Senior Programme Officer, Health

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.

The Senior Programme Officer, Health will provide technical leadership and programme management support to IFRC and Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to strengthen equitable access to immunization services, particularly in hard-to-reach, underserved, and emergency-affected communities across Pakistan.

The position will support PRCS in designing, implementing, monitoring, and scaling evidence-based immunization interventions in most vulnerable areas that address zero-dose and under-immunized populations through community engagement, social and behaviour change approaches, outreach services, and health systems strengthening.

The incumbent will work closely with PRCS, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), provincial health departments, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi partners, communities, and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners to improve immunization coverage and demand generation while supporting the strategic expansion of routine immunisation programming into a broader, scalable and sustainable community health portfolio. Particular emphasis will be placed on reaching underserved and crisis-affected populations and ensuring alignment with national immunization strategies and international standards.

Health programme component implementation, planning, management, and coordination:

1. Assist the Health Coordinator in designing and supporting the implementation of capacity strengthening activities for PRCS health staff to ensure health components are carried out following the agreed framework, tools, and guidelines, and are in line with the PRCS long-term health goals.
2. Assist Health Coordinator in preparation, reviewing, and revising proposals and budgets with health systems strengthening approach keeping a focus on the development of NS capacities for primary and community health services.
3. Conduct joint, periodic technical monitoring and reviews with PRCS of health components to identify and capture good practices, as well as identify and address operational challenges, capacity needs and gaps.
4. Assist the IFRC and the PRCS teams in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the epidemics and disease outbreaks related initiatives and activities.
5. Assesses technical needs of health programmes in collaboration with PRCS field staff to identify gaps and areas, requiring further assistance/intervention.
6. Participates and organize field monitoring, supervision and evaluation missions, whenever required.
7. Support the overall coordination and reporting of health programme activities in coordination with the health department of PRCS-NHQ.
8. Assists Health Coordinator in quality implementation of Health and WASH programmes, while contributing to contingency planning for possible emergency response, if required.

Immunization Programme Implementation and Expansion

1. Support the Health Coordinator and PRCS in developing and implementing a phased strategy for expanding routine immunisation programming into new priority districts and provinces, based on immunisation gaps, vulnerability, operational feasibility and the comparative advantages of PRCS.
2. Support PRCS in identifying the areas for potential gaps in immunization coverages and mapping zero-dose and under-immunized communities through data analysis, community assessments, and coordination with EPI and local authorities.
3. Lead the technical development, under the guidance of the Health Coordinator, of a scalable multi-year routine immunisation and community health programme that can be adapted across different geographic and operational contexts.
4. Monitor the execution of PRCS outreach and mobile vaccination activities in areas where routine immunization services are limited or inaccessible.
5. Strengthen PRCS branch capacities to support routine immunization, supplemental immunization activities (SIAs), and outbreak response vaccination campaigns in hard-to-access areas.
6. Promote integration of immunization activities within broader community health, nutrition, epidemic preparedness, and WASH interventions.
7. Provide technical inputs to, and coordinate the development of, tailored immunisation approaches under the guidance of the Health Coordinator.
8. Support PRCS and local authorities to establish innovative delivery methods to reach underserved populations where immunization gaps are still there.

Community Engagement and Social Mobilization

1. Support the development and implementation of community engagement and social mobilization strategies to generate demand for immunization services.
2. Strengthen PRCS volunteer networks and community structures to address vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and missed opportunities for vaccination.
3. Develop culturally appropriate Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) approaches targeting caregivers, religious leaders, women groups, youth networks, and community influencers.
4. Build PRCS capacities in community dialogue, social listening, and risk communication related to immunization.
5. Support implementation of evidence-based interventions to reduce barriers to vaccine acceptance and improve community trust.

Monitoring, Data Analysis and Learning

1. Monitor immunization programme performance through routine data review, field monitoring visits, and supportive supervision.
2. Analyse coverage, dropout, and zero-dose indicators to identify priority geographic areas and population groups requiring targeted interventions.
3. Support PRCS branches in strengthening data collection, reporting, and utilization for programme decision-making.
4. Support PRCS branches to establish and maintain remote monitoring mechanisms for programme implementation in hard-to-reach, insecure, disaster-affected, or otherwise access-constrained locations.
5. Utilise digital tools, routine programme data, community feedback, virtual engagement, and third-party verification approaches, if/when appropriate, to monitor programme quality, coverage, accountability and results when direct field access is limited.
6. Support the development of dashboard, situation updates, and technical reports highlighting programme achievements, gaps, challenges, and recommendations.
7. Document innovations, lessons learned, and best practices for internal learning and external dissemination.
8. Prepare and, as delegated, present programme progress to donors and stakeholders.

Coordination and Partnerships

1. Represent the IFRC in national and provincial immunization coordination platforms and technical working groups as delegated by the Health Coordinator.
2. Maintain close collaboration with EPI, Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi partners, civil society organizations, and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners.
3. Facilitate coordination between IFRC, PRCS national headquarters, provincial branches, and field teams to ensure harmonized programme implementation.

Programme Management, Reporting and Compliance

1. Support the identification, design and development of new programme opportunities and investment cases that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the PRCS immunisation and community health portfolio.
2. Monitor budget utilization and ensure activities are implemented with compliance in accordance with donor requirements and IFRC procedures.
3. Contribute technical inputs to emergency appeals, DREF operations, and funding proposals related to immunization and community health.
4. Ensure timely submission of narrative and financial reports and maintain high-quality programme documentation.
5. Support PMER processes, including indicators tracking, evaluations, and accountability requirements.

Required

• M.B.B.S / M.D
• Master’s in Public health / Health care systems management /Health systems, Community health or related field
  

Required

• Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in public health programmes.
• Minimum of 3 years direct experience in immunization, EPI, vaccine-preventable diseases, or community health programmes; liaising and networking with Government, different donors and partners.
• Experience working with government immunization programmes, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, or civil society partners.
  

Preferred

• Experience in a community-based and participatory approach and in programme planning and management; managing budgets; writing and evaluating project proposals and concept notes.
• Red Cross / Red Crescent experience.

.Required

• Programme development management (including budget planning and management), including monitoring and evaluation; and preparing narrative and financial reports.
• Excellent communication skills; high level of proficiency in written and spoken English language.
• Self-supporting in computers (windows, spreadsheets, word-processing, Microsoft teams, presentations).
• Skills in training and facilitation; ability to work independently.
• Ability to travel all over the country, especially to areas with minimum basic facilities
• Fluently spoken and written English
• Other languages (Urdu)

• Respect for Diversity Treats all individuals and groups fairly and shows respect for all persons equally, without any distinction on the basis of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, political opinions, or any other grounds.
  
• Integrity Works in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Fundamental Principles and Values, in a transparent and accountable manner.
  
• Professionalism Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates knowledge, professional competence, and technical mastery of relevant subjects. Displays self-control, perseverance, and resilience in the face of pressure or adversity.
  
• Accountability Honours commitments and takes responsibility for delivering high-quality outcomes.
  
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; demonstrates ability and willingness to adapt language, tone, and style to different audiences.
  ensures messages are understood; is attentive to others and encourages open, two-way communication. Advocates on behalf of the Federation.
  
• Collaboration and teamwork: Promotes cooperation, supporting others and sharing the credit for achievements; accepts consensus views. Establishes strong interpersonal relationships and works effectively with colleagues and partners from different backgrounds, cultures, and functions, to achieve organisational goals and optimize results.
  
• National society relations: Identifies, understands, and meets internal and external customer needs (National Societies, colleagues, stakeholders); builds productive customer relationships; ensures that services provided are of high quality; takes responsibility for ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  
• Creativity and innovation: Leads or substantially contributes to the development of new or better processes, methods, systems, and practices to improve organizational performance by means of innovative ideas and creative thinking.
  
• Building Trust: Establishes open, candid, trusting relationships; treats all individuals fairly and with respect; behaves in accordance with IFRC values and stated commitments; maintains high standards and latitude to develop and achieve.