Intern, Community Health

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

      Background on the eCBHFA file:

      Community health is a main area of focus in IFRC’s Health and Care Framework 2030. Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers and staff live and operate in the communities they come from, offering a unique perspective to the provision of health and WASH services. Since they are present in communities before, during and after a crisis hits, they see it not as an event in isolation, but as something linked to unaddressed risks, vulnerabilities, and inequalities.

      Addressing risks, vulnerabilities and inequalities is at the core of Red Cross and Red Crescent work in community health and WASH.

      The community health programmatic modality includes:

   5. Community-based Health Promotion, disease prevention, Care and Support
3. Long term as well as emergency health and WASH programs (e.g. immunization, communicable and non-communicable diseases programs, MHPSS, water and sanitation interventions, etc.), particularly in fragile settings and underserved areas (e.g. informal settlements slums or rural communities).

Community health and WASH programs are expected to be centred around addressing people’s needs across their life course, from birth to death. Ideally community health activities should not be driven by vertical disease approaches and vertical funding streams. Community health programs should be implemented in an integrated manner, aimed at building the health, wellbeing and resilience of communities and individuals[1].

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has a long history of first aid and health promotion activities within communities. In the 1990s community first aid (CBFA) was the principal approach of teaching first aid in communities. Since then, experience and learnings have contributed to the further development of the CBFA tool. The tool was enhanced to a more comprehensive approach and included injury and disease prevention and health promotion and was re-named community-based health and first aid (CBHFA) approach. The new CBHFA toolkit was published in 2009. The integrated approach and CBHFA toolkit were developed in collaboration with supporting National Societies and other organisations working in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster management as well as organisational development. The CBHFA toolkit was further developed, and material was adapted as new evidence became available. It was re-named eCBHFA to emphasis its basis in evidence. In 2018 a new internet platform was launched comprising all eCBHFA tools, guidelines, training modules and manuals.

[1] IFRC health and Care Framework 2030; The IFRC’s contribution to healthier, more resilient communities and individuals; https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_Brochure_HealthCareFramework_EN_Web.pdf

Job Duties and Responsibilities

eCBHFA approach is based on evidence-based behaviour change theories, designed to improve health literacy and behaviour of community members, and thus empower communities to identify health risks and improve their health. The eCBHFA approach is planned and implemented through participatory methods based on community needs in any kind of environment or context such as urban areas, rural areas, schools, emergency shelters, migrant camps and even prisons. It caters to all age groups and uses a peer educator approach at all levels[2].

In January 2025 a new Community of Practice for Community Health will be launched. This interactive platform serves for exchange and learning for all movement partners that are engaged in Community Health.

Under the New Strategic Direction for Health as detailed within the revised Health and Care Framework 2030, the IFRC Health Department has placed an emphasis on the Community Health Worker file with eCBHFA as one of the key approaches for health promotion and disease prevention.

Alignment to the IFRC’s Strategy 2030

This internship aligns to the Federation’s Strategy 2030 as it supports the achievement of Global Aims:

Global Aim 1: People anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crisis.

Global Aim 2: People lead safe, health and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive

Job Purpose

The overall objective of this Terms of Reference is to support the eCBHFA approach.

This support will focus on:

Accountability and communication network

Support to the Health and Care Department

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team:

Duties applicable to all staff

[2] eCBHFA, Guidance & Evidence; https://ecbhfa.ifrc.org/guidance-and-evidence/

Education

Required

Experience

Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

Preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.