ABH Partners Plc is a leading consultancy and human resources sourcing firm in Ethiopia with about 15 years of experience in supporting the implementation of development programs and projects. ABH exists to fuel synergistic societal growth by harnessing local knowledge and international standard. Dedicated to the betterment of societal development, technical assistance, and knowledge management, ABH has gained credibility and industry experience in the development sector in general.

ABH partners would like to invite applicants who meet the below requirements to apply for the position of Health Emergency Consultant 

Required Number: 1 (one)

Duty station:  Amhara

Salary: Attractive 

Level: NOB

Duration: 6 months with possibility of further extension based on performance and fund’s availability. 

Reporting to: Health Specialist/ Health officer UNICEF Amhara Field Office and Amhara Region Public Health Institute Director General 

Expected Start Date: Immediately after concluding the contract agreement

Background and Justification 

Amhara region has been the most stable region with no significant displacement and refuges in the history of the country. However, since November 2018 the region has been suffering from the existence of significant number of conflicts induced internally displaced people within and across the region. According to DRMC, as of November 2021 there are about 2.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who are distributed throughout the region, i.e., to all zones and are in need of assistance (see table below) and about 1.5 million (62.3%) of them are displaced due to the ongoing armed conflict/war between TPLF and EDF, and as the war is ongoing more people are expected to be internally displaced from the conflict affected part of the region to other places.

Number of IDPs by zone, November 2021

S/No

Zone

Protracted IDPs

IDPs due to Norther Ethiopia Crises

Total IDPs

1. North Shewa - 271,102 - 284,772 - 555,874
2. North Wollo - 23,975 - 217,100 - 241,075
3. Wolkaite - - 247,961 - 247,961
4. West Gondar - 1,567 - -  1,567
5. Central Gondar - 28,541 - 3,549 - 32,090
6. South Wollo -  23,318 -  364,579 - 387,897
7. West Gojjam -  270,596 - -  270,596
8. Bahir Dar - 10,850 -  42,900 - 53,750
9. Awi - 46,215 - - 46,215
10. Waghimra - 5,786 - 86,844 - 92,630
11. East Gojjam - 33,310 -  2,874 - 36,184
12. North Gondar - 42,651 -  173,915 - 216,566
13. South Gondar - 50,759 - 90,363 - 141,122
14. Oromo -  109,334 - 109,334

Total -   918,004 - 1,514,856 -  2,432,860

Following TPLF war, the humanitarian situation across the region continues to deteriorate, and there is high demand of humanitarian response across the region to reach the needs of displaced and vulnerable persons. Access to essential health service in conflict affected areas is seriously affected/compromised. Significant number of health facilities are damaged and looted in Waghimra, N/Wollo, S/Wollo, North Gondar, Central Gondar zone, S/Gondar, Oromo special and North Shewa zones of the region. 

As the scale of the conflict and the subsequent internal displacement is increasing in the region, human resource is highly demanded in the area of health emergency preparedness and response to ensure the continuity of the provision of quality primary health care services to the IDPs and host communities based on the response plan . 

UNICEF has been supporting the region’s emergency preparedness and response technically (assessment, planning, coordination, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) and capacity building), financially and availing and ensuring good supply and logistics management for timely emergency response. Given the large geographic coverage and large population (about 22 million) and rapidly increasing number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the region; scaling up of IDPs response activities is challenging and demanding. Besides, the increasing demand and need for dedicated health emergencies technical support UNICEF Amhara Field Office has been trying its best to provide the required supports to strengthen coordination platforms, to ensure availability of essential supplies and to ensure continuity of the provision of essential health services to the IDPs and host communities. However, due to the large geographic size of the region, and travel restrictions in conflict affected areas, the human resource available at regional level have not been enough to reach out the most venerable women and children and provide the required continuous technical support at field level. The extent of the emergency situation and its impact on essential health services has doubled the burden and widened the existing capacity gaps especially at zone and woreda level for the increased supply and logistics management, monitoring, technical support and guidance in responding to the emergency situation timey and appropriately. 

In addition, to strengthen essential health service access and implementation of UNICEF emergency response plan at zonal and woreda level, ensure continuous monitoring of the situation and on-going response, emergency supplies end user monitoring, a dedicated health emergency consultant is highly required to provide the required field level support. Thus, the consultant will help to provide technical support to the implementation of quality high impact and cost-effective UNICEF planned emergency interventions, monitoring and reporting of UNICEF’s health emergency response with sustained and system thinking approach linking to ongoing development programs. 

Purpose 

To provide technical support to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute on health emergencies preparedness and response in general and IDPs response specifically and ensuring continuity of essential health services to IDPs and host communities including supply and logistics management focusing on zones highly impacted by the conflict. 

Specific Tasks 

Under the overall guidance of the health specialist of the field office, the incumbent will report directly to the director of Amhara Region Public Health Institute (APHI). He/she will work closely in collaboration with relevant technical officers in the field office, the Regional Health Bureau and Amhara Region Public Health Institute (APHI) Directorate. He/she has first line responsibility for promoting and implementing effective emergency preparedness and response strategies with focus on UNICEF supported thematic areas of IDPs response, supply and logistics and essential health service. He/she will be based in zones hugely impacted by the current conflict to support the government in provision of essential health service for women and children. 

The main duties and responsibilities are here under:

• Provide support for strengthening essential health service access, supply and logistics for IDPs response and other health related emergencies intervention at zone, woreda and site level in accordance with national and regional guidance.
• Provide technical support to conflict affected zones, woredas and health facilities on the adaptation of national health emergency strategies, standards, protocols, guidelines, training manuals and materials for health-related emergencies with specific focus on IDPs response.
• Provide technical support for the implementation, monitoring and reporting on UNICEF health emergency response plan and ensuring that UNICEF mandated emergency interventions in health priority focus areas are implemented, monitored and managed in a timely and effective manner.
• Provide professional assistance in risk analysis to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to timely emergency preparedness.
• Identify formal and informal sources of information and coordinate with WHO to collect, interpret and analyze available data on the evolving emergency and its implications to the emergency operation in UNICEF thematic support areas.
• Keeps the effective flow of information and communication crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency measures.
• Based on needs assessment, support and facilitate capacity building trainings of zonal/woreda and health facility workers and support for the adherence of government and non-government implementing partners to relevant standards and guidelines.
• Conduct continuous assessment of the occurrence of emergency situations. Collaborate with other partners to make a rapid assessment covering priority areas as defined by the Core Commitment for Children in Humanitarian Action. Establishes contact with community groups, government, UN agencies, media and other partners to keep the field office abreast of emergency situations.
• Monitor the proper implementation of the regional IDPs response plan activities and ensure the availability of essential health commodities/supplies and end user monitoring and reporting regularly
• Synergize systematic coordination of appropriate health in emergency operational response plan, with other relevant sectors and among UNICEF nutrition and WASH section.
• Compile accurate and timely emergency related reports on progress made, challenges and opportunities and share to the field office on weekly basis for monitoring progress and input on regional Sitrep for UNICEF Field Office and Ethiopia Country Office
• Collects and analyses lessons learnt from UNICEF's emergency operations experience and contributes towards adoption of the best practices and standards for longer-term emergency interventions.
• Collaborate with WHO to support the regional, zonal and woreda level emergency information management including collecting, analyzing, and reporting of health situation and response interventions in RCCE, supplies and logistics.
• Undertake other relevant tasks as directed by her/ his supervisor and assist with other duties in support of the UNICEF Health program and FO.

Deliverables

Deadline

Health component of emergency and IDPs response, supplies and logistics interventions coordinated between sub-teams and with EOC emergency pillars, programs and sectors

Weekly

Strategic partnerships with key stakeholders for sustained and effective emergency outbreak response put in place

Monthly

Regular visits to emergency affected woredas and IDP sites in the targeted zones and provide updates to the FO with focus on:

• Delivery of essential health service based on context.
• Prevention and control of disease outbreaks Cholera, measles, malaria, COVID-19, etc.
• Support on planning, coordination, and monitoring of health response
• Monitor and provide technical support to UNICEF/RHB deployed MHNTs

Monthly

• Emergency preparedness and response plan (including COVID-19 pandemic) activity reports available, share to FO and disseminated among partners and key stakeholder’s
• Weekly
• Emergency situation reports prepared and submitted to field office
• Weekly and monthly
• Other tasks related to the dynamic humanitarian situation as requested by the FO/ supervisor
• As required
• Document health emergency response best experiences and contribute Human interesting stories for donor report
• Quarterly
• Submit written report on progress of implementation, challenges and opportunities-
• Monthly

Monitoring strategy

• The Amhara field office will ensure monthly travel plan of the consultants reflect the priority in the specific zones and woredas
• RHB and APHI team will be mobilized to join for the field mission to have common view of gaps and solutions,
• Submitted field reports will be reviewed by the supervisor and filed for action,
• Action points tracker to be developed and tracked before next field mission takes place.

Reporting

• Monthly written report on the IDPs response and other emergency response activity implementation progress to UNICEF FO Health Specialist/ Officer and RHB APHI director.

Payment Modality and Schedule

• The fees for this contract shall be paid on monthly basis based on the submission of monthly reports against the deliverables indicated above. 

Job Requirements

 Expected background and Experience and Competencies 

• Advanced university degree in the field of public health, field epidemiology and health related background
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in emergency and experiences working in Ethiopia’s health sector or NGOs working in emergency
• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of the national and regional working language is also required.

General conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The consultant shall be based in central Gondar zone and work from zone health office with expected visits to North Gondar, west Gondar, woredas, health facilities and IDP sites.
• The consultant will be managed under the direct formal supervision of RHB, APHI director & the UNICEF FO Health Specialist/Officer.
• The consultant will not be provided lodging and/or meals. DSA will be provided when travelling outside the base through ABH.
• The consultant should use his/her own materials, i.e. computer.
• The consultant will use rented car through ABH Partners PLC.
• The consultant will be paid monthly upon completion of deliverables as indicated on this TOR and report approved by supervisor through the ABH Partners PLC.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• HR firm will manage all the administrative issues and aspects based on HR’ policies and procedures.
• All remuneration must be within the contract agreement through the HR firm
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both HR firm and the consultant.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested applicants who fulfil the above requirements can apply through Link CLICK HERE