International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC
: Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Date : 2023-05-02
Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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 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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.
The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan & Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.
In Africa, the IFRC is supporting 49 National Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies in humanitarian response and disaster risk management activities across Africa. The IFRC’s Regional Office based in Nairobi, Kenya have been providing support to African NSs through its Cluster Delegations. In an average, the IFRC supports 35-40 medium and large-scale humanitarian operations across sub-Sahara Africa annually. Currently, IFRC is supporting high profile response operations such as Hunger Crisis, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks and other active humanitarian response operations. Hence, the IFRC’s Africa Regional office provide strategic supports to Cluster Delegations (CCDS) for enhancing African National Societies capacities which includes their disaster and crisis preparedness aspects. In addition, IFRC Regional Office coordinates and deploys rapid disaster response personnel to respective field operational settings to ensure operational capacity, agility, effective adaptations, contingency planning, and business continuity of these response operations.
Job Purpose
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Africa is embarking on an ambitious strategic direction from 2021 to 2030, focussing IFRC’s resources on large-scale, Pan-African initiatives which address the major challenges facing the region. The initiatives aim to build on the extensive experience and expertise of African Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies to achieve real and sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in Africa.
One of the 4 Pan African Key Initiatives is National Society Development and Sustainability. Priority aspects of this Initiative are good governance, good leadership, good management and integrity and risk management of National Societies.
This position sits in the Africa Regional Office as part of the Membership Services Team. It will be expected to support and coordinate the initiatives of other regional teams (in particular, Corporate Services and PMER, Quality Assurance and Risk Management) in delivering technical support around accountability to interested National Societies (NS) as requested by IFRC Country Cluster offices.
The selected candidate is responsible to support IFRC Secretariat, under the leadership of the Regional Director, in assisting NS to strengthen their accountability systems, mechanisms and practices as well as their risk management frameworks, the selected candidate will also support in addressing integrity needs of National Societies, facilitating smooth resolution of integrity issues and crisis through the use of existing bodies like Office for Internal Audit and Investigation (OIAI), the Compliance and Mediation Committee (CMC), the Africa Governance Group (AGG), etc.
Job Duties And Responsibilities
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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 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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.
The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan & Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.
In Africa, the IFRC is supporting 49 National Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies in humanitarian response and disaster risk management activities across Africa. The IFRC’s Regional Office based in Nairobi, Kenya have been providing support to African NSs through its Cluster Delegations. In an average, the IFRC supports 35-40 medium and large-scale humanitarian operations across sub-Sahara Africa annually. Currently, IFRC is supporting high profile response operations such as Hunger Crisis, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks and other active humanitarian response operations. Hence, the IFRC’s Africa Regional office provide strategic supports to Cluster Delegations (CCDS) for enhancing African National Societies capacities which includes their disaster and crisis preparedness aspects. In addition, IFRC Regional Office coordinates and deploys rapid disaster response personnel to respective field operational settings to ensure operational capacity, agility, effective adaptations, contingency planning, and business continuity of these response operations.
Job Purpose
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Africa is embarking on an ambitious strategic direction from 2021 to 2030, focussing IFRC’s resources on large-scale, Pan-African initiatives which address the major challenges facing the region. The initiatives aim to build on the extensive experience and expertise of African Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies to achieve real and sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in Africa.
One of the 4 Pan African Key Initiatives is National Society Development and Sustainability. Priority aspects of this Initiative are good governance, good leadership, good management and integrity and risk management of National Societies.
This position sits in the Africa Regional Office as part of the Membership Services Team. It will be expected to support and coordinate the initiatives of other regional teams (in particular, Corporate Services and PMER, Quality Assurance and Risk Management) in delivering technical support around accountability to interested National Societies (NS) as requested by IFRC Country Cluster offices.
The selected candidate is responsible to support IFRC Secretariat, under the leadership of the Regional Director, in assisting NS to strengthen their accountability systems, mechanisms and practices as well as their risk management frameworks, the selected candidate will also support in addressing integrity needs of National Societies, facilitating smooth resolution of integrity issues and crisis through the use of existing bodies like Office for Internal Audit and Investigation (OIAI), the Compliance and Mediation Committee (CMC), the Africa Governance Group (AGG), etc.
Job Duties And Responsibilities
- Reporting to the Head of Membership Service Unit, the position holder will work with IFRC Country Cluster Offices to develop and maintain a regional dashboard and overview of NS development needs and processes related to accountability.
- Coordinate and facilitate technical support on accountability-related issues provided by regional experts in various teams, in particular Corporate Services and PMER, Quality Assurance and Risk Management.
- Support National Society in analysis and technical advice, on matters related to policy, accountability, transparency, and governance, integrated with other capacity enhancement initiatives within broader national society development framework.
- Support National Society to assess capacities and develop activities, guided by and linked to, OCAC, wider organization strategy, and long-term development plans.
- Promote best practices, and support National Society to access network of practitioners, for peer support and knowledge/expertise sharing.
- Support National Society to implement key initiatives related to risk management, financial sustainability, financial accountability and integrity crisis.
- Facilitate advice and support on risk management frameworks and strengthening NS policy around control and prevention of Fraud and Corruption.
- Follow-up and support National Societies in meeting Constitutional financial accountability obligations, including timely submission of Statutory Contributions, filing of audited financial statements; and filing of Certified Declarations of Income.
- Facilitate advice and support from the Finance team on cost recovery mechanisms guided by the NS Costing guidelines.
- Support National Society during emergency operations, to strengthen capacities and internal control environment, and to provide strategic advice to management and governance.
- Review National Societies’ support services function plans and provide recommendations.
- Coordinate and support technical resources persons to achieve development objectives.
- Create platform for knowledge sharing and peer support and manage database for resource persons.
- Support to relevant global or regional assessment processes led by finance admin, HR, IT, Logistics and/or PMER (such as the “Working with Project Partners” process).
- Support country cluster offices for assessment processes (OCAC, BOCA…) on components relating to accountability and risk management.
- Support application processes to funding opportunities on accountability systems (including via CBF or NSIA) or ongoing initiative/programme on leadership development.
- Maintain good working relationships and ensure timely two-way communication with the colleagues managing National Society development in the NS as well as the cluster/country offices.
- Perform any task assigned by the line manager.
- Master’s degree in Finance, HR, public administration, or other relevant discipline. (Required).
- Professional qualification in finance or accounting. (Preferred)
- Relevant training or coursework in one or more core areas e.g. Financial, Administration and HR management (emergency operation, finance, risk management, audit, security). (Required).
- IMPACT, Basic Delegates Training Course or equivalent knowledge. (Required).
- Minimum 7 years of prior professional experience in a risk management control role (such as in Finance, Audit, Logistics or HR) (Required).
- Prior experience working with a National Society or IFRC, in supporting accountability system development or risk management. (Preferred)
- Experience supporting institutional change management processes. (Required).
- Extensive experience of budget preparations, cash-flow statements & financial plans. (Preferred)
- Experience in emergency response setting (Preferred)
- Extensive experience in commercial & contractual systems (Preferred)
- Great analytical skills with meticulous attention to details for both qualitative and quantitative data and information. (Required).
- Strong Communication and presentation skills (Required).
- Excellent planning and organization skills (Required).
- Competent in ICT skills and adept with information management platforms and methods (Required).
- Project management skills (Required).
- Training and Learning skills (Required).
- Teamwork (Required).
- Influencing and interpersonal skills (Required).
- Problem solving (Required).
- Flexible personality (Required).
- Patience (Required).
- Positive approach (Required).
- Strong coaching and mentoring skills (Required).
- Commitment to high standards and continuous improvement (Required).
- Fluently spoken and written in English (Required).
- Fluently spoken and written French (Required).
- 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.
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