Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest humanitarian network of volunteers. The Federation is a membership organization made up of its member Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies. Together with the National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The general objective of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thus contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world”. It strives to meet the needs and improve the living conditions of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices around the world. The Secretariat is headed by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the core capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s work includes supporting the Federation’s governance mechanisms, setting norms and standards, providing guidance, ensuring consistency, coordination and accountability of performance, sharing knowledge, promoting collaboration within and respect for the Federation Movement, and broadening engagement with partners. The Secretariat headquarters is organised into three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including the Movement and members; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services.

The Secretariat has five regional offices, as follows: Americas (Panama City); Africa (Nairobi); Asia and the Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); Middle East and North Africa (Beirut). As one of five decentralized regional offices, the Regional Office for Europe supports 54 National Societies in strengthening their humanitarian and development efforts, helping them to remain partners of choice in their countries and to be sustainable and accountable for their actions. The post is located in the General Services Unit.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

Based at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Office in Goma, with frequent travels to Tanganyika, South Kivu, North Kivu and Rwanda. Depending on current and anticipated needs, frequent deployments will be required to support other National Societies and IFRC operations within the cluster

Job Purpose

The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Officer will be a key figure responsible for the implementation of DRR/Anticipatory Action (AA) projects across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. This position entails collaboration with a variety of esteemed partners, including the government of Rwanda and the DRC through decentralized structures, the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and all other actors involved in disaster preparedness and management.

The officer will possess a proven track record of successfully managing large-scale national programs that involve multiple partners over multiple years. This individual must demonstrate an aptitude for navigating the complexities inherent in such initiatives and exhibit strong strategic leadership capabilities.

The incumbent must have an exceptional ability to build and maintain productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including those associated with the Red Cross, non-Red Cross partners, Government Ministries, and other relevant Organizations. The capacity to inspire collaboration and sustain a focused approach toward project objectives is of paramount importance.

Additionally, the incumbent should exhibit proficiency in collaborating with Finance teams, addressing Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (PMER) requirements, as well as engaging with Logistics/Supply chain colleagues, all while possessing a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges faced by implementing partners.

We aim to identify an organized, solution-oriented, and pragmatic professional capable of effectively uniting diverse contributors to achieve shared goals.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provide technical support for the implementation and scaling of Anticipatory Action (AA) and climate risk management initiatives within a specific National Societies (NS). This support must be aligned with the global strategies and frameworks established by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) pertaining to disaster risk reduction and resilience-building.

Lead and coordinate efforts in AA within the IFRC, while assisting NSs within the cluster in the development of climate risk management programs. This entails the integration of early warning systems with forecast-based action plans to mitigate the adverse effects of climate shocks on vulnerable populations.

Develop and enhance partnerships with key stakeholders, including national governments, humanitarian partners, and donors, to facilitate the effective implementation of AA initiatives. Additionally, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing is crucial to building national capacities in early warning systems, forecast-based financing, and disaster preparedness.

Preparedness for Effective Response

• Promote preparedness for effective response (PER) approach and tools;
• Strengthen Organizational readiness (NS/Federation) through the promotion of trainings on VCAs, EWEA and the adoption of Hazard mapping and multi-hazard preparedness measures;
• Promote the Forecast Based Financing (FbF) mechanism and accompany NSs in the elaboration and revision of protocols;
• Support and promote Cash Based Intervention (CBI) guidelines and SoPs to national societies context
• Undertake discussions with stakeholders for the prepositioning of preparedness stocks at strategic locations
• Support the development of NS contingency plans.
• Support NS in strengthening their operational capacities to respond to disasters
• Facilitate creation/expansion of pool rapid response personnel at NS and cluster level.
• Support effective use of cluster level expertise and capacities in disaster response through Surge.
• Organize events in collaboration with Movement partners and external stakeholders on early warning for strengthening cross regional cooperation to foster lead time early warning services.

Support to Disaster Response Operations

• Monitor ongoing, imminent and potential future disasters & crisis and provide regular feedback on trend analysis to the DRM Coordinator.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Ensure continued DRM collaboration with Movement partners within the area of operation.
• Strengthen the collaboration with relevant government agencies and other non-Movement actors including UN and governmental bodies to inform and participate in preparedness & response strategies.
• Ensure that National Societies participate in DRM meetings and that coordination mechanisms are in place.
• Establish a calendar of disasters and crisis related events and participate in meetings, forums, conferences, and workshops as deemed relevant to promote IFRC position on DRM.
• Ensure adequate communication and coordination with other stakeholders.

Representation / Advocacy

• Represent the IFRC at community or local official level and liaise with the inter-agencies and organisations when/where appropriate and be the focal point for Inter Agency coordination and other NGO meetings, task forces and governmental DM co-ordination mechanisms as required, fostering co-operative alliances where appropriate.
• Facilitate/support National Societies with initiatives and strategies related Disaster Law/policies.
• Facilitate cross-country and cluster level exchange of knowledge and best practices in disaster preparedness and disaster response.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Programme planning monitoring, reporting and evaluation

• Ensure accurate and timely reports for the Federation and for donors per approved PMER Procedures and related guidelines.
• Develop plans as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, ensuring close monitoring of activities and disbursements as per pledges and donors’ requirements;
• Work closely with IFRC regional counterparts to ensure effective communication and reporting mechanisms;
• Ensure optimum efficiency of donor funds, effective budgeting and financial controls, transfers and maintenance of compliance.
• Conduct/support national societies in monitoring, mid-term review, community satisfaction survey, end of operation evaluation
• Provide support in the evaluation of Emergency Appeals and DREF disaster response operations
• Support DRM Coordinator to document and compile lessons learnt and good practice from DM and use that to improve future planning, programming and implementation.
• Ensure that knowledge transfer within programmes and the National Societies is achieved.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Disaster Risk Management, Water and Climate related engineering/science, Public Policy and International relations or equivalent
• Further education in related field

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in either of WASH, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, or Anticipatory Action with roles related to programme management and coordination
• Thorough understanding of humanitarian or development programming focused on anticipatory action/ EWEA or climate change adaptation
• Experience working on projects financial monitoring and reporting mechanisms in various contexts in DRC and Rwanda.
• Experience working in programme management or leadership roles in large-scale, multi-partner and multi-year Programmes is essential.
• Experience working in programmes implemented in partnership UN agencies like WFP, UNDRR, WMO and FAO a must.
• Experience working with Governments, and local organizations highly desirable
• Experience in working with Early Warning, Anticipatory Action, Water Management (incl WASH) and/or Climate Change Adaptation is desirable
• Experience in donor liaison, project monitoring guided by performance indicators and writing reports
• Experience with strategy development, strategic planning, and its translation into concrete action
• Good understanding of financial management, accounting systems, budgeting, and cost control procedures
• Previous experience with the Red Cross / Red Crescent movement

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the capacity to engage in and maintain effective partnerships and professional relationships in various cultural and organizational contexts.
• Proactive, creative, problem-solving and diplomacy skills
• Excellent planning and organizing skills.
• Ability to motivate and engage all stakeholders in the program implementation
• Programme and project coordination and management
• Results and quality oriented.
• Capable to work independently and to set clear goals and priorities.
• Fluency (verbal and written) English and French
• Fluency in speaking Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda language(s)

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Values:Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others
• Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development where appropriate.

Female applications are highly encouraged