View Vacancy – Humanitarian or Health Advisor

The Yemen Office Network based at the British Embassy in Amman is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual for the position of Humanitarian or Health Advisor, Grade – C5 (L).

Main Purpose of the job:

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, deliver the Global Goals, and tackle global challenges in line with the government’s UK Aid Strategy. Our aid budget is spent on tackling the great global challenges – from the root causes of mass migration and disease, to the threat of terrorism and global climate change – all of which also directly threaten British interests. We are ending the need for aid by building peaceful and stable societies, creating jobs and strong economies, fighting corruption, unlocking the potential of girls and women, tackling climate change and helping to save lives when humanitarian emergencies hit. We are doing this because it is both the right thing to do and firmly in Britain’s national interest.

FCDO works in partnership across Whitehall and with governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and the European Commission.

Working with the FCDO

FCDO Yemen is a welcoming and supportive place to work. We pride ourselves on the quality of our induction and make time for learning and development. Working with us, you will have a supportive and inclusive working environment with opportunities to expand your role and take on new challenges. In return we expect FCDO Yemen staff to respond flexibly to the challenges of the complex country that is Yemen, being willing to take on different responsibilities to help the team respond to crises as well as peaks in work.

We work across numerous locations and make use of a range communication methods to work effectively together across different sites and time zones. FCDO Yemen has staff based in London and East Kilbride, Riyadh and Amman. Our office in Amman is part of the British Embassy in Amman, which is expanding to become the largest mission in the Middle East and a regional hub.

Background:

The role will be based in the British Embassy, Amman and is offered on Amman Terms and Conditions. 

More than four years of conflict has made Yemen into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Yemenis face shortages of food and fuel, are vulnerable to disease including the world’s largest cholera outbreak in 2017 and an economy close to collapse. Her Majesty’s Government’s (HMG) goal is to end the conflict in Yemen through a political settlement, working with the Saudi-led Coalition, the Yemeni parties, the US and the UN. While the political process takes its course, FCDO Yemen’s priority is to support the international UN-led humanitarian response.

An estimated 24 million Yemenis, roughly 80% of the population, are in need of some kind of humanitarian or protection assistance, including over 9.6 million people who face extreme food shortages. The Houthis control the areas of the country where most of the population live. Approximately 3 million people have been internally displaced due to hostilities. A weakened and hungry population face disease outbreaks including cholera exacerbated by the collapse of health care, water, and sanitation systems. Public servants have not been paid in many areas for several years and this alongside rapid currency devaluation means that millions cannot afford to buy food that is available in the markets.

The UK is providing £200 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen this financial year (2020/2021), bringing our total commitment to over £1 billion since the conflict began in 2015. This year’s support will provide vital food assistance across the country, meeting the immediate food needs of over 1 million Yemenis each month over the year, treat 30,000 children for malnutrition and provide over 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.

Given pre-existing poverty and vulnerability, regional and internal conflict dynamics, and domestic political and economic weaknesses, Yemen is likely to be one of the defining protracted crises of the next decade(s).

FCDO has not been on the ground in Yemen since the embassy closed in 2015 due to the conflict. FCDO Yemen’s Development and humanitarian team currently has 35 posts split between London, East Kilbride, Riyadh and Amman. We have four teams:

• Policy, Conflict and Governance
• Humanitarian
• Economic, Livelihoods and Resilience
• Operational Excellence

More than five years of conflict has resulted in Yemen continuing to be the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Nearly 80% of the entire population – over 24 million people – require some form of humanitarian assistance. The Houthis control areas of the country where most of the population live. Approximately 2 million people are internally displaced due to hostilities. A weakened and hungry population face disease outbreaks including cholera exacerbated by the collapse of health care, water, and sanitation systems. Public servants have not been paid in well over a year and this alongside rapid currency devaluation means that millions cannot afford to buy food that is available in the markets. This year needs have been further exacerbated by the widespread impact of Covid-19. Given pre-existing poverty and vulnerability, regional and internal conflict dynamics, and domestic political and economic weaknesses, Yemen is likely to be one of the defining protracted crises of the next decade.

FCDO Yemen offers some of the most interesting and challenging development opportunities available in FCDO.  Yemen is a priority for the British Government. This shines a spotlight on the FCDO Yemen team and our ability to deliver for FCDO and across Whitehall on humanitarian policy and programme objectives. Team members – regardless of cadre, level or location – work collaboratively, at pace, with HMG colleagues and external partners to respond to acute humanitarian needs and a dynamic political agenda.

FCDO Yemen is a welcoming and supportive place to work. We pride ourselves on the quality of our induction and make time for learning and development. Working with us, you will have a supportive and inclusive working environment with opportunities to expand your role and take on new challenges. In return we expect FCDO Yemen staff to respond flexibly to the challenges of the complex country that is Yemen, being willing to take on different responsibilities to help the team respond to crises as well as peaks in work.

Main Responsibilities:

FCDO Yemen is looking for an Humanitarian or Health Adviser to join the Yemen Humanitarian Team, reporting to the Deputy Team Leader/Humanitarian Advisor. The postholder will lead on all policy related to health issues in Yemen (eg: infectious diseases, meeting UK government commitments to reduce preventable deaths) as well as supporting broader policy engagement on the humanitarian/protracted crisis response. The post will lead our work to address malnutrition in Yemen, including being the lead advisor on a protracted crisis programme in partnership with UNICEF and the World Bank that supports the health and WaSH systems and delivers emergency health assistance to tackle the drivers of malnutrition.

In this role you will be responsible for:

Assessment and analysis:

• Maintain situational awareness through regular assessment and analysis of needs and corresponding response.
• Communicate effectively to colleagues, senior officials and Ministers within FCDO and across the HMG network in order to effectively influence the necessary evolution or changes of policy and programme priorities. Manage upwards and consider wider political context to ensure effective influencing.

Policy:

• Work remotely with UN, INGOs, other donors, colleagues in Amman and across HMG to position the UK at the forefront of humanitarian/protracted crisis policy engagement, particularly on health issues. Focus on developing policy, contributing to advocacy strategies and directly advocating for UK policy objectives through various senior forums within HMG or externally at country, regional or global level. Position humanitarian agenda within the wider political picture.
• Engage effectively with senior officials and directly with Ministers as necessary.
• Develop close engagement with CHASE, RED and Health Policy Team and other relevant policy leads elsewhere to ensure that the policy work in this role is informing and learning from UK humanitarian and health policy as it develops.
• Delivering timely, concise policy advice and briefing to senior officials and Ministers, in a fast-paced environment.
• The political context is challenging and the postholder will need to land the humanitarian agenda within the bigger picture of UK government policy towards Yemen.

Programme:

• Provide technical oversight and lead technical advice into the design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning of FCDO Yemen protracted crisis/humanitarian health programmes, delivering high quality results.

Relationships and Influencing:

• Establish constructive relationships with key individuals and organisations, including representing FCDO with relevant partners and in relevant forums (e.g. donor coordination, Humanitarian Country Team meetings etc) to influence programme and policy development. This will include:

A. Internally within FCDO and HMG: working across FCDO policy (health, humanitarian/protracted crisis) teams and with other government departments (esp.  Foreign and Commonwealth Office colleagues in the Yemen Office Network – our dispersed Yemen Embassy based in Amman, Riyadh and in the UK – and our Embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, Department of Health).

B.    Externally:  at senior levels with bilateral and multilateral aid organisations (World Bank, UN, GAVI) and foundations (Gates) in-country, at headquarters, regionally and/or internationally as needed, civil society and INGOs, research organisations and academia.

People and building capability:

• Maintain cutting edge understanding of and application of evidence and work to build the capability of others;
• Advisers of all grades are expected to understand the potential of digital technology to improve the value for money of development interventions, integrate digital effectively in programmes, and use digital tools to work smarter, and to collaborate and communicate effectively.

10%:

• All advisers are required to provide up to 10% of their time (equivalent to 22 days per year) to support FCDO’s wider humanitarian objectives. This might entail support to another country programme such as contributing to an annual review, developing an evidence product or the design and delivery of training for other cadre members or HMG officials.

The workload is full and varied requiring the post holder to prioritise effectively and balance important medium-term work against meeting urgent deadlines.

Travel Requirements – This post will be based in Amman, Jordan. Visits to the UK will be required several times a year. Regional travel may be required, particularly to Saudi Arabia. Travel to Yemen may be required (subject to improvements in security conditions on the ground).

Key Competencies:

Generic:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand UK Ministerial priorities in Yemen and globally on humanitarian/protracted crises, particularly on health issues. Ensure that plans and activities on humanitarian and health reflect wider UK strategic priorities in alignment with our internal and external partners. Communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders to influence future strategies.

• Leading and Communicating – Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.

Technical:

The successful candidate will need to draw on technical competencies from both the humanitarian and health cadres.

Humanitarian Technical Competencies:

• Planning and managing responses – Understanding of, and ability to apply understanding of, the dynamics of protracted, recurring, slow or sudden onset crises in order to identify priority multi-disciplinary interventions (including cash), to ensure high quality preparedness, relief delivery and other risk informed investments:
• Humanitarian and disaster theory and architecture – Strong knowledge of: the international relief system; national Government and non-state actor, responsibilities and capacities; and development actor, diaspora and private sector capacities that can contribute to preparedness, response or wider crises resilience efforts.

Click on the below link for more details on the technical competencies for the Humanitarian cadre:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928605/FCDO-Humanitarian-TCF-2020.pdf

Health Technical Competencies:

• Epidemiology and Public Health: Knowledge and application of epidemiology and public health.
• Health Systems Development: Knowledge based on experience of health service delivery in a developing country context, including understanding of health systems development challenges.
• Specialist Competency – Nutrition: knowledge and understanding of nutrition and its application.

Click on the below link for more details on the technical competencies for the Health cadre:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928604/FCDO-Health-TCF-Sept2020.pdf

Knowledge & Skills:

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills as well as being a strong team player with partnering skills with a diverse range of customers.  This is a high-paced role and you will need to be resilient in order to deliver high standards of service in a challenging but rewarding environment.  We are looking for someone that can demonstrate:

• Integrity
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Impartiality

Essential:

• Fluent written and spoken English and Arabic (both verbal and written).
• Strong technical humanitarian and/or health expertise in humanitarian/protracted crisis contexts;
• Strong policy capability – experience in providing technical and strategic input into policy development, experience in policy engagement;
• A Master’s degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a relevant technical area. Strong demonstration of the competences through relevant experience may substitute for a Master’s.
• Proven experience in programme design and management, particularly in humanitarian/protracted crisis settings and in the health sector;
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with a range of partners – across The British Government (HMG), with other donors, with the UN, and with NGOs, and ability to use those relationships to deliver HMG objectives;
• Self-motivated, flexible and adaptable with drive and energy and able to operate within a rapidly changing environment;
• Ability to work at pace under pressure, juggling complex and varied workload;
• Demonstrable personal resilience.
• Knowledge and experience gained working on or in developing countries and/or in fragile and conflict affected environments.
• Literacy in Microsoft Office packages.