Senior Health Program Assistant - Replacement for Maternity Leave

II. Organizational Context and Scope

Established in 1951, IOM (https://www.iom.int/) is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 162 Member States, a further nine States holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement. IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration. Headquartered in Geneva, IOM’s structure is highly decentralized, enabling the Organization to acquire capacities closer to where the needs are and to effectively deliver an ever- increasing number of diverse projects at the request of its Member States and partners.

The Migration Health Division (MHD) has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the Organization’s provision of migration health services globally. These services aim to meet the needs of States in managing health-related aspects of migration, and to promote evidence-based policies and integrated preventive and curative health programs that are beneficial, accessible and equitable for vulnerable migrants and mobile populations. Recognizing that health serves as a catalyst for fostering positive migration outcomes, and in response to the Sixty-first World Health Assembly resolution on the health of migrants (May 2008), the Migration Health Division promotes policies and programs that contribute to migrants’ improved physical, mental and social well-being, and enable them to contribute to the socio-economic development of their home communities and host societies.

The Division provides technical guidance and policy advice and establishes partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral, civil society and private entities in the domain of migration health. Through the Division’s different units, IOM addresses the needs of migrants and the public health needs of host communities; provides oversight for the Migration Health Assessment Program, which evaluates the physical and mental health status of migrants either prior to departure or upon arrival; promotes access to equitable and quality health services for migrants and mobile populations; and provides technical standards and program support in key thematic areas such as emerging and re-emerging diseases, HIV prevention and care, and psychosocial support. 


The humanitarian crisis in the region drives risky, irregular migration in the Middle East and North Africa Region resulting in enormous displacement. These enormous human displacements have overwhelmed national and international capacities to perform routine functions for health programs such as monitoring and evaluation. The Board of the Global Fund approved ‘The Challenging Operating Environments Policy’ at its 35th Board meeting. This policy defines challenging operating environments (COE) as countries or regions characterized by weak governance, poor access to health services, and man- made or natural crises. The Policy classifies COEs based on countries with the highest External Risk Index (ERI) level in the Global Fund portfolio and allows for ad hoc classification to enable rapid responses to emergency situations. As of January 2016, the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), Yemen, Iraq and Palestine are classified as COEs. The Middle East region is facing a series of crises: on going protracted armed conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq and the continued volatile environment in Palestine. This has caused one of the world’s largest internal displacements and migration crisis in one region in a relatively short span of time. The effect of the conflicts on the health systems of the concerned counties has been severe. Syria has been enduring countrywide civil unrest since March 2011. This worsening situation has created what the United Nations (UN) describes as the “biggest refugee crisis in a generation”. Neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey) are hosting over four million Syrian refugees, which has significantly increased the burden on their already overstretched public health sectors.

The Middle East Response (MER) is an initiative that will provide essential HIV, TB and Malaria services to key and vulnerable populations including refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), women, children, other conflict affected populations in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Yemen. In June 2016, the Global Fund identified MHD IOM as the Principal Recipient for its Middle East Response Grant (MER). The Middle East Response (MER) is a differentiated and innovative approach to ensuring that current HIV, TB and malaria grants from the Global Fund to these countries are implemented more effectively and efficiently through an implementation approach using a unified regional platform managed by IOM supported with several policy exceptions from the Global Fund mainly associated with simplification, streamlining and decreasing the time of the proposal submission and grant making processes to ensure timely and effective response in the region.

III. Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Under direct supervision of the  in Lebanon and the overall guidance of the Head of IOM Office in Lebanon and with a view to achieve the expected results set out in the Middle East Response (MER) Grant Agreement with the Global Fund, the incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

1. Assist in coordinating and liaising with the procurement, finance, and human resources units on regular basis for all aspects of the program activities, including preparation of procurement plans, purchase requisitions, vendors’ invoices, vendor creation procedures, and staff contracts, among others.
2.  Assist in the implementation and monitoring of IOM’s TB/HIV project activities in Lebanon, including, collection of invoices, and maintaining and updating databases; undertake field travel to support project implementation locations.
3. Assist in updating the development of expenditures in co-ordination with the RMO and Finance (IOM Mission).
4. Maintain payment record of all invoices received and payee statement records for all suppliers

5. Assist in preparing the monthly financial report based on the accounting application, with all necessary justifying documentation.

6. Ensure the appropriate filing of the electronic and hard copies of the financial documents and reports.
7. Assist in preparing and submitting medication orders under the project as required as well as updating the stock database.

8. Assist in verification of the quantification of TB medications after receiving it from NTP pharmacist.
9. Assist in liaising with the field coordinators and liaise with staff in other IOM offices as required in relation to any aspect of TB/HIV projects, administrative and logistic and provide practical assistance to staff on TDY when needed.
10. Follow up on administrative matters with MOPH/NTP staff, and hourly staff/consultants; assist in the orientation of new staff and consultants by providing them with necessary documents, materials and practical advice.
11. Assist in coordinating and organizing appointments, meetings and travel arrangements in coordination with the procurement unit, staff security unit and other relevant IOM units.
12. Assist in the overall coordination of assigned project activities, such as public information campaigns, as required.
13. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

IV. Required Qualifications and Experience

Education/Experience:

University degree or higher / equivalent in health related field e, general management or related fields; Experience with Finances and Administration management for International NGOs / UN field offices; Experience in working in developing countries and culture; Experience in procurement activities; Experience in donor relationship and ability to raise resources; Knowledge of computer applications and financial accounting; Fluency in English and working knowledge of Arabic is desirable; Ability to work in a team and independently

V. Languages

Required

English, Arabic

Fluent knowledge of written and spoken English and Arabic

Advantageous

Other UN languages

VI. Functional skills and competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following functional skills and competencies:

• Must be a self-starter and able to set priorities on work schedule; strict adherence to GF Core Operational Policy Manual in all financial transactions
• Quickly become familiar with basic IOM guidelines include the Administrative and Financial Manual, correspondence, manuals, etc; ability to pick up and document unwritten policies, precedents and practices
• Initiative and independent judgement is required by the incumbent in determining what needs to be done and the best working methods
• Intensive co-ordination with the IOM Mission RMO as well as the focal point for finances and accounting within national programs and SR partners is essential  
• Ability to coordinate the work of others;
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.