Consultant, Climate Innovation Hub – Team Leader (Phase 1) based in Beirut and Cairo

Job Purpose

The 2019 International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the IFRC’s Strategy 2030 have identified climate change as a critical humanitarian priority for the coming decade, also expressed in the Movement Ambitions to Address the Climate Crisis. Through its network of 192 National Societies, 165,000 local branches and 14 million volunteers, the IFRC has committed to reduce current and future humanitarian impacts of climate and environmental crises and to supporting people to adapt in the face of them. The IFRC secretariat has committed to ambitious climate goals, making “addressing the climate and environmental crises” the first strategic priority of its 2021–2025 Plan and Budget.

The proposed Climate Innovation Hub (the ‘Hub’, working title) is a tripartite initiative between Egyptian Red Crescent, Emirates Red Crescent and IFRC MENA Regional Delegation. As an IFRC regional thematic hub, it will play a crucial role in advancing the climate action agenda.

The need to address the impact of climate change is highly relevant in the MENA region where climate change continues to evolve as a critical threat to development and is fueling conflicts and population movements. Two challenges for the relevance of IFRC’s current strategies are the need to a) better mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation in all programmatic areas, and b) to reflect the important relationship between climate change, displacement, and migration.

Goals and Objectives

The MENA Climate Innovation Hub will serve as a laboratory for developing and testing innovative solutions as well as a platform for learning, capacity strengthening, and advocacy in the MENA region on top priority climate matters and important linkages with migration and displacement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Generic responsibilities

• Establishment of the Hub: responsible for initiating the Hub structure and processes; provide vision for the definition of problems; develop and oversee the execution of a flexible business plan; identify key thematic areas; and incorporate marketing, partnership, and fundraising strategies.
• Development of initiatives, products, and concepts: responsible for managing a well performing team of specialists to deliver feasibility assessments in countries and contexts; co-design innovative projects that leverage transformative change; develop models that allow for new financing with a high return on investment.
• Networking, and advocacy: engage with the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director for convening and connecting local and international stakeholders; establishing strong relationships inside and outside of the Movement; and representing IFRC in relevant fora.
• Fundraising: Responsible for resource mobilisation in support the Hub, its partners and initiatives.
• Documenting what works and sharing learning: responsible for putting in place a sound framework to measure progress of the Hub portfolio in line with IFRC’s global and regional strategies.
• Communication: Regularly report to MENA leadership, participating IFRC members, and external partners for strategic guidance and knowledge exchange.

Specific responsibilities for Phase 1

• Initiate the Hub processes; assist in mobilising Hub Start-up Team; identify and select IFRC Specialist Staff
• Engage with DRD in the mobilisation of one or more Specialist Staff that will support the Hub (from IFRC Secretariat and Partner National Societies, as well as from external Partners)
• Provide vision for the definition of problems; develop and oversee the execution of a flexible business plan; identify key thematic areas; and incorporate marketing, partnership, and fundraising strategies
• Oversee feasibility assessments to develop multiple quick impact projects, research initiatives, and event concepts
• Finalise the business model and strategy for the Hub
• Ensure a clear understanding within the organization the role and mutual benefits of engaging in the Hub

Education

• Relevant Qualification to Master’s Level in a relevant field

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant Manager/Adviser experience in the humanitarian sector
• Experience in systems innovation using agile methodologies
• Experience in leading diverse teams of technical experts
• Experience engaging and negotiating with a variety of stakeholders
• Experience in programme evaluation and systems change

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• Able to represent the organisation at a strategic level
• Knowledge of innovative business models of aid
• Practical knowledge and experience of innovation best practice and methodologies
• Practical experience of scaling innovation in a challenging context
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. French and Arabic are an asset

Competencies and Values

Excellent communication and facilitation skills, and the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse stakeholder audience.

The role requires experience of working with a diverse set of peers and managing a team of technical experts, and agile project management experience.

The consultant should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the process is designed and conducted to adhere to recognized scientific standards, and to ensure that the process is technically accurate, reliable, and legitimate, conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.

The collected data must be safeguarded, respecting existing data security rules, to protect the rights of the individual. All IFRC employees are expected to work in accordance with IFRC’s Fundamental Principles.

Comments

Phased approach

Based from Cairo, Egypt (hosted by the Egyptian Red Cross, ERC) the Hub is envisaged to be implemented over a period of two years, starting in August 2022, in four phases:

• Phase 1: Ideation and mobilization
• Phase 2: Screening and advocacy
• Phase 3: Testing and learning
• Phase 4: Diffusion

Please note that IFRC is only recruiting for the completion of Phase 1. The contract might be extended if the chosen Team Leader is interested and able to meet the requirements listed below, and if a critical mass of funding and interest has been received to justify the continuation of the Hub Model after the first phase.