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. 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 Programmes 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 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.

Job Purpose

The Programme Officer supports all IFRC programmes and projects in Lao PDR, ensuring alignment with the Lao Red Cross (LRC) priorities and fostering effective coordination. Under the guidance of the CCD, the role focuses on enabling coherent strategies and technical support across key areas such as disaster risk management, shelter, livelihoods, health, WASH, PGI, migration, and capacity strengthening.

The Programme Officer monitors the humanitarian context in Laos to ensure IFRC initiatives are responsive, well-coordinated, and effectively address LRC’s needs. This position also emphasizes enhancing LRC capacities and coordinating with technical leads to provide targeted support.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Development and Emergency Response

• Support LRC in developing and implementing programmes and projects aligned with community needs and approved plans of action.
• Guide LRC in creating emergency plans of action, submitting DREF requests, and launching Emergency Appeals following Asia Pacific Emergency Response Framework SOPs.
• Ensure adherence to IFRC policies and standards in delivering humanitarian assistance during disaster and crisis response.
• Provide technical advice to enhance implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance across all programme and projects areas.

Technical Support

• Assist LRC in building personnel capacity to manage programmes and projects, focusing on policy development, monitoring, reporting, and administrative systems.
• Integrate National Society Development (NSD) across all programmes and projects for cohesive capacity-building efforts.
• Organize training for LRC staff to strengthen emergency management systems, including contingency planning, reporting mechanisms, and integrating disaster management into community resilience.

Coordination, Cooperation, and Networking

• Participate in programmatic and technical coordination meetings with Movement partners, ensuring adherence to policies and agreed themes.
• Support LRC in preparedness activities, disaster data updates, and facilitating coordinated humanitarian action with Movement and external partners.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Ensure systematic monitoring and evaluation of IFRC-supported initiatives to guarantee relevance, effectiveness, and adherence to international standards.
• Document and share lessons learned and best practices.
• Prepare and submit timely programmatic highlights, quarterly updates, annual reports, and inputs for standard reporting.

General Support

• Administration: Maintain a functional and organized office environment with adequate visibility and supplies.
• Finance: Manage bookkeeping, collect invoices, prepare payment vouchers, and ensure compliance with IFRC requirements for project clearance.
• Logistics: Handle travel arrangements, including visa support, in-country transportation, procurement of office equipment, and maintenance of the asset register.

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict confidentiality and refrain from sharing sensitive information.
• Organize and securely archive all reports and documents as confidential materials.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field such as international development, humanitarian studies, social sciences, disaster management or related areas (required)
• Certification or training in project management, risk management, disaster risk management, or other relevant programmatic areas (preferred)

Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in programme or project management within the humanitarian or development sector (required)
• Proven track record of supporting or managing emergency response and recovery programmes (preferred)
• Experience working with or supporting National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies (preferred)
• Understanding of humanitarian principles, emergency preparedness and response, and/or disaster risk reduction (required)
• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction, health, WASH, livelihoods, and cross-cutting issues like protection, gender, and inclusion (PGI) and community engagement and accountability (CEA). (preferred)
• Ability to contribute to planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (PMER) processes (required)
• Competence in capacity building and training facilitation (required)
• Proficiency in project and admin/financial management, including budgeting and reporting (required)
• Coordination, networking, and partnership-building skills (required)
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and other relevant digital tools (required)
• Analytical and problem-solving skills (required)
• Ability to work independently and in a team under tight deadlines (required)
• Communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills (required)
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in diverse environments (required)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Fluent spoken and written English (required)
• Fluent spoken and written Lao (required)
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (preferred)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Remarks

• Duty station: Vientiane, Laos
• National staff position