Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.
Handicap International is an independent and impartial aid and development organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
For further information about the association: http://www.handicap-international.fr/
Present in more than 55 countries, Handicap International is composed of 2 operational directions:
- The Direction of Humanitarian Action
- The Direction of Development Action
JOB CONTEXT :
Sierra Leone and Liberia are countries with respectively approximately 6 and 3 million inhabitants, both still recovering progressively from the 10-year civil wars in the 90s. Since wars ended in 2002 the majority of citizens have resumed their normal lives, but the effects of the war, including destroyed infrastructure, and severe poverty, are still evident.
Handicap International (HI) is present in the Mano River region (Sierra Leone + Liberia) since 1996
Over the last 2 years, Sierra Leone and Liberia have faced the Ebola outbreak that lead to the death of 3,589 Sierra Leones and 4,808 Liberians and about 4,000 survivors in Sierra Leone. The end of the year 2015 and the beginning of 2016 represent the transition period of the outbreak and the handover of the capacity of Ebola management (in case of resurgence of the outbreak) by the International community to the Governments. Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was declared to have ended in Sierra Leone on 7 November 2015. The country then entered a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance to ensure the rapid detection of any further cases that might arise as a result of a missed transmission chain, reintroduction from an animal reservoir, importation from an area of active transmission, or re-emergence of virus that had persisted in a survivor. On 14 January 2016, 68 days into the 90-day surveillance period, a new confirmed case of EVD was reported in Sierra Leone.
HI has been implementing a project on ‘Ambulance fleet management and house decontamination to support the Ebola response in Western Area’ from December 2014 to March 2016. This project has been part of the National Ebola Response and aims at transporting suspected Ebola cases from their communities to relevant health structures, as well as to decontaminate their houses in order to break the transmission chains.
Following the end of the Ebola outbreak declared on 7 November 2015 and as Sierra Leone has entered an enhanced surveillance period, the District Emergency Operations Centers (DEOCs), embedded within District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) coordinate a residual prevention and response capacity, mainly in surveillance, swabbing for dead bodies and live/death case management. DHMTs coordinate the work of Implementing Partners in order to maintain a ‘resilient zero’. On that regards, the current main programming is planned for 2016 and 2017.
Building on its experience during the Ebola Response in Western Area and in coordination with the DEOCs/DHMTs and other relevant stakeholders, HI would be in charge of decontamination activities within the provision of fleet management services and transport capability to District Health Management Team in Sierra Leone handled by another stakeholder.
YOUR MISSION:
The position is part of Decontamination project team. You will be under the supervision of the Decontamination project manager during the first six months and then will be supervised directly by the Health and Rehabilitation Coordinator. While respecting HI mandate and procedures, you will be responsible of ensuring that activities are safely (as per the Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs) and properly designed, implemented, followed up and monitored
Your main objectives will be:
· Training of trainers, training of teams and mentoring
· Ensuring the constant respect of safety procedures
· Adaptation/update of SOPs according to the context
· Technical advice linked to upgrade of decontamination sites and follow up of activities
· Management of a team of IPC staff for the decontamination site managed by Handicap International
· Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
CANDIDATE’S PROFILE :
· You hold a degree related to IPC, epidemiology or WASH and you have a previous experience in IPC in a Ebola context or Viral Haemorrhagic fevers context
· You have at least 2 years of experience in emergency or development projects and you are very familiar working in a High Risk Zone, dressed in a Personal Protective Equipment (EPE)
· You have excellent skills in team management, in support, training and capacity building. Besides you have Computer skills and an excellent English written and spoken level
· You are flexible and able to work under pressure
· You show good team spirit
· You are fluent in English
SPECIFICITIES:
The end of Ebola outbreak was declared in Sierra Leone on 7th November 2015 and in Liberia on September 3rd 2015. Nevertheless, risk of new cases is still present. Sierra Leone and Liberia are countries on Health Focus in HI. There is a high risk of malaria throughout the countries.
The people speak a variety of different dialects, but English is the official language for business and common communication. In Sierra Leone, approximately 60% of the population is Muslim and 40% Christian, with no animosity between these groups. In Liberia, majority of the population is Christian.
Generally, security is good and most Sierra Leoneans will warn foreigners if there are problems but some security regulations have to be respected.
In Freetown, there are many supermarkets, bars and restaurants. Internet is available in the HI office, HI accommodation through 3G key and internet cafes. Electricity and water supply is not so good but all HI offices and guest houses are equipped with a generator. There is an expatriate community in Sierra Leone and Freetown, its capital is known for its beautiful landscape and sandy beaches.
CONDITIONS:
· Starting date : August 2016
· Length of the contract: 5 to 17 months
· Employee or volunteer status, according to experience
· The position can be accompanied by partner
HOW TO APPLY:
Only online by joining a CV and cover letter via the following link:
