ABOUT LA CHAÎNE DE L’ESPOIR

La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development.

We work in 28 countries with a comprehensive approach, focusing on children, mothers and disadvantaged communities:

• Prevention and screening from an early age, particularly through school health programs.
• Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.
• Strengthening the medical and surgical workforce thanks to our international network of experts.
• Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs.

Since March 2022, La Chaîne de l’Espoir (CDE) has been implementing a project to support the Ukrainian health system to improve medical and surgical care for victims of the war and patients in general, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Health Cluster co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the health authorities at oblast levels.

The initiative, co-funded by the Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, is a response to assessments conducted by La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s medical and biomedical team in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

La Chaîne de l’Espoir mainly focused its activities in areas close to the frontline and newly accessible areas (Mykolaivska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizka) on the delivery of medical supplies including emergency traumatology kits, medicines and consumables, biomedical equipment (for endoscopy, intensive care, orthopaedics surgeries, radiology, operating theatre…), and war medicine training (more than 1000 health medical and paramedical staff trained).

In 2024, La Chaîne de l’Espoir aims to fill critical gaps at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the Ukrainian healthcare system, with a particular focus on improving access to quality healthcare for trauma, cardiology and maternity departments, La Chaîne de l’Espoir is also working on improving availability of services to reduce risk factors for children with cardiac conditions, girls, newborns and pregnant woman and aims to improve prevention for community members on children’s heart conditions and sexual and reproductive health.

La Chaîne de l’Espoir intervention also aims to promote capacity-building among healthcare professionals regarding the health conditions of children (cardiology), adolescents and women of childbearing age, as well as detection methods and referral processes.

POSITION AND MISSION

Under the direct management of the Head of Mission in Ukraine, the Medical Coordinator is responsible for contributing to the overall development, mentoring and management of the medical and health aspects of La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s intervention in Ukraine, working closely with Medical Department (HQ). The Medical Coordinator also ensure capacity building for the recruited medical team by providing in-depth guidance on practices specific to humanitarian operations.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Planning and strategy:

• Under the responsibility of the Mission Chief and in close collaboration with the medical department and teams, the medical coordinator is proactive in proposing technical and strategic orientations.
• Contribute to the monitoring of the medical and humanitarian needs around intervention and evaluate the appropriateness of the medical activities. Develop an analysis of the needs and make proposal for the development of the project according to CDE mandate.
• In close collaboration with the Head of Mission and the national medical manager, contribute to the deployment of the new project activities, support the development of procedures, protocols, and monitoring tools.

Supervision and operational implementation of La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s activities in the country:

• Supervise and manage the implementation of projects, ensuring that quality and technical standards are taken into account and respected;
• Ensure that actions are implemented on time, using effective M&E systems to achieve the desired impact;
• With the support of the logistic department, evaluate the quality of the medical items supplied and condition of storage (medicines, medical equipment, and cold chain products)
• Anticipate and mitigate risks and resolve any unforeseen challenges during programme implementation;
• Regularly update the work plan, performance monitoring and other relevant documents to ensure effective project management;
• Ensure the consolidation of data to provide quality reporting;
• Ensure that lessons learned are documented, shared and taken into account in project planning and decision-making.
• Contribute to evaluation reports (interim, final).
• Together with the national medical manager, defining, updating, and implementing the Mission’s Health and Safety Policy, including mapping of health providers suitable for staff health (physical and mental health) and work on a medical evacuation plan.

Coordination:

• Accompany the Head of Mission when representing La Chaîne de l’Espoir to the authorities, donors and other technical and/or financial partners on medical programmes or issues;
• Represent La Chaîne de l’Espoir and take an active part in workshops/conferences/strategic meetings on medical issues.
• Represent La Chaîne de l’Espoir within the Health Cluster in Ukraine.

TRAINING AND SKILLS

Training/ Experiences:

• Essential, degree in medicine or other paramedical studies. Specialization in public health, sexual and reproductive health and/or IEC activities would be an asset.
• Essential, working experience of at least two years in relevant jobs and previous humanitarian experience with NGOs in low- or middle-income countries.
• Experience with institutional funding project implementation
• Experience as manager or team leader strongly appreciate.
• Previous experience in the Ukrainian context is a strong asset.

Skills and abilities:

• Strong commands of Microsoft office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint)
• Strategic thinking, capacity to analyze and propose solutions
• Strong advocacy and negotiation skills
• Excellent verbal and writing skills
• Patient, flexible and with a sense of diplomacy in operational environment
• Excellent knowledge in project development
• Strong leadership
• Ability to deal with stressful situations
• French and English required, Ukrainian is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expatriate position, 6 months contract, renewable
• Starting date: ASAP
• Full time position, based in Ukraine (Kyiv)
• Fixed monthly gross salary from 2 600 €, according to profile and experience
• Monthly per diem and living allowance: 725€
• Leaves and R&R: 25 days of paid leaves per year, 5 days R&R at 3 months
• Travel: round trip ticket flight beginning/end of contract
• Housing: single room in a collective accommodation provided
• Medical coverage with 50% of employer contribution
• Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance covered
• Death and disability insurance covered