners and health authorities. Provide interpretation and translation support as needed. Maintain regular contact with officials from the oblasts’ Department of Health (DOH), national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. Ensure that information management activities are designed and implemented to enhance the effectiveness of the response across different domains. Guarantee effective reporting from and to the national cluster to maximize coordination and accountability. Support the drafting of all main information products and reports. Chair and facilitate the Kharkiv subnational cluster coordination meetings, holding them twice per month. Establish and manage regular meetings between the Kharkiv subnational cluster and the oblast departments of health as well as other health authorities (CDM, NHSU), conducting them monthly. Act as the representative of the health cluster in Kharkiv and provide updates during Kharkiv OCHA general coordination meetings, held once per month. Engage in inter-cluster coordination mechanisms focused on Kharkiv oblast, contributing to the collective identification of critical issues that demand multi-sectoral responses. Submit reports on an ad hoc basis. Ensure the timely sharing of meeting minutes with the Sub-National Health Cluster Coordinator and save them in the designated shared folder following each meeting. Regularly update the relevant sections of the bi-weekly update report (internal update, achievements, next steps) on a weekly basis, twice per month. Supervise the incorporation of cross-cutting issues into the health cluster's response and implementation plans, with consideration for local adaptation. This should be accomplished through regular partner briefings and follow-ups, conducted on a monthly basis. JOB REQUIREMENTS Education: Minimum: An advanced university degree (Master's level or above), in medicine, nursing, public health from an accredited/recognized institute. Desirable post graduate studies or specialized training in public health, emergency management, international aid, humanitarian principles, health system recovery, and health cluster coordination.

Demonstrated Skills and COMPETENCIES: A minimum professional experience of 2 years at the national or international levels, in developing and promoting collaborative partnerships in emergency and humanitarian relief operations, including experience in managing and coordinating health programmes in chronic and acute, sudden-onset emergencies. Relevant work experience in WHO, IRC, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organization, relevant nongovernmental or humanitarian organizations. Demonstrated knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to public health, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations, to lead and direct multidisciplinary and multinational staff. In-depth knowledge of emergency relief policies and practices within the UN, other UN specialized agencies, donor agencies, national and international NGOs. Sound knowledge and experience about disaster prevention and preparedness programmes and the incident management system. Excellent negotiation skills and ability to convene stakeholders and facilitate a policy process among UN, NGOs, national health authorities and donors. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Teamwork Result orientation, Analytical thinking, Communication Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference Creating an empowering and motivating environment Female candidates are highly encouraged. Ukrainian nationals required.

REPORTING LINES The IRC will provide hierarchical management for the staff member assigned to the Health Cluster, covering security protocols, internal training, duty of care, IT resources, leave management and performance management as the employing organization.

The Sub-National Health Cluster Coordinator for Kharkiv, based in the Dnipro hub, will serve as the functional line manager. The co-coordinator will address all tasks and responsibilities related to cluster coordination under the guidance of the Sub-national Health Cluster Coordinator. specific tasks, roles, and responsibilities will be delegated by the sub-national cluster coordinator in accordance with the Health Cluster's workplan, and they will be updated regularly.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS The International Rescue Committee is determined to protect the people it serves and staff from all kinds of harm, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. It is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe. IRC builds diverse and inclusive teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

IRC workers must adhere to the core 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 its safeguarding policies to protect adult and child clients from any form of exploitation and abuse, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and its staff from sexual harassment and violence.

Where misconduct is alleged, IRC follows a Zero tolerance approach and takes all necessary actions and corrective measures. IRC investigation unit comprises of experts and trained investigators that ensures professional survivor-centered investigations are conducted if allegations of safeguarding violations are reported through the safe and accessible reporting channels that IRC makes available to its staff, partners, and clients.

These commitments are set out in IRC’s Safeguarding Policies, accessible in English and in Ukrainian language via this link: https://rescue.box.com/v/irc-safeguarding-policies

IRC is an active member of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) set-up in Ukraine.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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