International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies
Organizational Background
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 (NS). The overall aim of the 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.” 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 NSs 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.
The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Societies Development (NSD) and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has CCD and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The CCD Bangkok covers four countries namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and operates as one joint team to support each country’s NS. The CCD Bangkok also provides secretariat support to the Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Networks and represents IFRC with the United Nations ESCAP and other regional organizations based in Bangkok.
Job Purpose
The Programme Coordinator ensures speedy, high-quality, coherent and well-coordinated programming support to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam Red Cross societies. The Programme Coordinator oversees a programme team, including staff based in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, which deliver holistic program support in thematic areas including disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change, Shelter, and Livelihoods, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Migration, communications, Planning, Monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER) and National Society Development. The Programme Coordinator maintains an oversight of the evolving humanitarian context in all countries within the CCD and ensures that IFRC programme and operational support is agile and tailored to meet the needs of the National Societies. The role oversees IFRC secretariat support to Southeast Asia technical networks and supports with movement coordination and aligning planning support with IFRC members. The role is a member of the CCD Bangkok Senior Management Team and feeds into strategic and operational strategies for the delegation as well as supports the HoCCD with representation to member societies, movement and external partners.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Programme and operation oversight
- Lead the planning and implementation of IFRC tailor-made support to National Societies within the CCD in accordance with Strategic and Operational plans, relevant to the needs of vulnerable communities and implementing them as per agreed plans of action.
- Coordinate movement partners to unify planning with a one plan approach to supporting Societies
- Coordinate technical support to societies from within the CCD program team as well as relevant technical colleagues in Asia Pacific Regional Office or Geneva.
- Support Societies with timely and effective disaster preparedness and response, including developing emergency plans of actions, accessing the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), and launching emergency appeals, in accordance with relevant procedures.
- Provide technical guidance and oversight to IFRC personnel in implementing and monitoring IFRC-funded operations to ensure the application of IFRC policies, frameworks, procedures, standards, guidelines and methodologies in delivering humanitarian assistance to people affected by disasters and crises.
- Oversee National Society Development processes and support to the societies, including support to strategic and operational planning, financial sustainability, preparedness for effective response, legal base, branch development, protection, gender and inclusion and youth and volunteering
- Provide technical advice and promote the mainstreaming of DRR, climate change, health, Protection, Gender and Diversity and Community Engagement and Accountability into the NS programmes.
- Provide technical advice and promote the inclusion of anticipatory financing and forecast-based action and cash programming into programmes and operations
- Identify, recruit and manage technical surge human resources to support NSs with disasters and crises
- Develop readiness plans for the CCD and support NSs in facilitating preparedness-for-disaster (pre-disaster) meetings.
- Manage a team of technical program and surge staff, as needed both in Thailand and outposted to countries within the CCD.
- Manage program budgets effectively within IFRC Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including regular communication with donors, and management of cash pledges
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting to partners and donors on programs
- Manage regular monitoring and evaluation of IFRC-supported programmes and operations
- Work closely with HoCCD and the Support Service and Partnerships Coordinator to mobilise resources for IFRC programs and operations
Coordination and external engagement
- Support the NSs and the Secretariat to engage in the national humanitarian coordination mechanisms
- Facilitate regular operational and technical coordination among Movement partners
- Build and nurture solid relationships with key external partners in the CCD countries and Southeast Asia more broadly – including government, academia and the private sector – for enhancing innovative approaches in programmes and operations
- Coordinate closely with technical leads in the APRO
- Provide secretariat support to the functioning of the Southeast Asia Red Cross and Red Crescent networks, including supporting the HoCCD with organising the Annual leaders meeting.
- Represent IFRC in engagements with NS leadership, Movement coordination platforms, Governments, Diplomatic Missions, Sub-Regional Bodies, the UN system and the humanitarian community, in coordination with and at the request of the HoCCD
General management
- Engage as a member of the CCD Senior Management Team, including developing strategies for the delegation, managing risk and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
- Select, mentor and manage team members for programmes and operations, including ensuring that they have well-defined results-based priority plans and capacity to provide technical support to NSs at any time.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning, individual and team accountability by setting individual and team objectives, monitoring team performance and conducting timely performance reviews and promote women in leadership
- Act on behalf of the Head of CCD, as requested.
Confidentiality
- Maintain strict moral confidentiality and do not disclose neither spread any confidential or sensitive information.
- Organize archives of all reports and documents and treat them as confidential material
Position Requirements
Education
Required
- Relevant university education or an equivalent of qualifying experience
Preferred
- Post-graduate qualification
- Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge
Experience
Required
- At least 7 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector
- At least 3 years working experience in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
- Management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment
- Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian/development actors
- Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing
Preferred
- Prior work in a membership organization in roles that include member capacity development
- Experience in the Asia Pacific region
Knowledge, skills and language
Required
- Understanding of Southeast Asia Context – humanitarian landscape, needs and opportunities
- Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.)
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with stakeholders at all levels
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talents/experience of team members in a productive way
- Results-oriented, demand driven, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations
- Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and promoting new approaches to engaging partners
- Good understanding/practice of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting issues
- Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills
- Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels
- Programme and project management skills
- Ability to work within and lead multi-cultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams
- Fluently spoken and written English
Preferred
- Good understanding/practice of IFRC thematic program tools and approaches
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) or Southeast Asian language
Remarks
International Staff Position – Grade D