Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More info: www.hi.org
The Palestine mission is part of the MASHRIQ regional programme, which covers Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. HI in 2023 has been implementing a mix of humanitarian and development projects in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including a long-term rehabilitation project in Gaza. HI is also the coordinator of the Rehabilitation Platforms in Gaza and in the West Bank (two coordination bodies among all rehabilitation actors in each area).
The new conflict between Hamas and Israel in October 2023 has created a major humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Around 70,000 Palestinians have been injured and several thousand among them have suffered from amputations or permanent impairments. HI is managing a complex humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip, with extreme challenges in terms of access and security. In addition, HI is also implementing a mix of emergency response and preparedness activities in the West Bank, with several access and security challenges.
In February and March HI has sent between 2 and 4 expats into Gaza during most weeks. In April and May, with the expectation of an increase in security and access, HI might be able to send up to 10/12 expats into Gaza, with frequent rotations. The organization of these visits requires a very strict and complex process with several HR, logistics, security and access, and coordination tasks.
HI current response spans these sectors: physical rehabilitation, humanitarian mine action, humanitarian logistics, education in emergencies, emergency preparedness, disability mainstreaming/inclusion in humanitarian action, advocacy and distribution of health, hygiene, and NFI kits.
Main challenges: severe lack of security and humanitarian access in Gaza; security risks, access constraints, and potential further escalation in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The new conflict between Hamas and Israel in October 2023 has created a major humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Around 70,000 Palestinians have been injured and several thousand among them have suffered from amputations or permanent impairments.
In Gaza, HI has launched some light rehabilitation activities in IDP shelters through trained volunteers and has provided more than 1,000 people with assistive devices. HI is planning to scale up substantially its response in the coming months, hiring more local physiotherapists and occupational therapists, providing emergency rehabilitation also in homes, supporting hospitals and launching prosthetics and orthotics services. HI is also the lead of the Rehabilitation Task Force in Gaza.
HI is also planning to establish a new prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) service in Gaza, either directly or through a local partner, first for the delivery of temporary emergency prostheses and then for the delivery of permanent prostheses.
To carry out these projects, HI is looking for a P&O Senior Technical Officer for a period of 3 to 6 months (renewable).
Description
Reporting to the Deputy Country Manager, the P&O Senior Technical Officer will interact with several internal and external stakeholders and will have 5 responsibilities:
Mission 1: Providing Technical Expertise
- Providing specialized expertise in the form of policy guidance and technical support to projects, partners and/or programs in accordance with the technical frameworks and general standards of his/her sectoral or cross-cutting scope
- Provide technical expertise for HI’s P&O project in Gaza,
- Carry out thorough assessments of people with limb loss, limb deformity or mobility impairment, taking into account their individual needs, medical history and current circumstances.
- Work with healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and physicians, to gather comprehensive information for an accurate assessment.
- Implement quality assurance measures to ensure the safety, effectiveness and ethical standards of prosthetic and orthotic services.
- Monitor patient progress, document outcomes and participate in ongoing evaluation and improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery.
- Contribute to technical staff selection and recruitment process,
- Contribute to reports, technical learning, and evaluation for the project,
- Liaise with HQ for technical support and guidance,
- Follow up the P&O logistic needs and contribute to local and international orders
Mission 2: Providing project-based technical learning with a global impact
- Patient education and training
- Provide comprehensive education and training to patients and their carers on the use, care and maintenance of prostheses and orthoses.
- Provide guidance on mobility training, adaptive techniques and strategies to increase independence and participation in daily activities.
Mission 3: Ensuring the internal technical training of his/her sector or on cross-cutting themes
- Develop and perform training plan and capacity building for technical staff,
- Tailor training programmes to the specific needs and skill levels of participants, ensuring practical and hands-on learning experiences.
- Provide ongoing mentoring, guidance and supervision to teams, both in clinical settings and during field visits.
- Provide constructive feedback, support professional development plans, and encourage continuous learning and improvement.
Mission 4: Contributing to ensure the external technical influence of HI on his/her perimeter, in close collaboration with the technical program team
- Work closely with other members of the healthcare team, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and prosthetists, to ensure holistic care and support for patients.
- Coordinate with external partners such as local healthcare providers, NGOs and community organisations to facilitate access to additional resources and services for patients.
- Liaise internally with the physical and functional rehabilitation team to activate internal referrals,
Mission 5: Emergency Preparedness and Response Responsibilities Contribute to the support or implementation of emergency preparedness actions of the program(s) and, during an emergency, adapts his/her work modality in order to contribute to an effective HI humanitarian response.
Specificities
Mission Site: Gaza, with short-term stays in Cairo or Jerusalem
Egypt: the security is stable in Cairo and in most areas along the Nile and on the Red Sea and Mediterranean costs. There are several opportunities for tourism and social and cultural life in Cairo and other tourist sites.
Gaza Strip: in the current crisis the whole population is at risk due to frequent airstrikes and ground offensives. HI has setup two separate premises with the capacity to accommodate international staff and has put in place the necessary security systems to manage their presence. The context remains volatile and might improve or worsen in the coming weeks and months. The selected candidate will be thoroughly briefed about the context and the security systems before deployment to Gaza.
Your profile
You are an experienced P&O emergency response professional with strong stress management skills.
Experience
- At least 5 years of overall professional experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in the P&O sector in emergency responses in conflict-affected countries.
- Training competencies and skills on job training setting,
- Experience with temporary emergency prosthesis
Language: Fluent in English (Arabic would be an asset)
HR Package
At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team
• 6 to 12 months(renewable) International contract starting end of April
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals
• Pension scheme
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI.
• Salary from 2448€ gross/month upon experience
• Perdiem: paid in the field.
• Hardship: paid with your salary
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year.
• R&R
• Position: unaccompanied
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI
If you are resident in the country: local package