Intern, Public Health in Emergencies

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

At Geneva level the Health and Care Department focuses on two strategic directions:

1. Health System Strengthening
2. WASH System Strengthening

These two strategic directions are supported by four pillars:

1. Global Health Security
2. Global Health Protection / UHC
3. Global Water Security
4. Transformative Partnership

Job Purpose

1. To understand more about and contribute to the work of the IFRC in public health in emergencies and its support to National Societies to strengthen public health response.
2. The intern will support the following priorities within the public health in emergencies file:
   • Operational research, including reviews of public health response
   • Management of the Emergency Health Surge Technical Working Group
   • Public health response support, including input into new tools and training packages
   • Other duties as needed within the public health in emergencies file

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Support to operational research for public health in emergencies

• Support to review and analysis of health components for emergency response, in collaboration with DREF, operations, and surge teams.

Support to the management of the emergency health surge technical working group

• Support tracking of task team deliverables for Public Health items.
• Support with the management of the TWG email list and communications.
• Tracking of action points from the 2024 TWG meeting.

Support to public health response, including development of new tools and training packages

• Support to the updating of public health rosters, including tag verification with the surge team.
• Support to the tracking and development of new tools and training packages used for emergency response and surge rosters.
• Support to reviews of the handbooks for public health Emergency Response Units (ERU) in collaboration with holding National Societies.

Support to the public health in emergencies team

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC public health in emergencies team:

• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available HR and financial resources.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Position Requirements

Education

Required

• Be currently-enrolled in a university or equivalent level, or have graduated recently (normally within 1 year from the date of hiring) in an area that is focused on MPH, Public Health, Global Health, epidemiology.

Experience

Preferred

• Experience with research and development of summary reports.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver work products against deadlines.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
• Knowledge of the IFRC and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and their core mandate and function.
• Basic knowledge about health topics the Red Cross and Red Crescent work on including: malaria, immunization, nutrition, climate, migration, first aid, MHPSS, community health worker initiatives to deliver integrated health interventions and other health topics.

How to apply

Please submit your application in English only via the IFRC website.