Iraq: PROJECT MEDICAL REFERENT

INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people.

1.Terms of reference

Job title: Project Medical Referent

Duty station: Erbil, with regular visits to the project locations in Ninewa and Salah Ed Din Governorates depending on the security situation, as well as ad hoc missions to Bagdad and other Iraqi Governorates, when necessary

Starting date: 10/06/2017

Reporting to: Medical Coordinator (for the project technical aspects) and Program Manager Health (for the managerial aspects)

Supervision of: 15 National medical Staffs (4 Medical doctors, 4 gynaecologists, 4 nurses, 2 Hygienists, 1 Pharmacy assistant) and 12 national non-medical staff Community Health Workers (volunteers)

Duration of contract: 6 months

Dependents: no

2.General context of the project

INTERSOS had been working in Iraq from 2003 till 2010 with programs aimed at responding to urgent material safety needs and enhancing access to basic social services for vulnerable individuals and communities in Central and Southern Iraq, Baghdad and Kurdistan. Over the years, INTERSOS operations developed encompassing activities in health care, legal protection and assistance, warehousing and distribution of essential goods, mine/UXO clearance, shelter, water and sanitation, psychosocial support and education targeting internally displaced people and voluntary returnees, as well as host communities, with special focus on most vulnerable groups (children, women, elderly and persons with special needs).

Following the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation which is negatively affecting also the neighboring countries, in November 2013 INTERSOS has resumed the operations in the area to contribute towards ensuring emergency relief and social protection assistance for the Syrian refugees fleeing their home in search of safety. Furthermore, since the surge in violence between armed groups and government forces with fighting spreading into Central and Northern Iraq, in July 2014 INTERSOS has extended its operations in the Kurdistan Region and is currently providing services and activities aimed at assisting both Syrian refugees and Iraqi IDPs in camp and non-camp settings, with interventions mainly concentrated on the Community Services, Protection, Food Security and Education Sectors. INTERSOS is now planning to further contribute towards assisting vulnerable conflict-affected civil population in the whole of Iraq by expanding the on-going activities in terms of geographical target areas and sectors of expertise to properly respond to unmet needs and detected gaps. Within the framework of the current Contingency Plan for the Mosul humanitarian operation, INTERSOS is directly engaged in preparedness and pre-positioning, specifically in Ninewa and Salah al-Din Governorates, concentrating in health, NFIs and shelter and protection activities.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality among newly displaced and critically at risk population in South Ninewa and North Salah al-Din areas, through the implementation of an emergency intervention providing first line response phase which will include the provision of free life-saving integrated primary health care services by running Mobile Medical Teams (MMTs) and through the activation of a network of community health workers (CHWs) assuring outreach health services. The MMTs will provide the flexibility required by the humanitarian planning for Mosul considering that the context remains fluid and a large number of variables are outside the control of humanitarian actors. The MMTs is a strategy to cover pockets of population (IDPs) with no coverage from the existing PHCCs in full coordination with local Directorate of Health DoH.

The project follows on the priorities set by the health cluster and by the Ministry of Health (MoH) for emergency health interventions: provision of an integrated package of primary health care services with emergency referrals, disease surveillance and the inclusion of basic reproductive health, through fully equipped and staffed mobile teams providing essential primary health services for areas where primary health services have been disrupted or have become unavailable or not sufficient. The CHWs will facilitate the referral services and will integrate the health services delivered with mobilization activities aimed at strengthening preventive and health seeking behavior of the targeted beneficiaries. The project intends to provide an integrated package of Emergency Primary Health Care (EPHC) services, including Reproductive Health/Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health (RH/MNCH), antenatal and postnatal care for mothers; newborn care, vitamin A supplementation, screening for malnutrition and triage emergency services through the activation of 2 MMTs. The MMTs will be deployed in areas with pockets of IDP population and no coverage from the existing PHCCs in South Ninewa and North Salah al-Din areas (Shirqat and surroundings). 50% of the activities are to be concentrated in South Ninewa and 50% in North Salah al-Din area including Shirqat town.

3.Tasks and responsibilities

The Medical Officer will be in charge of the technical management, implementation, follow up and supervision of the OCHA IHPF medical project in Iraq, including selection of technical staff, technical monitoring and reporting, in compliance with relevant Standard Operating Procedures, International Principles and Guidelines as well as INTERSOS Fundamental Charter and Code of Ethics. In particular, s/he will be in charge of:

· Plan, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the technical implementation of the project, ensuring timely and quality delivery of the health services set as per approved project's proposal

· Building capacity, coordinate and supervise the staffs, supports ad hoc training sessions and on-the-job training to medical personnel and Community Health Workers

· Develop regular reports, including donor reporting and the Project Appraisal Tool

· Liaising with local government and health authorities, non-state actors, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors at field site level and proactively participate in relevant technical coordination meetings and working groups

· Ensure data collection and reporting are submitted in a timely manner for all activities within the project

· Coordinate with the Health Coordinator, Health and nutrition teams and logistic department to procure and pre-position drugs in a timely manner to ensure adequate supply at the intervention sites

· Ensure the supervision of the pharmacy (consumptions, orders and inventory) in collaboration with the logistic department and the pharmacy assistant

· Follow up medical issues and sharing of information in particular with the Health Coordinator

· Monitoring the protection situation of beneficiaries and report to the Medical Coordinator

4.Position requirements

· Medical Doctor/Nurse

· At least 2 years of significant international experience in similar positions or in humanitarian sector, including emergency settings

· Working experience in public health and in managing Medical Mobile Teams

· Experience in supervising Health Promotion activities and some basic mental health activities

· Experience in working with IDPs or refugees in camps and non-camp settings

· Previous experience in working in Middle East and specifically in Iraq (desirable)

· Previous experience in management of UN funds (desirable)

· Previous experience in developing and implementing M&E activities (desirable)

· Knowledge, competency and skills on public health aspects of Primary Health Care

· Knowledge of the cluster system

· Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, e-mail, etc.)

· Proficient knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset

· Organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach, ability to take initiative and work autonomously

· Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams

· Ability to work in austere and hostile environments, and share accommodation when required

· Holder of a driving license (desirable)

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae and motivation letter to recruitment@intersos.org with subject line “Project Medical Referent - Iraq”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.