Senior Programme Officer – Health and Nutrition

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The 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. 

DRC Background

 The Danish Red Cross has a long-standing presence in Afghanistan, working in close partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society to strengthen community resilience and deliver integrated humanitarian assistance. Its programming focuses on health, livelihoods – including women and girls, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), with an emphasis on community-based approaches, capacity strengthening of local actors, and preparedness for recurrent shocks such as displacement and natural disasters. Through a combination of direct support, technical assistance, and institutional development, Danish Red Cross aims to enhance sustainable service delivery and ensure that vulnerable populations have access to quality, inclusive, and accountable humanitarian services.

The Senior Programme Officer will support the implementation, coordination, and quality assurance of Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). The role will contribute to strengthening coordination with other partners and to strengthening integrated service delivery and ensuring alignment with national standards and international best practices.

The Senior Programme Officer will provide technical and operational leadership in supporting  ARCS in the design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Health including nutrition and WASH where DRC is involved,  while ensuring strong coordination with HQ technical teams and in-country stakeholders.

Programme Implementation & Technical Support

• lead DRC  strategic as well as programmatic design, planning and implementing Health, nutrition and WASH activities, identify DRC's added value and ensure that is well represented.
• Ensure the systematic integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) principles and approaches within health and nutrition services, in close collaboration with MHPSS delegate, MHPSS Senior officer and ARCS MHPSS Health and MHPSS teams.
• Ensure activities are aligned with humanitarian standards and guidelines and DRC minimum standards for programme.
• lead the contextual adaptation and roll-out of tools, SOPs, and training materials in line with operational and technical standards.

Capacity Strengthening

• In collaboration with the DRC MHPSS delegate, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, DRC HQ, and ARCS MHPSS and health teams, identify the capacity gaps and needs, design capacity building activities and support capacity building of ARCS staff and volunteers.
• Facilitate trainings, mentoring, and on-the-job coaching.
• Promote community-based approaches and volunteer engagement.

Coordination & Representation

• Mange and Liaise with ARCS technical teams as well as other Movement partners on programme design and delivery.
• Represent the DRC and ARCS  in relevant coordination forums (Health Cluster).

 Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

• Develop monitoring, evaluation and learning framework for health and Nutrition .
• Ensure  the development, monitoring, and systematic tracking of indicators and workplans in line with the MEAL framework and reporting requirements.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation and quality.
• Promote accountability to affected populations (AAP).

 Emergency Response

• Lead health and nutrition need assessments and coordinated response planning during emergencies (e.g. floods, displacement, diseases outbreaks).
• Contribute to contingency planning and emergency preparedness, including the integration of health, nutrition and protection (or MHPSS) considerations.
• Ensure that emergency health and nutrition services are MHPSS-informed, including MHPSS safe service delivery, and appropriate referral pathways, in coordination with MHPSS technical staff.
• Coordinate with MHPSS teams during emergencies to align health interventions with broader MHPSS strategies and standards.
• Support surge capacity and emergency deployments by providing health-informed technical input to emergency response plans.

Reporting & Documentation

• Work with ARCS to prepare internal and donor reports related to Health, WASH, and MHPSS activities.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting using the development of standardized reporting formats and templates Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
• Support proposal development and programme design.

Required

• Minimum bachelor's degree in Health or Nutrition, or a related field (Master’s preferred). Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in Health programming.

Required

• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in Health programming.
• Experience working with humanitarian organizations in implementation of health programmes
• Familiarity with community-based approaches and emergency response.

• Strong coordination, communication, and facilitation skills.

Preferred

• Experience working in Afghanistan or similar contexts is an asset.
• Experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is preferred including integration of MHPSS into health and community-based programmes, emergency response, and coordination with relevant stakeholders, is an added advantage

• Experience in WASH programming in emergency and other context is an added advantage

Required

• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills

• Ability to work in complex and changing environments

• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking

• Strong organizational and reporting skill

• Fluency in English required 

Preferred

• Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is highly desirable 

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust