Danish Red Cross is looking for a Health Programme Manager to help manage our programme, provide support to Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), and support the development and growth of the portfolio in Malawi to ensure that vulnerable communities are protected and less affected by disasters and crisis.

Malawi is one of the world’s least developed and poorest countries. About 85% of the population lives in rural areas, and the majority of smallholders depend on rain-fed agriculture. Vulnerability is thus widespread and not concentrated to any specific part of the country. Malawi is prone to recurrent flooding and droughts and, as a result of climate change, the frequency of these hazards is predicted to intensify, thus putting extra pressure on already vulnerable communities.

Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been engaged in a long-term bilateral partnership with Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) since the 1980s supporting community health programmes, among other initiatives. Today, DRC is supporting a community resilience programme (COMREP) consisting of 3 outputs across interrelated sectors: 1) Health, 2) Livelihoods 3) Empowerment, and a ECHO Consortium led by Save the Children on Nutrition and Health Response.

Responsibilities or duties

The Health Programme Manager will primarily support MRCS in the planning, coordination, implementation, quality assurance and reporting of the two above ongoing initiatives. They will also support emergency response initiatives in country.

The Health Programme Manager reports to, and works in close coordination with, the Danish Red Cross Country Manager, also based in Lilongwe, who is responsible for the overall management of DRC’s programme portfolio in Malawi. The Health Programme Manager will also support related health initiatives of the Danish Red Cross in Malawi – as well as general support to the MRCS Health Department, especially outbreak preparedness and response.

The purpose of the position is:

• To partner with MRCS for the needed oversight and guidance on the Community Resilience Programme and the Food Insecurity Response ECHO funded project.
• Provision of technical guidance and oversight to build capacity and competences in the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) in the thematic areas covered by the programme, hereunder coordinate thematic input from consortium partners.
• Coordinate closely with consortium partners:
  • Icelandic Red Cross (implementation, reporting and evaluation of COMREP initiative).
  • Danish Red Cross Youth (DRCY) in terms of youth activities and youth volunteer exchanges between DRCY and MRCS.
  • RCRC Livelihoods Resource centre: coordinate appropriate and relevant technical support to COMREP project.
  • Save the Children and consortium partners under ECHO funded emergency response initiative.
  • Other relevant partners.
• Ensure compliance and reporting to DRC and donors to all projects/initiatives under the Health Programme Manager’s responsibilities.
• Spearhead the coordination, planning and execution of the COMREP steering group committee meetings. Provide guidance and support to MRCS COMREP team.
• Coordinate and monitor emergency interventions, including support to the integration and mainstreaming of intersectional approaches, as well as Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) in the interventions. Support new project initiatives that might be available to extend the Malawi portfolio.

Experience and Qualifications:

Required:

• Valid work permit in Malawi at the time of application.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public/Global Health or similar, alternatively Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in Health projects.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management cycle, reporting and financial management.
• Proven experience in project design and proposal writing.
• Proven technical experience and knowledge on Health Sector.
• Experience in partnership building and inter-institutional coordination in the field of Health.
• Previous experience working in partnerships and implementing through a local partner.
• Experience developing and implementing EU/ECHO financed actions.
• An excellent communicator with proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to translate complex and technical concepts into clear, accessible guidance, strengthening the capacities of partners and stakeholders.
• Flexibility and a strong willingness to learn, with the ability to embrace and adopt innovative approaches.
• Self-motivated, with good judgement and ability to take initiatives.
• Flexible, able to adapt to changing working environment.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office package.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Previous working experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent is an advantage.
• Experience in working with Community Based Health and First Aid and other Community Health approaches is an advantage.
• Primary Health Care experience including Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Reproductive Health, Behaviour Changes in health promotion.
• Knowledge and previous experience working in Livelihoods and/or Youth Empowerment.
• Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEAL) including data collection and analysis.
• Experience in facilitation and transfer of knowledge.
• Valid driver’s licence.

• To partner with MRCS for the needed oversight and guidance on the Community Resilience Programme and the Food Insecurity Response ECHO funded project.
• Provision of technical guidance and oversight to build capacity and competences in the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) in the thematic areas covered by the programme, hereunder coordinate thematic input from consortium partners.
• Coordinate closely with consortium partners: Icelandic Red Cross (implementation, reporting and evaluation of COMREP initiative), Danish Red Cross Youth (DRCY) in terms of youth activities and youth volunteer exchanges between DRCY and MRCS, RCRC Livelihoods Resource centre: coordinate appropriate and relevant technical support to COMREP project, Save the Children and consortium partners under ECHO funded emergency response initiative, and other relevant partners.
• Ensure compliance and reporting to DRC and donors to all projects/initiatives under the Health Programme Manager’s responsibilities.
• Spearhead the coordination, planning and execution of the COMREP steering group committee meetings. Provide guidance and support to MRCS COMREP team.
• Coordinate and monitor emergency interventions, including support to the integration and mainstreaming of intersectional approaches, as well as Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) in the interventions. Support new project initiatives that might be available to extend the Malawi portfolio.

• Proven experience in project design and proposal writing.
• Proven technical experience and knowledge on Health Sector.
• Experience in partnership building and inter-institutional coordination in the field of Health.
• An excellent communicator with proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to translate complex and technical concepts into clear, accessible guidance, strengthening the capacities of partners and stakeholders.
• Flexibility and a strong willingness to learn, with the ability to embrace and adopt innovative approaches.
• Self-motivated, with good judgement and ability to take initiatives.
• Flexible, able to adapt to changing working environment.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office package.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

• Valid work permit in Malawi at the time of application.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public/Global Health or similar, alternatively Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in Health projects.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management cycle, reporting and financial management.
• Previous experience working in partnerships and implementing through a local partner.
• Experience developing and implementing EU/ECHO financed actions.
• Previous working experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent is an advantage.
• Experience in working with Community Based Health and First Aid and other Community Health approaches is an advantage.
• Primary Health Care experience including Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Reproductive Health, Behaviour Changes in health promotion.
• Knowledge and previous experience working in Livelihoods and/or Youth Empowerment.
• Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEAL) including data collection and analysis.
• Experience in facilitation and transfer of knowledge.
• Valid driver’s licence.