Public Health Specialist – COVID-19 Response at Child Fund International

Reporting Relationship**: Program and Sponsorship Director

Background

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was discovered in 2019 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 3rd March 2020 and the virus is rapidly spreading across the world. Current statistics (as updated on 29 March 2020) from WHO indicate that there are 199 countries and territories around the world have reported cases of COVID-19. A total of 679,005 people have so far contracted the virus, 4.7% (31,771) of them have died and 21.5% (146,345) recovered. Although the number of those infested in Kenya is comparatively still low at 36 active cases, one deceased and one recovered, the rate at which it is increasing is, like in many other countries alarming.

ChildFund Kenya, an international child-focused organization, is extremely concerned on the spread and ultimate effects of the COVID-19 to the children, their families and communities. The organization has therefore joined other development partners to support government and community efforts in fighting the spread of COVID-19, and particularly in ensuring the exposure and impact on deprived, excluded and vulnerable (DEV) children and their families. Thus, ChildFund Kenya would like to fully optimize on its comparative advantage of its presence in 26 out of the 47 Counties in Kenya and working through 13 local partners (LPs) to undertake collaborative actions for promoting and safeguarding the health of communities and reaching the most marginalized populations.

In order for ChildFund Kenya to be able to deliver in its mandate of protecting DEV children and their families from all forms of deprivation, abuse and effects of emergencies, it desires to engage a public health specialist that would lead, manage and provide technical support to its COVID-19 response and other programs for a period of three months.

Scope of Work

The Public Health Specialist – COVID -19 Response will be engaged on a three-month fixed team contract. Reporting to the Program and Sponsorship Director, the position will closely work with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Program Technical teams of ChildFund Kenya and its LPs to lead the COVID-19 Emergency Response. Specifically, the position holder will:

• Provide strategic advice and support to the SMT on the COVID-19 collaborative responses,
• Participate and provide technical leadership in the Country COVID-19 Response Taskforce,
• Regularly review and update the country office COVID 19 contingency plan,
• Prepare and regularly update the COVID 19 situation Report and timely submit to PSD for review,
• Work with the CO and LP program teams to design, develop and guide the implementation, monitoring and review of COVID 19 and related WASH projects,
• Ensure that ChildFund and its partners’ COVID-19 response is aligned to ChildFund International, Ministry of Health MOH and WHO guidelines, procedures and protocols,
• Support Project Officers and the Grants team in overseeing quality delivery of project activities and timely reporting to the donor,
• Participate in and represent ChildFund Kenya in all relevant COVID 19 response forums, networks and meetings. S/he will participate in regular meetings, facilitate information sharing and provide regular update to ChildFund and LP staff on COVID-19
• Build capacity, skill and knowledge of CO and LP staff on COVID -19, and
• Any other short-term tasks as assignment by the SMT and/or PSD.

Deliverables

• During the period of the assignment, the Public Health Specialist is expected to deliver the following:
• Participate in National Level COVID-19 Response forums and networks
• Attend COVID -19 CO taskforce and other internal meetings
• Monthly review and update the CO COVID-19 Response Contingency Plan,
• Weekly review and update the COVID -19 situation report,
• Participate in fundraising for COVID-19 response,
• Timely prepare and submit donor monthly and end of project reports,
• Provide weekly update on the COVID-19 response status by the CO,
• Facilitate one virtual or face-to-face COVID-19 staff awareness session,
• Lead implementation of COVID-19 emergency response activities by ChildFund Kenya

Required Qualification and Experience

• At least a degree in public health, environmental health, or any other related community health discipline,
• Minimum 5 years working in humanitarian response as a Public Health. Environment Health or WASH Specialist,
• Experience from working in complex health emergency contexts,
• Previous experience with response to epidemics desirable,
• Knowledgeable in behavior change approaches and community engagement’
• Proven experience in proposal development and writing,
• Excellent verbal and written communication, specifically in writing technical reports
• Strategic thinker, team player and able to multitask and work under pressure

Duration of Assignment

This is a National position and the assignment is for 3 months starting from April to June 2020. Assignment can be extended for a further period of one month of more depending on the COVID-19 situation in Kenya. Similarly, the contract can be terminated when the situation deteriorates and does not allow continued operations.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.