Back Project Delegate, Physiotherapist

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its 192 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The MENA Region is organized through cluster offices covering the National Societies in North Africa, and the Gulf Region, as well as country offices in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen. The Strategy 2030 identifies three strategic goals: 1) People anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crises, 2) People lead safe, healthy and dignified lives, and have opportunities to thrive, and 3) People mobilize for inclusive and peaceful communities. The work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is guided by the following seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. The Syrian crisis is now on its 11th year, and around 6.7 million people remain internally displaced, and 5.6 million people have fled Syria mostly to neighboring countries. The recent economic shocks stand to further set back the recovery of the Syrian people, with hunger reaching record levels. Around 80% of the population is estimated to live under the poverty line. The downturn of the Syrian economy is further exacerbated by mixture of factors arising from the spill over effects of deteriorating economic situation in neighboring Lebanon, a record level price increase of essential goods such as bread and fuel, cut in subsidized goods, loss of employment and livelihoods, immediate and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The compound effects from these crises means that an estimated 13.4 million people in Syria are in need of some form of humanitarian and protection assistance, including 6 million in acute need. The IFRC Syria Delegation has a status agreement with the Syrian Government that offers a clear legal base for the IFRC’s presence in Syria to continue to support SARC and the option to offer membership services to national societies based in Syria. The IFRC mandate is to strengthen SARC’s operational and structural capacity for a continued and efficient humanitarian response through technical support as well as long-term sustainability through capacity building and organizational development Based in Damascus, Syria, the incumbent will be part of the IFRC Syria Country Delegation. IFRC Syria Delegation is located at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Headquarters and works in an integrated manner with the National Society.

Job Purpose

The Project Delegate will work closely with the Health Coordinator to support the SARC Health Department and other relevant departments to ensure consistent quality in the delivery of the health activities in Syria as described in the SARC’s Health Strategy. The focus of the incumbent is on the physiotherapy services and disability inclusion as described in the IFRC Syria Crisis Country Plan.

The delegate will under the guidance of the Health Coordinator support SARC to conduct a needs and gap analysis to identify long term priorities, feasibility and sustainability of its disability and inclusion services in consultation with the Red Cross Red Crescent RCRC Movement and other partners in the disability sector in Syria. Based on the results of the analysis the delegate will support SARC to facilitate a continued service provision in identified areas including proposal writing to donors and partners.

The Project Delegate will be engaged in planning, coordinating, and supporting Movement-wide efforts in support of SARC health programming. The delegate reports to the IFRC Health Coordinator, has consultations with FRC and works closely with the focal person(s) assigned by the SARC’s Health Department and other relevant departments for example for protection, gender and inclusion.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic planning and program management

• Support SARC to implement physiotherapy and other services designed for people with disabilities and their families as described in the SARC’s Health Strategy (Physical Rehabilitation Program), in the IFRC Syria Crisis Country Plan and in the project plan.
• Support SARC to undertake COVID-19 measures in its Physical Rehabilitation Program.
• Ensure timely and quality reporting on progress of the Physical Rehabilitation Program through narrative reporting in compliance with IFRC’s reporting procedures and donor requirements.
• Manage the budget for the Physical Rehabilitation Program, expenditure and procurement together with SARC and IFRC procurement, finance, and MEAL/PMER colleagues.
• Support SARC to identify needs and possibilities to strengthen and improve program/project effectiveness and efficiency. This may include but is not limited on the physiotherapy and multi-professional services for people with disabilities and their families, access to psycho-social support, to health care, livelihood support; eventually exploring use of cash/vouchers for services.
• Support the SARC in adapting an approach of disability inclusion within the health sector.
• Carry out visits to Physical Rehabilitation Program sites, organize training sessions, organize expert visits and provide technical input into quality service and upholding WHO, IASC, IFRC and ICRC standards as applicable.
• Support SARC to strengthen the existing health information system (HIS) in relation to physiotherapy services to generate and analyze reports for efficient implementation and monitoring.
• Provide input in partner relations and resource mobilization for health activities in close cooperation with the IFRC Syria team and the resource mobilization functions in the Damascus and the MENA regional office.
• Support SARC with the mainstreaming and implementation of a beneficiary accountability framework based on the ongoing work in community engagement and accountability and protection, gender and inclusion working closely with the relevant SARC departments.
• Ensure that all activities are carried out in a way that reflects community needs and cultural sensitivities, respecting the gender, age issues and the environment, and that activities take into consideration issues around any local risks and hazards.

Coordination, cooperation and collaboration

• Together with the Health Coordinator support SARC with coordination among RCRC movement members for maximizing the impact of its health services across Syria.
• Support SARC to build and maintain effective relationships with the RCRC Movement partners and work on consistently strengthening synergies between the partners, consortia and donor relations.
• Jointly with SARC, ensure effective relationships with external organizations.
• Under the guidance of the Health Coordinator, represent the IFRC in technical discussions, to advocate for the role, impact and needs of SARC in health programming.
• Contribute to IFRC's regular planning and reporting processes including plan revisions.

Any other tasks that might be assigned by the Program Manager and/or the Head of Delegation

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

• Degree in health or social services, or other relevant field - Required
• Master’s Degree in health, or in other relevant subject such as development studies - Preferred
• RCRC Impact and other relevant courses or otherwise acquired knowledge on the Movement and essential themes such as PGI, security and safety - Required

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in implementation in health programs, with planning and management, and PMER tasks. Some of it in multicultural setting - Required
• Not less than 2 years of experience in management of health-related projects/programs, with proven track of assessments, developing project proposals, monitoring project plans, report writing - Required
• Experience in training and/or teaching - Preferred
• Experience in mentoring and coaching - Required
• Experience of working in situations of emergencies/armed conflicts - Preferred
• Experience working within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement - Preferred

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of good practices in participatory methods, program planning and design, monitoring and evaluation, learning, and accountability - Required
• Proven organization and planning skills - Required
• Excellent analytic and computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint) - Required
• Skilled in training, mentoring and coaching individuals and groups as appropriate - Required
• Capable of influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control, as a member of multinational team, and managing remote relationships to achieve results - Required
• Highly motivated self-starter able to lead a process, engage others and create ownership - Required
• Flexible and willing to deal with ambiguity, changes and challenges - Required
• Able to priorities work, multi-task and meet deadlines - Required
• Willing to travel and operate in a demanding working environment - Required

Languages

• Fluently spoken and written English - Required
• Command of Arabic - Preferred

Competencies and values

Values:

Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies:

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