Project Health Advisor

Job Title: Project Health Advisor
Location: Erbi, with frequent travel to Ninawa and Basra.
Reporting line manager: Project Coordinator .
Supervisory responsibilities: provide technical guidance.
Contract type: Part-time/ three days in a week

Background:
CARE International has worked in Iraq since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis in 1991. CARE International reopened its programming in Iraq in 2014 after a military offensive in Ninewa, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Together with local partners, CARE delivered humanitarian and development assistance to the most vulnerable populations.

CARE is registered with both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government.

Operating in Basra, Ninewa, Duhok, Salahaddin, and Anbar, CARE collaborates with local organizations to strengthen their capacities and implement transformative programs. These efforts align with CARE’s global theory of change, which emphasizes building individual agency, reshaping relationships, and transforming structures to create sustainable and inclusive development outcomes. Through this approach, CARE ensures that its interventions address root causes, empower communities, and promote systemic change for long-term stability and resilience.

 Job Summary:

The Health Advisor will be a key contributor to CARE International’s “MotherCare” project, working to improve maternal health while addressing the impacts of climate change. This role focuses on creating culturally relevant and scientifically accurate training materials, offering technical support to healthcare providers, and raising awareness through community outreach and advocacy efforts.

The Advisor will also analyze health data, prepare reports on progress and challenges, and build strong collaborations with government health authorities and sector partners. Frequent travel to Ninawa and Basra will be essential to oversee and support project activities on the ground. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Health Advisor will play a vital role in ensuring the project meets its goals and aligns with CARE’s mission to empower women and promote sustainable health outcomes.

 Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

 1- Assist in designing the tools and materials used for awareness sessions and trainings on maternal health and climate change in collaboration with the Climate Change Adaptation

Advisor, ensuring that the materials are culturally appropriate, scientifically accurate, and tailored to the needs of the target audience. Coordination with the Health Sector: Maintain

close coordination with government health authorities to align CARE International’s programming and project activities with national health policies and strategies.

2- Facilitate collaboration between project teams and health sector partners to ensure smooth

implementation. Data Collection and Reporting: Review health-related data reporting in project areas. Prepare reports summarizing health outcomes, challenges, and recommendations to support interventions in the country.

3- Provide technical guidance in the organization of training sessions for healthcare practitioners. Support the implementation of community outreach and advocacy efforts, promoting awareness of maternal health risks exacerbated by climate change.

Key contacts and collaborators:
Internal:

External: external recruitment

Staff Risk Management Responsibilities

CARE believes that personal risk management is crucial for staff; however, the risk management cannot be achieved unless each staff member fulfills the following responsibilities. Failure to do so can not only endanger their own safety but also compromise the entire team and organization.

• Maintain Situational Awareness:
  • Staff must maintain a high level of situational awareness at all times. This includes being vigilant about their surroundings, recognizing potential threats, and understanding the local context and culture.

• Stay Informed:
  • Staff must stay informed about the security situation in their area of operation and avoid complacency. They should promptly read and understand information shared by the organization in relevant communication channels.
• Comply with Protocols:
  • Staff must strictly adhere to the risk protocols and guidelines established by their organization. This includes following travel advisories, checking in regularly with designated security contacts, and complying with curfews or movement restrictions.
• Emergency Preparedness:
  • Staff must be well-prepared for emergencies by knowing the location and contact details of local emergency services, the nearest hospital, and their organization’s security focal point. They should carry essential emergency supplies, such as first aid kits, communication devices, and personal identification, and participate in regular safety drills and training sessions.
• Maintain Reliable Communication:
  • Staff must ensure they have reliable means of communication at all times and keep their phones charged and operational. They should keep the team informed of their whereabouts, especially when traveling or working in the field, and establish check-in routines to confirm their safety regularly.
• Respect Local Norms:
  • Staff must understand and respect local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unnecessary risks and foster good relations with local communities.

• Additionally, all staff members must:

• Take Reasonable Care:
  • Staff must take reasonable care for their personal health, safety, and security and ensure that their actions do not harm other staff members.
• Comply with Instructions and Policies:
  • Staff must comply with the orders/instructions of the Risk focal points as required, and adhere to any workplace policy/procedure aimed at increasing the safety of all staff, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as laid out in the Risk Management Plan.
• Ensure Equipment Readiness:
  • Staff must ensure that all radios, Track24 units, Satphones, helmets, body armour, trauma/first aid equipment, and any other personal protective equipment and items used in field operations and elsewhere are in a safe and serviceable condition and used in accordance with their operating instructions. All damages must be paid for personally.
• Supervise and Train:
  • Supervisors of other staff have a Duty of Care to ensure that their staff are not put at risk and are adequately supervised while performing their work. Managers, supervisors, and staff must ensure that before they, or their staff, work in field-based locations, they receive adequate training in security, field health and safety, and risk management.
• Report Incidents Promptly:
  • Staff must promptly notify the Risk focal point of any field/operational Risk, health, safety, and security incidents that occur.

Representation of CARE Mission and Values:

• Actively communicate and promote CARE’s mission, values, and goals to all stakeholders, partners, and the public.
• Utilize CARE’s logo and branding materials appropriately in all professional activities, ensuring donor acknowledgment and visibility.
• Wear the official CARE identification material such as vest, badge and/or pin at all business settings including meetings and events to clearly represent the organization.
• Employees are expected to engage in business related video/photo shoots, interviews, or audio recordings to promote CARE and its projects, enhancing organizational visibility.
• Employees are encouraged to re-share CARE’s social media posts and follow official CARE channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to help amplify the organization’s message.
• Ensure the organization’s logo and online presence are used professionally, with misuse potentially leading to disciplinary action.

Promoting Equality, Justice, and Climate Responsibility

Employees at CARE Iraq are expected to embody the organization’s core values of equality, justice, and climate responsibility. This includes fostering equity between men and women, promoting climate justice, and embedding these principles into the organizational activities and work culture overall. A key focus internally and externally is on empowering women through leadership opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful participation in decision-making, while addressing workforce imbalances and amplifying women’s voices to drive transformative change.

Equally, all employees of CARE Iraq are expected to prioritizes climate responsibility by encouraging sustainable practices, reducing ecological foot print, drive positive environmental impact, and supporting climate-affected communities. Integrating resilience and sustainability into all operations and actions will ensures a just and equitable future.

These principles are central to CARE Iraq’s vision for justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship.

Safeguarding and Ethics:

At CARE, we recognize our responsibility to promote human dignity and social justice within our organization. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is our engagement with marginalized communities. We place human dignity at the center of our work. We are aware of the importance of organizational culture and accountability in enabling a safe and supportive environment for programme participants, the communities where we work, our staff, related personnel and our partners.

At CARE, we believe all people have a right to safety and to live their lives free from harm. The Safeguarding Policy is a response to CARE’s commitment and recognition of our responsibilities to protect and safeguard people we work with, and who work for CARE, from any form of abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse. To find further details about our Safeguarding Policy commitments, please click on this link CARE International Safeguarding Policy – October 2023_EN.pdf

Qualifications and Skills

1. A relevant degree in public health, medicine, or any related field.
2. At least 6 years of relevant experience working in the health sector, including with national or international NGOs.
3. Strong knowledge and understanding of health systems and health policies in Iraq.
4. Proven experience in women’s health program management-such as sexual and reproductive health, maternal health or adolescent health-and implementation, preferably in a humanitarian or development context.
5. Proficiency in English and Arabic is required.
6. Good communication and interpersonal skills.
7. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team.

CARE Iraq’s work:
CARE Iraq is a place where staff are supported to grow both personally and professionally. Our team environment promotes collaboration, diversity, and open communication, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. Our workplace culture is designed to encourage innovation, creativity, and respect, making it a supportive environment for all.

We are proud of the balance between women and men among our labour force. we are committed to equity and justice between women and men and strive to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone can thrive. Our goal is to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and contributes to meaningful change in the lives of women and girls.