Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NS). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member NSs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Societies Development (NSD) and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

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.

This Job Description pertains to the PGI Senior Officer reporting to the PGI Coordinator/Protection Thematic Lead at the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. She/He engages with the Regional Membership Services as well as technical units in the Regional and Country (Cluster) Delegations to support the National Societies in the Region. The PGI Senior Officer is the main liaison point in HDCC for all matter pertaining to PGI, including Safeguarding (PSEA and Child Safeguarding) for programmes and operations, National Societies Strengthening, Emergency response and Interagency Coordination. IFRC Internal Safeguarding (Case Management, Secretariat policies, Investigations, Audits, etc) is led by corporate services/OIAI/OSG Head of Safeguarding/HR. The PGI Sr. Officer could be based in Budapest, Ankara, Tbilisi, Warsaw, or Sarajevo.

Job Purpose

The PGI Senior Officer provides Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) protection, prevention, mitigation and response, trafficking in human beings, disability inclusion, RFL and education to the National Societies and IFRC staff involved in the Europe and Central Asia region. These include guidance to ensure that all operations respect the principles of humanity, impartiality, and non-discrimination, avoid harmful effects and put people at the centre of all activities by ensuring the dignity, access, participation, and safety of clients guided by an understanding of their different needs, vulnerabilities, and capacities.

The PGI Senior Officer maintains close technical working relations with sectorial counterparts, Heads of Country Cluster Delegation, Country Heads of Delegation, PGI delegates at the ROE office, PGI Global team in Geneva and Movement PGI and Protection focal points.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical duties to National Societies (through-, and in consultation with IFRC Country & Cluster offices)

• Support NSs with their institutional strengthening in PGI and safeguarding, including development of compliance-based policies, protocols and awareness related to PGI, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and child safeguarding.
• Support NSs to implement global and regional commitments related to PGI and ensure international (quality) standards are adhered to.
• Lead support to societies and their governments with PGI in emergencies and ensure minimal requirements are met.
• Conduct PGI specific training upon request by NSs or as guided by identified need.The Senior Officer has a responsibility to initiate such training and other capacity building to ensure standards are met.
• Support NSs emergency response to meet the Minimum Standard to PGI in Emergency Programming and contribute to emergency plans and appeals, related to PGI, ensuring NS are held accountable.
• Support National Societies to collect sex, age and disability disaggregated data more accurately.
• Provide secretariat support to the successful functioning of the PGI National Society Network in the region.

Technical support to IFRC secretariat office

• Support the regional office in promoting and supporting Women in Leadership in Europe and Central Asia.

Internal and external coordination

• Participate in regular regional PGI officer meetings, monthly updates, data collection and peer-support; coordinate regularly with the regional Protection Thematic Lead.
• Support the PGI thematic engagement with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent IFRC in engagement with Europe and Central Asia humanitarian diplomacy platforms including advocacy on PGI, as relevant.

Program management.

• Develop advocacy materials and best practice case studies on PGI programming as needed.
• Recruit and manage consultants, surge staff or interns as needed.
• Manage budgets and complete timely and accurate narrative reports as required.
• Contribute to IFRC operational plans for PGI.

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict moral confidentiality and do not disclose neither spread any confidential or sensitive information.
• Organize archives of all reports and documents and treat them as confidential material.

Lateral Relationships

• Establish and ensure effective working relationships with the other colleagues at IFRC and National Societies.
• Ensure effective working relationships with NS counterparts and leadership.
• Ensure effective working relationships with technical and service departments at regional and global level.

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or similar professional qualification (gender, international relations, human rights, etc.) or a minimum of 7 years relevant experience in the broader PGI field in lieu thereof.

Experience

Required:

• At least 5 years of experience in PGI mainstreaming or standalone programming in humanitarian context, including proven track record in leading and delivering tools, and technical advisory outcomes
• Possesses a broad understanding of global humanitarian issues and international humanitarian standards for PGI in disaster response.
• Possesses working knowledge of Gender and Diversity issues in humanitarian and development settings, specifically in the context of Europe Region

Preferred:

• Experience with the Red Cross/ Red Crescent; preferably in the European context
• Experience with other international organizations, large NGOs and /or governmental development agencies

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Good analytical skills
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure
• Ability to deliver multiple activities with a degree of diversity; ability to create integration across these activities
• Ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision
• Ability to work on MS applications e.g. Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to organize and/or facilitate trainings and workshops on technical matters
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred:

• Good command of Easter European languages
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

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

This is a national staff position. The incumbent will be based in the regional office in Budapest or one of the country/cluster offices in Ankara, Tbilisi, Warsaw, or Sarajevo.