Project Coordinator on NCD project / Health

About the Ethiopian Red Cross Society

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian organizations in Ethiopia. ERCS provides services to communities affected by natural and manmade disasters through the provision of emergency responses, ambulance and first aid, family reunification, essential drugs, water and sanitation, and other humanitarian services. ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. Currently the ERCS has a structure consisting of 15 Regional Offices, Zonal Branches and District/Woreda Branches, Woreda Red Cross Committee and Kebele Red Cross committees.

ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs relating to food security, climate change adaptation, livelihood diversification, and institutional capacity building interventions, with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. ERCS works in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), partnering National Societies, members, volunteers and the communities we serve.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

• The project coordinator shall provide management, project lead, and coordination with stakeholders of the joint Ethiopia Red Cross Society (ERCS) / Danish Red Cross (DRC) project “Continuity of
• Cardiometabolic Diseases (CMD) Care in Crisis” to be implemented in Oromia, Amhara, and
• Tigray region for four years (2026 – 2029). The project is part of a regional programme covering Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
• The project coordinator will be integrated in the Danish Red Cross Country Office and contracted by Ethiopia Red Cross Society.
• Ethiopia is undergoing an epidemiological transition and now faces a triple burden of disease: communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCD) – including mental health conditions, and injuries.

In response to the rising burden of NCDs in Ethiopia, ERCS has recently expanded its programming through collaborations with DRC and Swiss Red Cross (SwiRC) as partners. ERCS has also partnered with Novo Nordisk Company (Novo A/S) under the iCare programme as their Supply Chain partner though their Essential Drugs Programme (EDP). ERCS’s ability to access hard-to-reach areas will continue to be leveraged to enhance medicine access, emergency services, community awareness, support groups, and referral systems through the project “Continuity of Cardiometabolic Diseases (CMD) Care in Crisis”. The ERCS and DRC have jointly identified an urgent need to integrate NCD prevention and care – particularly diabetes, hypertension and mental health – into humanitarian and disaster preparedness programming. The project will scale up and build on existing experiences from current and previous NCD projects in Dire Dawa and Oromia regions and contribute to ERCS Health Implementation Plan.

MAIN TASKS

All tasks and responsibilities under supervision of the DRC Country Manager,

Key Responsibilities in close coordination with ERCS and DRC

Project Planning, Coordination, and Management

• Lead the development and execution of detailed project workplans, timelines, and budgets in line with DRC and ERCS procedures, donor requirements, and international standards.
• Coordinate project activities across ERCS branches, health facilities (regional, zonal, woreda level), community structures, and explore linkage to emergency preparedness systems.
• Oversee procurement planning, logistics, and resource allocation to ensure timel implementation of project activities.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, particularly those affecting operations in disaster-prone and hard-to-reach areas.
• Ensure compliance with DRC and ERCS policies, IFRC/Movement standards, government regulations, and donor specific frameworks.

2. Support to strengthening Community Health Systems & Primary Healthcare (PHC) Systems

• Coordinate community-level CMD interventions—including prevention, risk-factor education, early detection, referral, and adherence support—through ERCS branch network.
• Strengthen community engagement, community outreach, partnerships, and linkages with local leaders and community-based structures.
• Oversee behaviour change and health promotion activities focused on lifestyle modification and CMD risk reduction.
• Coordinate activities that enhance ERCS-supported PHC facilities, including infrastructure improvements, supply chain strengthening, and readiness for CMD/NCD service delivery.
• Support integration of CMD/NCD screening, diagnosis, referral, and long-term follow-up into routine PHC services delivered by ERCS and partners.

3. Integration of non-communicable disease in ERCS Disaster Preparedness & Response

• Coordinate with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Emergency Health teams to ensure CMD continuity of care in emergencies and among displaced populations.
• Lead efforts to integrate CMD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment protocols into ERCS disaster preparedness and emergency health response systems.
• Support development of training packages, tools, and operational guidelines that reinforce CMD service delivery during humanitarian crises.

4. Capacity Building of ERCS staff and volunteers

• Plan and oversee capacity-building activities for ERCS health staff, volunteers, and community health workers on CMD, NCDs, PHC, community health, and emergency response.
• Work with technical experts to develop and adapt training curricula, job aids, guidelines, and mentorship tools appropriate for ERCS operational contexts.
• Monitor training outcomes and assess improvements in competency and service delivery quality across project staff and volunteers.

5. Policy Support and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support RC/RC role in implementation of national NCD, PHC, and emergency health policies through ERCS’s auxiliary role to the Government of Ethiopia.
• Facilitate coordination with the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, IFRC, Movement partners, UN agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions
• Represent DRC/ERCS at technical working groups, clusters, and multi-sectoral coordination platforms. ·
• Promote a culture of accountability, ensuring feedback mechanisms are accessible, and concerns are documented, analyzed, and used for organizational learning. Ensure compliance and embed safeguarding principles into all aspects of program delivery (PSEAH, CEA, PGI)

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Data Systems & Learning

• Lead development and implementation of the project’s M&E plan, performance indicators, and reporting systems in collaboration with ERCS PMER teams.
• Ensure timely and qualitative donor reports and indicator progress tracking ·
• Strengthen facility and community data systems for CMD/NCD surveillance, service delivery tracking, and supply chain monitoring.
• Ensure data quality and promote routine data use for decision-making at branch and national levels.
• With PMEAL/PMER colleagues coordinate evaluations, operational research, learning reviews, and produce high-quality donor and government reports.

7. Financial & Grant Management

• Oversee project budget management, expenditure monitoring, and financial reporting following DRC financial procedures and donor guidelines. ·
• Prepare financial forecasts, support internal and external audits, and ensure strong financial accountability. ·
• Manage partner obligations at national and branch level and ensure compliance across all implementing units.

8. Team Management & Collaboration

• Provide day-to-day support for ERCS project staff, ensuring clear roles, supportive supervision, and effective performance management.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable work environment across branches and departments and between DRC/ERCS
• Coordinate across ERCS technical units—Health, Disaster Management, Logistics, Finance, and PMER—to ensure integrated and efficient project delivery.

9. Documentation, Communications & Knowledge Sharing

• Oversee documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to integrating CMD care in PHC and emergency systems.\
• Support development of communication materials, visibility products, case studies, and donor-focused documentation. · Contribute to national, regional, and Movement knowledge-sharing platforms, highlighting DRC/ ERCS achievements and learning towards and with regional colleagues in Kenya and Somalia Any other duties as may be assigned by the Country Manager Communication in relation to the tasks:
• Day-to-day communication with the DRC Country Manager and Country Finance Officer · Obligation to stay updated on DRC standard operational procedures and guidelines including reports to be submitted as described on the International Platform (internal DRC reports) · Communication and collaboration with relevant staff and units of ERCS

Work Unit: Danish Red Cross (DRC), in Ethiopia

• Reports to: DRC Country Manager, in Ethiopia
• Terms of employment: Contract for one year with possibility of extension
• Place of Work: Addis Ababa
• Salary: Negotiable

Movement principles.

Knowledge and skills

• Strong communication skills in English and local language(s), both written and verba
• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook,

Excel and Word

• Structured and good at planning
• Intercultural competencies, open-mindedness and patience

Competencies

• Able to work in a team
• Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions
• High degree of integrity, proactivity and discretion in personal conduct
• Self-motivated, with good judgement and initiative
• Able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Communication, coordination, networking and facilitation skills