Officer, National Society Development

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The overall aim of the 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.” 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 National Societies 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.

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. The 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 IFRC Country Delegation in Greece provides support to the Hellenic Red Cross through long-term programming and emergency response, as well as National Society Development and capacity building efforts. Current programme priorities include the Greece-related components of a regional emergency appeal for population movement and the global COVID-19 response, as well as longer-term programmes on national society development, health and migration. Cash-based interventions remain an important component of programming and is expected to continue to play a role in future programming modalities.

The IFRC has been present in Greece since 2015 implementing a large Emergency Appeal since 2020 to support Hellenic Red Cross response to the Migration crisis. Greece continues to be one of the priority countries for the IFRC in Europe due to the protracted need to continue monitoring and responding to the challenges posed by migration flows in the country.

Job Purpose

The National Society Development Officer (NSD Officer) reports to the Head of Delegation and serves as an advisor to the Hellenic Red Cross with the specific aim to strengthen their institutional capacities so that they can fulfil their humanitarian mandate. This entails the provision of concrete technical support on organizational development steps, tailored to the National Society’s specific needs and context and in line with IFRC’s global policies and standards.

The incumbent will support the Hellenic Red Cross in strengthening their organizational capacities, risk management capabilities, local presence, domestically mobilized resources, and human resources in order to deliver nationwide services as auxiliary to public authorities; and in adherence with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. The NSD Officer will work in very close everyday coordination and collaboration with the Hellenic Red Cross Organizational Development Department. The NSD Officer also works in a close coordination with IFRC Membership Service Unit, IFRC Regional Office for Europe.

The position is based in Athens with occasional travel to operational areas as and when required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical support in National Society Development

• Provide technical support on organizational development issues, directly or indirectly, to NSs for assessment of needs through IFRC tools such as the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) and the Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA).
• Assist, when required, the Head of Delegation and National Society in the development of a plan for governance, management, and leadership development based on the assessment (OCAC and BOCA) outcomes.
• Support the HRC in the ongoing implementation of the HRC Strategic Plan (2020 – 2025), as well as the preparation of the next Strategic Plan in line with the IFRC strategy for 2030.
• Promote inclusion of development / capacity building actions of the Hellenic Red Cross NSD plan into all current and future program/project budgets, both emergencies and longer-term.
• Support the National Society in bridging the digital divide and ensure that information management and data security are in place.
• Facilitate support on National Society legal base in close cooperation with relevant IFRC technical teams.
• Support the National Society in adopting the cross-cutting policies (e.g. on fraud and corruption prevention, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding etc.) to the local context.
• Ensure close collaboration with the IFRC volunteering teams in Budapest and mobilize required expertise from within the Movement as required to support volunteer development process in National Society.
• Develop and support initiatives in NS development to promote learning and knowledge sharing within the National Society as well as with other National Societies.
• Works closely with the IFRC Programme Coordinator and wider programme team, as well as the HRC Organizational Development Department to ensure close linkages between programming and organizational development.

Project management and resource mobilization for National Society Development

• Ensure that planning, budgeting, and reporting within NSD initiatives are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner following the IFRC requirements, formats, and standards.
• Facilitate resource mobilization for organizational development and related areas.
• Support NS in processes relating to the creation (or improvement) of resource mobilization strategies and plans aimed at financial independence and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure coherence and complementarity of support by all components of the Movement and alignment of all Movement NSD support and promote coordination at country and regional level to optimize resources and impact.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• University degree in development studies, leadership and organizational development, social sciences or other relevant field. A combination of a first-level university degree and extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree in relevant field

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in similar roles in the humanitarian or social sectors
• At least 2-year experience in supporting organizational and capacity development processes in complex organizations
• Experience in local capacity building, volunteer management, and/or community development in cross-cultural and diversity-sensitive environments

Preferred:

• Previous experience with the Red Cross (IFRC, ICRC, NS)

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Required:

• Strong analytical and writing skills and strategic thinking
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Self-driven and capacity to work with autonomy
• Skills in coaching, mentoring, and training
• Teamwork and trust-building for inclusive National Society relations
• Sound knowledge of financial management and project design, budget, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, resource mobilization
• Fluently spoken and written English
• Fluently spoken and written Greek

Preferred:

• Expertise in change management and implementation as well as strategy development
• Strongly founded in the IFRC concept of National Society development and dynamics
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and Values

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