Senior Officer, Programme

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.

IFRC Abuja Country Cluster Delegation supports the National Societies of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo who are currently contributing to address various types of crises including climate change impacts on population with drought, floods, security shocks due to conflict and food insecurity.
The Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies supported the Ghana MoH in developing a micro plan for SLL project phase 2 in 2024. Upon approval by MCF the IFRC has been granted funding resources for implementing the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative Phase II in one target district in the Norther region of Ghana. This is a joint Africa CDC and Mastercard Foundation initiative. The overall project will run for 10 months, from March to December 2025 with implementation expected to end by December 2025. The project will be implemented in Northern Region of Ghana and the role of the IFRC will be to support the Ministry of Health to strengthen its integrated COVID-19 plans and immunization and primary care systems strengthening efforts. The IFRC and RCRC NS will support the Saving lives and Livelihoods initiative and corresponding MS through collaborative, community-led approaches ensuring that communities are active partners at all stages of the programming cycle.

The key outcomes of the programme include Strengthened sustainable socio-behavioural Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) frameworks across the life course immunization system: Established harmonized socio-behavioural RCCE approaches and tools for knowledge, local capacity and solutions for integrated COVID-19 vaccine demand generation for partner-wide use, country adoption and owned programming in partnership with Africa CDC nd the Foundation (adult immunization and life-course immunization overall);

Job Purpose

and established country coordination, partnerships and engagement between Member States, partners and other stakeholders at all levels for program efficiency and sustainability.
The Senior Health - SLL Programme Officer is responsible for overseeing/stewarding the program roll-out and to ensure program quality, effective management, collaborative approach, Risk Management, Accountability and impact of the Mastercard Foundation funded Saving lives and Livelihoods Initiative.

Job purpose
Reporting to the Programme Coordinator the Senior Health SLL Programme Officer is responsible to manage the SLL program at field level in Northern Region over a period of 8 months according to the 10 months proposal agreed to with Mastercard Foundation, in coordination with the ICRC and Red Cross Red Cross Movement partners supporting immunization related activities and other SLL implementing Partners such as the Christian Health association of Ghana (CHAG).
The position will provide technical and management support, in close liaison with relevant focal points in immunization programmes, Risk Communication and Community Engagement programs within the Ministry of Health and Africa CDC, and ensuring high quality program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, program compliance and timely and quality reporting to MCF through the Coordination and Compliance unit.
The position will work closely with MoH and other Implementing Partners (IP’s) within Ghana focal points to understand resource needs for gaps in immunization services, especially the community component and outreach immunizations throughout the country. As needed, the position may identify complementary funding opportunities.
The position will oversee all compliance and reporting requirements agreed to with Mastercard Foundation liaising with the regional team
The position requires previous experience in implementing Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Health Promotion or immunization programmes and overall health programme management, with a strong command of planning/budgeting, capacity building, mentoring National Society staff, partners engagement, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Program Coordination
• Support in the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of immunization activities through agreed strategies, targets, common risk management approaches, and effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms.
• Coordinate day-to-day operational management of the Programme in ensuring that specific objectives are met in timely manner, including timely implementation of activities and to achieve planned project results;
• Budget management: Ensuring efficient and effective management of the resources of the donor(s) in implementation of the project activities, budget management including ensuring the funds of the project are used solely for the activities as described in the project description.
• Ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with all guidelines and procedures which are applicable under the existing project documents/agreements with the Donor and counterpart(s);

• Curate and work closely with the SLL Finance in Accra and at the Abuja delegation to ensure sound financial management, monitoring, and reporting in line with the Mastercard Foundation requirements.
• Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.
• Attend SLL partners country and regional meetings and support attendance to relevant country coordination platforms (National Immunization program, health other)

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure engagement and collaborate and coordinate with the CCU in order to ensure that RCCE in health/immunization programs adhere to national standards, priorities, policies and partnership modalities.
• Liaise regularly with authorities, other implementing partners, UN agencies and other respective immunization stakeholders and to attend weekly immunization meetings.
• Mainstream a gender-sensitive, youth inclusive approach and gender minimum standards across health program design and implementation.

Program Implementation
• Provide or facilitate technical support to implementing partners to build capacity of community, civil society and National Society on social behaviour change and organizational capacity as part of RCCE and pandemic preparedness.
• Support overseeing the development of relevant RCCE strategy, capacity building documents, tools and materials in conjunction with internal and external relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with key partners such as MOH, Mastercard Foundation, Africa CDC on further developing harmonization of RCCE including community Programme Design and Innovation
• Provide and/or collect technical input to the design and development of tools to support RCCE or other community and civil society epidemic/ pandemic preparedness.
• Contribute to trainings, workshops or other learning events pertaining to the program
• Support the implementation of research and operational research to build evidence related to the cost effectiveness, impact and sustainability of socio-behavioral RCCE
• Support relaying resources and opportunities relevant to the program implementation, including regional tools and training opportunities.

Coordination and Partnership Development
• Participate and /or represent IFRC in appropriate inter-agency and internal coordination meetings related to the program and relevant technical areas
• Collaborate with all parts of the Red Cross movement, key government officials, SLL partners, NGO partners, donors on policies, strategies and best practices and approaches on RCCE in Immunization and related issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Maintain a high level of collaborative partnerships with Red Cross and Red Crescent sub regional and national partners and other partners in relationship to the programme, including liaising with governmental authorities and other stakeholders on any project related issues to ensure coordination and proper achievement of tasks and objectives.

• Ensure that the IFRC CCD and IFRC Regional Coordination and Compliance unites are fully informed and updated when other external parties (counterparts, INGO’s, NGO’s & GO’s, donors, etc.) seek contact or correspond on any matters.
• Participate and contribute to the work of the coordination mechanism and other relevant meetings i.e., humanitarian Clusters, regional and national level coordination platforms to promote the RCRC position.
• Represent the IFRC at community or local or National official level and liaise with the inter-agencies and organizations when/where appropriate and be the focal point for Inter-Agency coordination and other NGO meetings, task forces and governmental DM co-ordination mechanisms (National/regional ECOWAS, OCHA, EU platforms) as required, fostering co-operative alliances where appropriate.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Carry-out and support with preparing for country missions, including donor and technical focal points;
• Support communication related activities including identification of relevant media or other publication content
• Support timely funding proposals to support the work of IFRC and the National Society in filling the immunization gaps through RCCE for socio-behavioral change.
Accountability, Compliance and Risk Management
• Monitor all project activities through regular field-visits to the project sites and timely produce respective reports, in coordination with IFRC SLL PMER Coordination and Compliance Unit
• Support the NSs in continuous monitoring assessments and data quality assessments instituted by the donor including addressing any issues identified by the donor during these assessments.
• Support country Delegation in risk management including development of risk registers with clear risk mitigation measures, preparation of risk reports and overall risk management in the program implementation.
• Ensure that all narrative and financial reporting is submitted in a timely manner, including monthly, quarterly and bi-annual, final financial progress reports jointly with the Finance Officer.
• Responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks from the programme, by actively monitoring operations, gathering data, implementing preventative measures, and coordinating with various units to ensure risks are adequately managed at cluster level.
• Conduct budget monitoring, in order to prevent under and over expenditures and to ensure that all the project expenditures under the IFRC supported components are spent according with the prepared and agreed budget.

Reporting
• Review the KPI data and upload in DHIS2 for monthly and quarterly reports
• Review and collate the narrative reports submitted from the district field team and consolidate them for submission IFRC compliance and coordination unit
• Manage efficient and effective quality control and delivery of reporting on program ensure all reports are clear, accurate and informative before submission to IFRC compliance and coordination unit
• Review and ensure that all reporting on the operation is compliant with the Mastercard Foundation standards and formats.

Other Duties
• Ensure effective working relationships with National Societies counterparts and technical leadership as well as internal working relationship with relevant cluster focal points (Health, Immunization, RCCE, CEA.)
• Ensure effective working relationships, close collaboration and effective teamwork with IFRC Country Office technical leads and colleagues.
• Strengthen the collaboration with relevant government agencies and other non-Movement actors including governmental bodies.
• Support the IFRC office and [NS] in any related upcoming needs as discussed with the line-manager.

Education

Experience

Required:

Preferred:

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Languages:

Competencies, Values and Comments