Senior Officer, Regional Migration and Displacement

Organizational Context

“This is a national staff position open to nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in countries where IFRC has legal presence: Buenos Aires (Argentina), San José (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Kingston (Jamaica), Managua (Nicaragua), Panama City (Panama), Lima (Peru), or Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago).

Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in those countries during application phase”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of 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.” 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. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has Country Cluster Delegations (CCD) and Country Delegations (CD) throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. Migration is one of five Strategic Priorities contained in the IFRC Strategy 2030. Between 2016 and 2020, Migration was one of the eight strategic ‘Areas of Focus’ for programmatic support identified in the IFRC’s Plan and Budget. An IFRC Global Migration Strategy was adopted in December 2017 and sets the current direction for National Societies and the IFRC Secretariat. A Movement Policy on Internal Displacement was also adopted in 2009 to define the approach of the Movement in responding to internal displacement. It recognizes the distinction between internal displacement and migration while acknowledging the possible links between the two phenomena in some cases. The IFRC’s overall vision for Migration and Displacement is that at all stages of their journeys, and irrespective of their legal status, migrants find the IFRC ready to respond to their needs, enhance their resilience, and advocate for their rights, articulated in the IFRC Global Migration Strategy and set out in IFRC Strategy 2030. In addition, the position will contribute to enhancing cross-sectoral synergies across all IFRC Strategic Priorities and relevant Enabling Approaches. The Regional Migration and Displacement Senior Officer reports to the Regional Migration Coordinator and is an integral part of IFRC global Migration and Displacement team and the Americas Health, Disasters, Climate, and Crises Unit (HDCC). The position will support effective implementation of the IFRC strategic goals related to Job Description Internal Migration and Displacement, contribute to overall programme design and implementation across the Americas region, and provide technical support to National Societies, CCD and CD.

Job Purpose

The Regional Migration and Displacement Senior Officer provides technical and operational support to IFRC and National Societies in the Americas Pacific region in the context of migration and displacement. This support is provided in line with the IFRC Migration Policy, IFRC Migration Strategy, the Accord of Nassau and Migration Action Plan of The Red Cross Movement in the Americas 2021-2024.

Priorities areas of support include community and longer-term programming; emergencies and protracted crises; advocacy and diplomacy; and capacity strengthening at all levels. The Senior Officer will collaborate closely with colleagues in other departments and units to ensure coherence across IFRC’s related portfolio of activities. As requested, the Senior Officer may represent the IFRC at various levels, including inter-agency, inter-governmental and with external partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Task

• Provide technical guidance and promote the quality assurance to NS and CDD according to the Movement migration-related strategies, and ongoing regional plans and programs, especially those based on route-based approach and preparedness and effective response. For this, the candidate must be available to travel around 20% – 25% of the time.

Support for Operations and Programmes

• Monitoring and support the data analysis regarding to the current population movement along the Americas Region, as well as those emerging and life-threatening situation that potential force people to migrate such as socio-economic crisis, disaster, climate change and any form of violence.
• Identify and develop opportunities for national, cross-border and regional Movement coordination on migration and displacement including through National Society collaboration, peer-to-peer support, and knowledge and information exchanges.
• Produce and compile case studies including lessons learned and good practices from IFRC operations and Nacional Societies’ Migration and Displacement activities.
• Ensure that ARO and IFRC delegations have the tools and support needed to include Migration and Displacement in their programmes and operations.

Capacity Strengthening and Development of Tools and Guidance

• Design, adapt and/or facilitate development of contextualised training on Migration and Displacement, ensuring that content is based on Movement principles on Migration and Displacement and core IFRC standards, including related to Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) and protection, gender and inclusion (PGI).
• Support development and socialisation of IFRC tools and guidance on Migration and Displacement for IFRC and National Societies’ staff and volunteers.
• Support the design and implementation of national or context-specific assessments on migration and displacement, based on IFRC guidance.

National Society Preparedness, Coordination and Humanitarian Diplomacy

• Support National Society preparedness for effective responses in the context of migration and displacement.
• Support the development of strong and effective partnerships to enhance existing work and ensure funding for future streams of work in migration and displacement.
• In coordination with Humanitarian Diplomacy Unit provide background research and contextual analysis to support the National Societies engage in humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy related to migration and displacement.
• Provide technical support to the IFRC Regional Migration Coordinator to represent the IFRC as an expert on Migration and Displacement at internal and external fora and events.
• Support the Red Cross regional spaces focused on migration and displacement such as networks and thematic working groups.
• Participate in interagency working groups.

Reporting and Communications

• Contribute to high quality and regular reporting as required (e.g., monthly highlights and snapshots)
• Liaise with the IFRC regional Communications team to ensure high quality communications on migration and displacement in the region (including quarterly IFRC Asia Pacific regional newsletters)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Sciences, International Human Rights
  or Refugee Law, International Relations, International Relations or related field.
• Postgraduate degree in Social Sciences, International Human Rights or Refugee
  Law, International Relations or related field, preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of working experience on migration, displacement, human rights, humanitarian diplomacy and/or protection issues or relevant experience
• Relevant experience in project and budget management
• Relevant experience in reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in organizing meetings and conferences
• Demonstrated experience in programme design and implementation related to
  migration and displacement
• Experience in providing high-quality technical and policy advice to stakeholders
  at all levels of organizational hierarchy on migration and displacement issues
• Experience working in a team environment, with remote team members
• Experience in influencing decision makers and engaging in advocacy with a range
  of stakeholders on Migration and Displacement issues, preferred
• Experience working within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
  Movement or another humanitarian organization, and/or working with migrants
  and displaced people, preferred
• Experience in designing, implementing and managing training courses, preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Understanding of regional migration and displacement issues and dynamics,
  including relevant legal and policy frameworks
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
• Time management and organization skills
• Strong research, analytical and report writing skills
• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• Ability to create and strengthen effective partnerships and working relationships
  Computer skills and competency in the use of relevant software and other
  applications, such as word processing, spread sheets, internal databases, etc.
• Knowledge of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement principles
  and approach, preferred

LANGUAGES

• Fluent spoken and written Spanish
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Arabic), preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

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.