Senior Officer, Humanitarian Policy and Diplomacy

Background

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.

Organizational Context

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 delegations 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.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre (Climate Centre) is a global virtual team supporting the IFRC in addressing the humanitarian consequences of climate change. It provides technical leadership and backstopping to the Secretariat, the membership and partners at the interface of climate science, policy and practice.

This position sits in the Policy, Research and Diplomacy team in the National Society, Policy and Knowledge department, and works closely with the Climate and Resilience Team and the Climate Centre and is considered a part of both teams with relevant technical reporting lines.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this position is to coordinate IFRC’s policy and advocacy efforts regarding the climate and environmental crises. This includes working in coordination with IFRC and Climate Centre’s colleagues to provide analysis of global climate policy trends, supporting the development of evidence-based and effective policy assets linked to key IFRC diplomatic activities, programming goals and National Society priorities, and leading overall coordination related to key multilateral events.

The Senior Officer will support both the short-term needs for positioning of IFRC and National Society leadership in their external representation and will also work with relevant colleagues throughout the IFRC, Climate Centre and National Societies in developing, implementing, and monitoring multi-year advocacy strategies, including the development of the necessary evidence-base, consultation with relevant stakeholders, and key forums to approach.

The post will focus on the humanitarian implications of the climate and environmental crises as well as climate-related issues relevant to migration and displacement, community health, localization, protection and others. It will also include the development of strategies to engage in key inter-governmental forums, the development of policy positions and messages, strategies and implementation plans, and coordination of delegations engaged in major international diplomacy events.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Trend monitoring, analysis, and reporting

  • Undertake regular monitoring and analysis of key global trends relevant to National Societies and the IFRC, suggesting areas of opportunity and risks, related to climate and environmental issues.
  • Follow UNFCCC-related processes.
  • Develop strong external networks with key policy makers and diplomatic missions to understand their positions as well as relevant processes and opportunities in Geneva and globally.
  • Develop strong internal and external networks of knowledgeable persons in order to support a sound analysis, including a participatory approach that builds on the insight and experience of IFRC personnel throughout the Secretariat, reference centres as well as National Societies.
  • Report regularly on trends to key IFRC, network, and where relevant, Movement colleagues and external allies.

• Advance the position of the RCRC network on climate change globally, through the development of policy substance and support of humanitarian diplomacy strategies and initiatives

  • Coordinate global level positioning efforts for the IFRC Secretariat on climate change, in collaboration with relevant IFRC and Climate Centre colleagues – in particular technical experts, Communications, Partnership and Resource Development and senior management – and National Societies.
  • Develop long-term advocacy strategies and support implementation on priority areas of concern, including the agreement of clear objectives, development of necessary evidence, identification of target fora and stakeholders at the global and regional levels.
  • Support the promotion of the Climate and Environment Charter, in collaboration with ICRC and IFRC’s Climate and Resilience Team.
  • Collaborate with relevant colleagues in the IFRC, Climate Centre and National Societies to develop and oversee event-specific strategies and coordinate IFRC engagement at key multilateral events and climate-related policy processes, including leading on its engagement strategy, coordinating engagement in events, coordinating the delegation, developing the briefing pack and coordinating the participation of technical focal points in relevant discussions.
  • Lead or support the development of high-quality information, advocacy and communication materials, policy briefs, talking points, background notes, position papers and statements, in collaboration with relevant colleagues.
  • Coordination and provision of Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) training, support to HD strategy development and advice to IFRC colleagues and National Societies engaged in key events and processes related to climate change.
  • Support the mobilization of resources and development of partnerships and coalitions as requested.
  • Work with comms to support the development of public awareness activities and campaigns.
  • Support regional IFRC climate policy efforts and capacity building, including mentoring of select NSs in their policy work (in close cooperation with IFRC regional delegations and the Climate Centre).
  • Support and contribute to coordination platforms touching upon climate policy (e.g. IASC, IFRC Climate Action Taskforce).

Contribute to an effective, high-quality IFRC and Climate Centre team

• Be accountable to the team manager by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost-effectiveness.
• 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

Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions, Climate Centre and the National Societies and open and cooperative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.

Education

Required

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent in development or humanitarian studies, political science, climate science, international relations, sociology, law, or other relevant area

Experience

Required

• At least 8 years of work experience in the humanitarian or development sector
• At least 3 years of experience in humanitarian or development policy analysis
• At least 3 years of experience in climate policy analysis and/ or climate-adaptation or relevant programming
• Successful experience in the development of policy campaigns, including strategy-building, inter-governmental advocacy, and evidence building

Preferred

• At least 3 years’ of experience in the humanitarian sector
• Experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English
• Excellent understanding of the dynamics, institutions and political context of the international humanitarian and development sectors
• Demonstrated writing and research skills
• Strong networking and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated legal writing and research skills
• Good understanding of disaster risk management concepts

Preferred

• 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.