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 (NSs). The overall aim of 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

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

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development 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.

To help translate these commitments into concrete action on the ground, IFRC launched a Global Climate Resilience Programme in 2022 to foster an unprecedented scale-up of locally led climate-smart DRR and adaptation actions to prevent and reduce climate-related disaster impacts and build community-level climate resilience, with a focus on the most climate vulnerable countries. The global programme is a holistic, muti-year initiative that currently engages 81 National Societies with further expansion planned to 100 countries. It is supported by IFRC’s Global Climate Resilience Platform which aims to catalyse accelerated investment and seeks to raise at least CHF 1 billion in financing over the next five years. The global programme has four operational pillars: (1) scaling up climate-smart DRR, early action and preparedness; (2) reducing the health impacts of climate change; (3) addressing climate displacement; and (4) enabling climate resilient livelihoods and ecosystem services.

The Water at the Heart of Climate Action project (July 2023 – July 2028) aims to reduce water-related risks in vulnerable communities across Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, financed by the Netherlands Government. It emphasizes the importance of combining early warning early action with integrated water management to effectively adapt to climate change. It brings together the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) network (IFRC Secretariat, Netherlands Red Cross, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and the National Societies in each target country), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Job Purpose

The Officer, Climate Resilience will provide technical support and accompaniment to the South Sudan National Society related to climate change adaptation (CCA) and locally led adaptation (LLA). In addition, the incumbent will support project management, coordination and implementation of CCA-related projects, notably the Water at the Heart of Climate Action project.

The Officer, Climate Resilience will work in a cross-functional and integrated manner with different IFRC technical units, ensuring close cooperation with relevant reference centres (e.g. Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Anticipation Hub), Partner National Societies, and other Movement/non-Movement partners to ensure proper implementation of climate change adaptation-related programming.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provide quality technical advice and accompaniment related to climate change adaptation (CCA) and locally led adaptation (LLA) in the targeted countries

• Continuously map needs and practices of the National Societies in CCA/LLA programming.
• Provide technical advice and accompaniment on how to mainstream CCA/LLA in country strategies, operational plans and emergency appeals.
• Provide support for effective programming including for proposal development.
• Support the development of knowledge products and communications material.
• Work with the Regional Office and relevant partners to develop and implement capacity building activities for National Societies, including developing training plans and training material, as well as knowledge-sharing workshops to discuss lessons learned from projects.
• Support the National Societies in liaising with relevant stakeholders to advance their CCA/LLA work.
• Promote understanding of CCA/LLA terminologies, approaches, tools and quality criteria.
• Support the development of partnerships with key stakeholders required to effectively implement climate change adaptation / LLA programming.
• Support coordination and communication related to CCA/LLA across countries in the region.
• Support evidence gathering, learning and knowledge sharing within the target National Societies and across countries in the region.

Support project management, coordination and implementation of CCA-related projects, notably the Water at the Heart of Climate Action (WHCA) project

• In close coordination with the National Societies and relevant Partner National Societies, ensure related project(s) is/are delivered on time within the stipulated time, scope and budget.
• In close coordination with the Host National Societies and relevant Partner National Societies, support the initiation, planning and implementation of related project(s).
• Support recruitment of National Society staff needed for the implementation of related project(s).
• Support the development of contracts with relevant National Societies and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Support the development of country level budgets for the project(s) and ensure effective resource allocation.
• Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative procedures and the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures related to project activities.
• Develop, or support the development, of a detailed plan to monitor, track and evaluate the progress of related project(s).
• Oversee implementation of related project activities in target countries, ensuring delivery within agreed quality standards.
• Coordinate with relevant internal and external parties for the flawless execution of related project(s).
• Perform risk management analysis to reduce project risks.
• Report and escalate any risks or challenges to upper management and the Regional EWEA Coordinator as and when needed.
• Provide quality inputs into narrative and financial reports for the donor to the Regional EWEA Coordinator.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team:

• Contribute to the overall planning, budgeting and reporting of the team and the department.
• Be accountable to the Regional EWEA Coordinator, Regional Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator and Head of Delegation by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
• Regularly update the Africa and Geneva DCC teams of ongoing CCA initiatives and progress to ensure activities are closely linked and well-coordinated.

Education

Relevant post-graduate university degree in climate change adaptation or equivalent studies(Required).

Experience

5 years’ international experience in the humanitarian sector at the technical level related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction programming (Required).

Experience working with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (preferred).

Experience working for a humanitarian or development organization in the Africa region(preferred).

Good understanding of the IFRC policies, system, and procedures (Required).

Experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including authorities and other humanitarian actors (Required).

Experience managing projects including programmatic and financial aspects (Required).

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Excellent communication and facilitation skills (Required).

Well organized, with very good planning and time management skills (Required).

Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc (Required).

Fluent spoken and written English (Required)

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (Preferred).

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