Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, we specifically seek to narrow inequalities in the outcomes we seek, and to ensure that women and girls achieve equally to men and boys.
Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 25 countries. IRC health programs worldwide are implemented in partnership with Ministry of Health and/or non-governmental organizations. IRC is also engaged in direct provision of health care, safe drinking water and sanitation support to beneficiaries where needed. Currently, IRC supports or manages 75 hospitals, 1,256 health centers, and 788 health posts through a network of over eight hundred public health and clinical staff employed by IRC country programs. The facility-based care is complemented by community-level primary health care work implemented by about 9,000 community health workers.
Job Overview/Summary: Country based health staff are supported by a health technical unit that contributes to the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of IRC primary health care programs through technical assistance, staff development and institutional learning. The Health Technical Advisor, Gender Equality (GE) will be a key member of this health unit, serving as the primary source of in-country and remote GE support to country health programs to ensure appropriate and quality gender integration. In this role, the GE Advisor will be responsible for adapting or developing tools to support gender analysis and GE program design for the health sector, and support the health unit in applying these methods. The position will work to facilitate the sharing of best GE practices and tools across the health unit to enable GE learning and understanding across country and unit staff. The GE Advisor may also be responsible for contributing to special initiatives that advance the health of women and girls, including to advocacy and research, and collaboration with other organizations and sectors serving refugees. The GE Advisor will have duel reporting lines to both the Senior Director of the GE Team and the Senior Technical Advisor in the health unit.
Major Responsibilities:
- Review tools and practices that are currently used across the health unit and health programs to help guide gender trainings, analysis, and program design.
- Support GE capacity building in the health unit to ensure adequate knowledge across health staff on basic GE principles, concepts, and language.
- Contribute to efforts to improve the design and delivery of gender equitable health care through the development of new program elements, improved mechanisms for more effective program measurement and through research and evaluation of existing initiatives.
- Collaborate with and support existing Health Technical Advisors to provide timely and adequate technical support to health programs, including guidance on gender integration, gender analysis, gender sensitive program/project design, and proposal writing. This will involve: monthly calls with health technical advisors; occasional visits to supported programs; liaison with colleagues in the health and GE units and country management.
- Assist country health programs to document and share lessons learned and best practices around provision of GE health care.
- Represent the health unit, the GE unit, and the IRC in academic forums, donor meetings, inter-agency working groups, and various global/regional forums as assigned by the supervisor.
Job Requirements:
The requirements should establish a baseline (minimum) for educational background, previous work experience, professional knowledge or certification, specific skills and strengths, and any other skill necessary to perform the essential functions of the job.
Education: Master of Public Health or equivalent. Gender or women’s health concentration or background preferred.
Work Experience: At least 5 years of experience of developing and managing processes to integrate gender equality outcomes in health-related humanitarian programs
Field Experience: At least one year field experience in humanitarian settings preferred.
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:
- Experience in gender equal project design, proposal development, and fundraising
- Demonstrated expertise in developing and applying gender analysis and program design tools
- Effectiveness in bridging practical guidance and conceptual frameworks
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with local and remote team members
- Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams
- Excellence in oral and written communication skills
- Able to transfer technical knowledge and skills, and transform attitudes to improve gender equality
Language Skills: Proficiency in English and French language desired
Working Environment: Standard office work environment, up to 30-40% travel
EmoticonEmoticon