District Health Emergency Coordinator (4 Positions)

UNICEF

On 13 March 2023, a state of disaster was declared in the 14 districts severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Search and rescue of people are continuing in the Nsanje and Phalombe districts where people are still believed to be trapped. As of 22 March 2023, displaced households have increased from 114,637 to 126,215, 511 people have died, and 533 are missing. The road infrastructure is the worst affected public infrastructure, followed by schools and health facilities. Using helicopters from Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi Defense Force, people in the hard to reach areas and only accessible by air, are now receiving relief supplies and services.

The most critical needs are search and rescue for those trapped by flood waters and killed by the mudslide; and the distribution of food and non-food items to the 563,602 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are currently residing in 576 camps set up for those who have lost their homes and belongings.

The flood-affected districts have affected eighty health facilities and 107 vaccines cold chain equipment. Access to some of the affected areas is still challenging and may need aircraft support to ferry healthcare workers and products (drugs and supplies) for service provision. The affected population, specifically the IDPs at the makeshift shelters, lack essential health services (routine vaccinations, anti-retroviral treatment, Ante Natal Care, Sexual and Reproductive Health services and other non-communicable diseases to the beneficiaries etc.).

Due to factors such as living conditions in the congested IDP sites/camps, weak surveillance system, porous international borders, poor compliance in the implementation of control measures by the general public, limited access to WASH facilities and poor practices, and low vaccination coverage, there is a high risk of an outbreak of communicable disease (cholera, measles, polio). Notably, Malawi is experiencing the deadliest cholera outbreak in its recorded history while the country is also responding to the polio outbreak and ongoing COVID-19 cases across the nation, and Tanzania has confirmed a case of Marburg Virus. Resources are limited, the health system is overburdened, and health workers are stretched to their limits.

How can you make a difference?

Support national and district efforts towards the flood and cholera response through technical assistance at the national or sub-national level. Under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s Health Emergency Specialist, the consultants will perform, within the framework of UNICEF and policy documents, the following, but not limited to:

  1. Conduct joint project monitoring and supportive supervision to the assigned flood affected districts as per the Project Monitoring Visit (PMV) Plan and as needed.
  2. During PMVs, participate in district coordination meetings for health emergency preparedness and response; actively coordinate UNICEF-supported activities with districts, WHO and other partners engaged in the flood and cholera preparedness and response activities.
  3. Participate in health coordination and working group meetings and engage with key partners to promptly deploy in those districts newly affected,  increase the effectiveness and efficiency of response activities, and share relevant updates to ensure the effective application of relevant Health in Emergency programming and tools.
  4. In collaboration with other partners (WHO, UNHCR, MRCS, MSF ), support districts with effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on Infection Prevention and Control (clinical, community and prevention activities).
  5. Support districts with planning, pre-positioning, distribution and monitoring of health and WASH emergency supplies in the target districts.
  6. Conduct user monitoring of cholera supplies and check availability/stocking levels at the district and facility levels.
  7. Support disseminating technical and operational guidance for emergency preparedness and response activities.
  8. Support districts to prepare the necessary supporting documentation to access UNICEF support; ensure the appropriate use of UNICEF resources and timely reporting.
  9. Prepare weekly progress updates on emerging issues on the preparedness and response activities in the prescribed format.
  10. Provide inputs to rapid needs assessments, humanitarian performance planning, immediate needs and other Malawi Country Office documents relating to the cholera response.
  11. Provide inputs to the weekly Situation Analysis Reports and other related regular and ad-hoc surveillance reports.
  12. Undertake regular field supervision visits to assess and evaluate the affected districts’ cholera response and surveillance activities, identify gaps and recommend corrective actions based on Key Performance indicators KPIs.
  13. Conduct infection control training for health workers at cholera treatment centres.
  14. Perform any other incident-specific related consultancy services as the contract supervisor requires.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Academic qualification:

Essential:

  • Advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required:
    • Medicine, public health, pediatric health, family health, global/international health, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.

Desirable:

  • Certification in public health, tropical medicine, health system strengthening or health-related training in communicable diseases.
  • Certification in Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Work experience:

Essential:

    • At least five (5) years of related experience at the national or international level in implementing communicable disease outbreak or health emergency response.
    • Experience working with government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, NGOs and communities in the disease and disaster emergency response environment.
    • A minimum of 2 years of experience working or collaborating with either UNICEF or other UN and NGOs.
    • Experience working within the health sector and other sectors, especially the WASH and Nutrition sectors.
    • Technical experience and health knowledge in emergency response, including monitoring and evaluation, supply management and partnership coordination.

Desirable

  • Prior working experience at the field level with MoH, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, NGOs, or recognized humanitarian organizations with expertise in disaster and outbreak response.

Technical skills and knowledge, and Competencies:

  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in public health fieldwork, controlling outbreaks of communicable diseases with a focus on cholera and other diarrheal diseases.
  • Good knowledge of case management, Infection prevention and control of communicable diseases.
  • Familiarity with Health programmes in Malawi or similar countries in the region is an advantage.
  • Strong coordination and collaborative abilities within the health sector and other sectors, especially the WASH sector and ability to review and structure stand operating procedures (SOPs) under WASH/Infection Prevention and Control.
  • Good interpersonal skills, ability to build and maintain partnerships across government and NGOs, ability to work in multi-cultural settings and culturally sensitive communities.
  • An innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions and the ability to perform under stressful conditions and have a flexible approach in undertaking assignments, maintaining a sense of professionalism.
  • Essential knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, working knowledge of online data collection applications, and statistical analysis packages (SPSS, Stata etc.)
  • Commitment to UNICEF’s values and guiding principles.

 Languages:

  • Fluency in English – both excellent written and verbal skills are required

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Download File Terms of Reference_District Emergency Health Coordinators.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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