South Sudan: Deputy Head of Mission - South Sudan

PROJECT CONTEXT

MSF has been providing medical assistance in South Sudan since 1983, all through the second civil war. MSF provided primary and secondary healthcare and responded to nutritional, epidemic and conflict-related emergencies.

Health infrastructure, poor to begin with in many regions, has been destroyed by decades of conflict including the current one. In South Sudan, for a population of ca. 12 million had just 220 doctors in 2006. Countrywide the ratios are better – 17.8 general practitioners and 57 nurses per 100,000 people, but regional disparities are staggering.

In addition to that, running operations in South Sudan is extremely demanding (bureaucratic and administrative bumps mainly), challenging (very poor infrastructures, dramatic lack of skilled national staff, rainy season 6 months a year affecting supply and support of operations, security issues, etc). and costly (need of international staff, planes and helicopters to supply the projects, all material and drugs to be flown into the country, etc.). Very few organizations, with strong logistical capacity and financially robust, can effectively operate in South Sudan and respond properly to the needs. Most of the population can only rely on such organizations.

Today, all MSF sections are present in South Sudan, addressing emergencies, widespread vulnerability and the lack of access to free, quality health care. MSF OCB is running 4 projects, each of them with its particularities:

• Gogrial project, Warrap state since 2009 was chosen for it presence close to Abyei: Mother and child health program became the focus in Gogrial provided through a Maternity and Pediatric hospital with surgical capacity and outreach components. Addressing SRH and maternal mortality remains a challenge in an area with structural poor access to Healthcare and although a stable setting but with emergencies occurring all over the year (outbreak and floods).
• Gogrial project is planned to be closed by September 2016 latest. Handover to be started in November 2015 to County health department.
• Doro, Upper Nile state: Since the emergency set-up of the refugee camps 2011MAS is now establishing a more stable setting offering medical care focusing in a PHCC, three PHCU for the refuges and one OPD for host community on, nutrition, OPD and IPD with a special focus in addressing areas with gaps and/or inability of other agencies to respond (such as Immunization). As it has become stable setting the main objective for 2015 remained on rationalization of resource to activities.
• Pibor Jonglei state taken back from the emergency pool in May 2014. Running one PHCC focusing on maternal health in Pibor. Two outposts with PHCUs in Gumuruk and Lekongole. With the aim to reach more of the vulnerable population in Pibor county.
• Bor: Support to State Ministry of Health to improve the health services at Bor State Hospital. We focus on 6 priority areas of Pediatrics, ER, OT, Lab, Waste Zone and Hospital Pharmacy management and maintain monitoring and evaluation for EPI and Triage. On top of it we monitor Emergency Preparedness and Response (there’s a high risk of cholera outbreak and also a high possibility of population movements and displacement due to the conflict.)

Specific reasons for OCB presence in this *default context*are as follows:

• To provide free quality primary and secondary health care services to vulnerable returnees and resident populations who have no other access.
• To provide treatment and referral where necessary to victims of violence in areas of conflict where no other treatment is available.
• To monitor and respond quickly and efficiently to different kinds of emergencies: malnutrition, outbreaks, displacement of populations and casualties of violence.
• To ensure independent humanitarian action in response to needs that can act outside of predominant international development approaches
• To preserve a humanitarian voice to highlight ongoing humanitarian needs and to engage in key upcoming debates on health care in South Sudan
• To witness, document, report and respond to the various violations of Human Rights/Humanitarian Principles that we regularly witness on the ground

MAIN OBJECTIVES

Main Purpose

Support the Head of Mission through delegated tasks and responsibilities, manage the day-to- day functioning of the capital office and team, and ensure contacts with local authorities, in order to contribute to the optimal functioning of the mission. The Deputy Head of Mission replaces the Head of Mission in his/her absence.

Accountabilities

The Head of Mission can delegate ad hoc any responsibility to the Deputy Head of Mission depending on the dimension of the mission, and taking into consideration sustainability in the treatment of different dossiers. Below there is a non-exhaustive listing of the responsibilities that in general the Deputy Head of Mission may undertake. - Upon request of the HoM, represent MSF at all levels (local government authorities, media and other institutions in the country, other MSF sections, etc.) to negotiate terms of collaboration, defend MSF positioning, principles and values. Legal representation is not delegable unless legally backed up (powers of attorney, etc.) - Participate in the definition, monitoring and analysis of all aspects of MSF projects in the country / mission in accordance with MSF operational strategies, namely

• Participate in the analysis of the social, political and humanitarian situation of the country, the consequences of a potential MSF intervention, evaluating the risks undertaken by MSF in the field.
• Participate in the definition of the programs in terms of objectives, activities, indicators, financial, material and human resources needed.
• Support the Head of Mission in the preparation of project proposals and project reports for donors.
• Provide support to all project coordinators in project management, preparation of project reports
• Coordinate and activate the emergency response procedure when necessary, participate in exploratory missions.
• Supervise the organization and planning of the Capital team and Project Coordinators’ work, defining the mission’s decisional procedures and establishing information flows between the capital and the field. - Provide support to the HoM in HR management, namely:
• Participate in the induction of the new staff, ensuring they are properly briefed on the context,
• Check the wellbeing of MSF team particularly their stress levels, as well as adequate living conditions.
• Provide individual follow up to the Management Coordination team (guidance, support, advice and appraisals, identification of training needs, debriefings and end of mission evaluations)
• Participate in the definition of the mission’s security policy and check compliance of security rules, maintaining a network of information allowing the monitoring of developments in risks and threats.

Requirements

Education

University degree

Experience

Previous experience of at least two years in humanitarian assistance, preferably in management positions in MSF or other NGOs.

Essential working experience in developing countries

Competences

Strategic vision

Strong organizational skills

Excellent inter-personal skills

Leadership

People management and development

Languages

Fluency in English

CONDITIONS

• One year fixed-term field contract
• Salary according to MSF-OCB Field salary scale. Transport, accommodation, vaccination are taken in charge by MSF. Per diem + medical insurance
• Expected starting date: 1^st of December 2015

Application (CV + cover letter) to be sent to Géraldine Taeymans: medical.fieldrecruitment@brussels.msf.orgbefore the 21^stof November 2015.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.