Lead, Health Systems Resilience and Emergency Response

JOB PURPOSE

Amref is seeking a competent professional to lead the health systems resilience and emergency response Initiative through the IHSS.  The Lead will spearhead the design, coordination, and implementation of Public Health resilience and Emergency Response component.  The role ensures that the IHSS investment implemented by Amref contribute to a resilient, risk-informed, and shock-responsive primary health care system across program implementation regions.

The Health System Resilience and Emergency Response Lead will provide technical, and operational leadership to strengthen emergency preparedness and response (EPRP), develop and follow protocols to respond to emergencies, support rapid mobilization of flexible funding, and ensure continuity of essential health services during crises. This position bridges development and humanitarian action, ensuring that essential health services—especially RMNCH—continue during crises and that local systems become progressively more shock-responsive and self-reliant, contributing directly to Ethiopia’s journey toward a resilient and equitable primary health care system.  The Lead serves as principal focal point for integrating resilience and emergency response into the health system. By linking preparedness, response, and recovery, the Lead ensures that iHSS-supported regions can withstand shocks, sustain essential services, and recover faster from crises.

The role requires frequent travel to regions and woredas to actively engage with the regions at subnational levels and ensure health system resilience. Hence, the position holder is expected to have an in-depth understanding of the technical, programmatic and operational context especially at sub-national level and tactics of addressing emergency related issues as they arise through the project’s and Amref’s structure, as required. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Health System Preparedness and Resilience Building

• Coordinate with national-level PHEM or Health Cluster mechanisms to develop  the public health emergency management (PHEM) capacities within the health system to enhance the regional level governance and leadership capacities and enabling them to manage and lead with accountability
• Design and oversee capacity-building programs for Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), on early detection, response planning, and coordination mechanisms.
• Build institutional capacity of RHBs and WoHOs to integrate emergency planning and budgeting into their annual operational plans.
• Strengthen surveillance systems, data use, and early warning mechanisms through continuous mentorship and technical support.
• Support the establishment and/or functionality of Emergency Preparedness and Response Technical Working Groups at regional and woreda levels.

B. Emergency Response and Recovery Coordination

1. Develop and operationalize a structured Fund Activation Protocol,

• Defining eligibility criteria, decision thresholds, fund release procedures, and reporting timelines.
• Establish accountability and transparency mechanisms, including documentation standards, expenditure tracking tools, and performance audits.
• Ensure compliance with Amref and donor financial regulations, while enabling agile response during emergencies.
• Conduct periodic reviews of fund utilization to strengthen governance and learning for future crises.

1. Crisis Activation and Rapid Response

• Lead the activation of the Emergency Fund to address emerging crises promptly, ensuring rapid deployment of resources.
• Provide technical assistance to RHBs and WoHOs in mounting context-specific responses to disease outbreaks, conflicts, or natural disasters.
• Coordinate with the MoH, RHBs, and partners to ensure continuity of essential RMNCH, nutrition, and PHC services during crises.
• Support the mobilization and management of emergency response teams and mobile health units in affected woredas.

1. Operational and Financial Oversight

• Manage financial planning and accountability of emergency-related expenditures, ensuring donor compliance and transparency.
• Monitor the performance and utilization of the contingency fund and produce regular financial and narrative reports.
• Ensure efficient resource allocation between short-term response needs and long-term resilience goals.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Oversee the design and implementation of M&E frameworks for emergency interventions, tracking performance indicators such as service continuity, timeliness of response, and coordination effectiveness.
• Ensure regular reporting to Amref leadership, and the Gates Foundation on emergency response results and lessons.
• Facilitate post-crisis reviews to identify systems gaps and propose recovery or adaptation measures.

1. Recovery and Resilience Integration

• Support RHBs in post-crisis recovery planning, including rehabilitation of health facilities, restoration of HMIS, and resumption of community health outreach.
• Ensure that recovery actions strengthen long-term resilience and do not remain purely reactive.