Première Urgence Internationale recruits 01 Health Coordinator

Starting date : December 2019

Duration of Mission: 12 months

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a Humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilian victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by addressing their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads on average 200 projects per year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 6 million people in more than 22 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe.

Find out about our history and values

Humanitarian situation, needs and consequences:

As the Syrian Crisis is in its seven year, the number of Syrians seeking refuge in other countries has reached an unprecedented scale. With more than 250,000 people killed, 1.2 million injured and 6.5 million people displaced, there are now 13.5 million vulnerable people inside Syria alone. Over 4.8 million refugees from Syria have fled to neighbouring countries particularly Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt After Turkey, Lebanon is the second host country for Syrian refugees with 1.5 million refugees for an overall population of less than 4.5 million (Source: LCRP 2018). Prior to this crisis, Lebanon was already hosting 300,000 Palestinian refugees and 1.5 million of the Lebanese people are considered vulnerable; the pressure on the Lebanese government and local population is very high.

An unprecedented number of civilians (refugees and host communities) are affected by the protracted Syrian crisis, in terms of increased impoverishment and vulnerability. Syrian refugees in particular are exposed to constant violation of the Humanitarian laws, with little perspective for them to reach a sustainable solution (resettlement to a third country, local integration or return to country of origin). There are not located in camps but scattered in areas inhabited by impoverished and vulnerable Lebanese communities further stretching limited or non-existent sources of income and public services at the local level.

The health system in Lebanon is dominated by a private sector and an active non-government sector which supports the limited public system (approximately 200 Public Health Care Centres (PHCCs) are available to the Syrian and disadvantaged Lebanese population). WHO highlights that ‘overall, limited funds are available for ensuring equitable provision of health services to meet essential health needs at the primary, secondary and tertiary health care levels.’ According to UNHCR, primary health care is the core of all health interventions in Lebanon, with cost being the most concerning barrier reported among Syrians. Syrians primarily seek care for infectious and communicable diseases (40%), chronic conditions (14%), gynaecological conditions (12%) and injuries (9%). A lack of quality and affordable healthcare in Lebanon often leads to further debt, impoverishment and vulnerability for both refugees and vulnerable Lebanese.

Our actions in the field:

Present in the country since 1996, PUI has a long experience in assisting conflict affected populations in the South. Since 2012, PUI has been actively involved in the Lebanon emergency response to the Syrian crisis with presence in the North (Akkar), Mount Lebanon and South (Saida) of Lebanon.

In 2018-2019, PUI aims to reinforce the ability of each vulnerable community to become self-reliant and resilient to crisis, through 2 programmes orientations :

• Humanitarian Assistance Programme: to provide a protection-based humanitarian material assistance and services for the most vulnerable refugees and host communities affected by the Syrian crisis, based on the targeting system and relevant vulnerabilities monitoring. .
• Resilience Programme: to develop and strengthen access to social and community infrastructures (schools, health facilities) and support household-level economic survival and well-being with regards to specific poor and vulnerable groups .

Click here for more information about our response to the crisis

As part of our actions in Lebanon, we are looking for a Health Coordinator in Beirut

The Health Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the health program implementation and providing leadership, strategic vision and technical support to all aspects of the health program in Lebanon. S/He is the focal point for the identification of programmatic priorities, design and direction of health programming in all operational areas, as well as any other areas where needs are identified.

S/He will ensure the quality of care provided through all PUI health services, and will ensure that the health program is implemented in accordance with international protocols, guidelines and best practices, along with national programming, standards and regulations.

S/He will report to and be support directly to the Deputy Head of Mission (DHOM) in the planning, design, implementation, supervision of the health portfolio.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Strategy: Working alongside the Coordination team, s/he participates in the design of the PUI country strategy. S/he leads the development of the health strategy component and health-related initiatives. S/he is the health technical focal point at mission level.
• Programme implementation: S/he has overall responsibility for the health program development, implementation and management. S/he ensures that health projects are in line with PUI’s health policy and country program strategy and monitors them for quality and efficiency.
• Representation, external coordination and partnership: S/he represents the organization to partners, authorities and local stakeholders involved in implementing health-related programmes. Ensures the active participation of PUI in national sectorial working groups and forums, and develops sectorial partnerships aligning with the health strategy.
• Staff technical management, supervision and capacity building: S/he provides technical support to the PUI health teams, provides support to health project managers, supports the recruitment of all health technical staff, identifies capacity building needs and supervises technical training activities based on these needs. S/he is the focal point for local/international health placements during short term missions.
• Strategy: Working alongside the Coordination team, s/he participates in the design of the PUI country strategy. S/he leads the development of the health strategy component and health-related initiatives. S/he is the health technical focal point at mission level.
• Programme implementation: S/he is overall responsible for the health program development, implementation and management. S/he ensures that health projects are in line with PUI’s health policy and country program strategy and monitors them for quality and efficiency.
• Representation, external coordination and partnership: S/he represents the organization to partners, authorities and local stakeholders involved in implementing health-related programmes. Ensures the active participation of PUI in national sectorial working groups and forums, and develops sectorial partnerships aligning with the health strategy.
• Staff technical management, supervision and capacity building: S/he provides technical support to the PUI health teams, provides support to project managers for recruiting technical staff, identifies capacity building needs and supervises technical training activities based on. S/he is the focal point for local/international interns during short term missions.

You’ll find more detailed informations in the job description below

• Medical Doctor or extensive medical experience,
• Master in Public Health, Master in Business Administration.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience leading health programming, especially in regards to Primary Health Care
• At least 5 years’ experience working as a technical advisor/managing projects
• At least 5 years’ experience working for an NGO
• Personnel management experience

Knowledge and skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills,
• Excellent representation and liaison with external parties
• Strong knowledge on project management, monitoring, evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of working in consortium
• Strong knowledge of health information and surveillance systems
• Strong knowledge in community health intervention and behavioural change
• Strong knowledge managing quantitative and qualitative data
• Knowledge of health service strengthening in the Middle East, particularly for Lebanon

Software:

• Excellent computer skills essential, including ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and database management software.

Languages:

• Excellent writing and editing skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills in English

• Fixed-Term Contrat 12 months
• Starting Date: December 2019
• Monthly Gross Income: from 2 200€ up to 2 530€ depending on the experience in international solidarity + 50€ per semester with PUI.
• Cost Covered: Round-trip transportation to and from home / mission, visas, vaccines…
• Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
• Housing: possibility of individual housing
• Daily Living Expenses (« Per diem »)
• Break Policy : 5 working days at 3 and 9 months
• Paid Leaves Policy : 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months