Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Federation in delivering its broader Humanitarian and Developmental mission, hosts the Country Support Platform (CSP) of the Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) as an operational arm of the GTFCC.

National Implementation Officers (NIOs) are pivotal in translating national strategies into actionable sub-national plans. Based in key CSP countries, NIOs ensure the effective development, roll-out, and implementation of National Cholera Plans (NCPs). They act as the primary liaison between national and sub-national stakeholders and the Regional Programme Managers (RPMs), facilitating seamless coordination and integration of cholera control activities within broader national health strategies.

NIOs are responsible for maintaining robust relationships with both national and sub-national counterparts, ensuring that cholera remains a priority amidst competing health demands. They provide on-the-ground support and capacity building, support local government staff involved in NCP implementation, and monitor progress to ensure alignment with the GTFCC Global Roadmap to Ending Cholera by 2030. Additionally, NIOs play a critical role in advocacy and resource mobilization at the national level, working closely with RPMs to secure necessary funding and support for cholera control initiatives.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Regional Programme Manager (RPM) and under the technical guidance of the Geneva-based NCP Senior Officer, the National Implementation Officer (NIO), Country Support Platform (CSP), will play a critical role in overseeing the finalization and launch, national and sub-national roll-out, and implementation of National Cholera Plans (NCPs). The NIO will ensure coordinated action and alignment with national strategies to combat cholera effectively. As implementer of the operational arm of the GTFCC, the role holder will directly liaise with GTFCC partners in country.

The NIO will support cholera control activities at the national and facilitate the same at sub-national level, maintaining ongoing relationships with both national and sub-national counterparts to keep cholera as a key priority amidst competing demands. The role involves supervising and providing capacity-building support for local government staff involved in NCP implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluating the progress of NCP implementation at both national and sub-national levels.

The NIO will ensure alignment with the multi-sectoral approach to cholera control as elaborated in the GTFCC cholera roadmap bringing together technical expertise in epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory testing, community engagement, immunization, and WASH to serve country level requirements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The National Implementation Officer (NIO) is responsible for the implementation of National Cholera Plans (NCP), especially at sub-national level, ensuring their effective development, implementation, and alignment with both national health, WASH and development strategies and the GTFCC Global Roadmap. The role encompasses strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, technical support, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy, and resource mobilization to achieve sustained cholera control and elimination.

National Cholera Plan

• With oversight from the CSP Regional Programme Manager, support the finalization, endorsement, launch, and roll-out of NCPs at national and sub-national levels, ensuring they are comprehensive, actionable, and aligned with national health strategies.
• Work day-to-day with national and sub-national counterparts and stakeholders to develop activity plans, budgets, and investment cases to support the NCPs.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with national and sub-national counterparts, including government entities, NGOs, and local communities, to ensure cholera remains a key priority.
• Facilitate multi-sectoral collaboration by engaging stakeholders from various sectors such as Health, WASH, Development, and Local Government.
• Ensure that cholera control activities are integrated into broader national health and development strategies.
• Advocate for the inclusion of cholera priorities in national policies and funding allocations.

Technical Support

• Provide capacity-building support for local government staff involved in NCP implementation.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and seminars to enhance technical skills and knowledge.
• Provide technical guidance on cholera prevention, control, and response activities, ensuring adherence to GTFCC guidelines and best practices.
• Assist in the dissemination and implementation of national cholera case management protocols and guidelines.
• Establish mechanisms for regular monitoring and evaluation of NCP activities at national and sub-national levels.
• Collect, analyse, and report data on program effectiveness, and areas needing improvement.

Coordination

• Under guidance from the CSP Regional Programme Manager, work closely with government counterparts, other agencies, NGOs, and stakeholders involved in cholera control to ensure a unified approach and the rollout of the NCP to sub-national level.
• Work under the guidance of the Regional Programme Manager to align national activities with regional strategies and objectives.
• Participate in regional coordination meetings and share insights from the national level as requested.
• Facilitate the sharing of information and best practices between different organizations and sectors.
• Support cholera emergency response efforts at the national and sub-national levels, ensuring rapid and effective action, as requested.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Support advocacy initiatives with the RPM to secure political commitment and support for cholera control activities.
• Raise awareness about cholera prevention and control among policymakers, donors, and the public.
• Assist in developing investment cases and resource mobilization strategies to secure funding for NCP implementation.
  • Facilitate and maintain an overview of existing and potential project proposals for sub-national activities under NCP implementation.
  • Engage with local donors, private sector partners, and other funding sources to support cholera control efforts.

  Monitoring

  • Facilitate the development and maintenance of information management systems for tracking NCP progress.
  • Ensure accurate and timely data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
  • Prepare regular reports on NCP implementation, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
  • Contribute to internal and external reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with IFRC and donor protocols.
  • Participate in periodic reviews and evaluations of NCP activities to assess effectiveness and inform future planning.

  Implement lessons learned and best practices to enhance program impact.

Education

• Relevant degree or post-graduate study in a public health field, international health, or
• program management.
• Relevant degree or post-graduate study in a Public Health or management field
• experience

Experience

• At least 5-7 years working experience in a role in a field-based position in humanitarian or developmental programming.
• At least 5years working experience in facilitation and coordination of multi-sectoral
• actors preferably in a management or coordination role.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a multicultural environment, with developing countries
• and/or with an international organisation or INGO at management level

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Broad knowledge of Public Health including Coordination, Capacity Building and training.
• Programme, project management and networking.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• High degree of discretion, tact, and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Fluent spoken and written Portugues.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• 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.