Coordinator, Shelter

Organizational Context

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. 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.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

Job Purpose

The Shelter Coordinator is a vital member of the IFRC Secretariat Asia Pacific Shelter Team and oversees all Federation shelter and settlements program support to Pacific National Societies. The role is also crucial in facilitating communication and collaboration between Pacific RC National Societies and the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Shelter and Settlements Coordinator at APRO- to amplify the voices of Pacific communities and ensure a cohesive approach to shelter and settlements initiatives across the region; ultimately enhancing disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts.

The Shelter Coordinator also undertakes the role of Regional Shelter Cluster Coordinator as a part of the Pacific Humanitarian Team, in line with IFRC’s global IASC mandate within  the Cluster system. This includes working closely to support Pacific Government Shelter Cluster leads and RC National Societies who have undertaken the co-leadership role.

She/he is expected to ensure that IFRC shelter and settlements activities  are consistent with the IFRC 2030 Strategy, with the IFRC APRO’s Regional shelter and settlements direction paper, and with the Pacific Shelter and Settlements Programme .

In addition, the Shelter Coordinator will be supported by the Australian Red Cross’ AP Roving Focal Point for Shelter Coordination in line with the IFRC-Australian Red Cross Shared Leadership agreement for Shelter Coordination across Asia and the Pacific and the Global Shelter Cluster support team. Moreover, the Shelter Coordinator actively participates in continuous national societies capacity-building endeavors, staying abreast of evolving industry standards and best practices. This commitment to professional development ensures a dynamic and adaptive approach in the coordination, management, and mentorship facets of shelter and settlements programs, contributing to the sustained excellence of the IFRC's humanitarian efforts across the Pacific region.

Support Pacific National Societies to assist communities in disaster and crisis affected areas to restore and strengthen their safety, well-being and long-term recovery through shelter and settlement solutions.

• Enhance and strengthen the operational capacity of the National Societies across the Pacific to deliver appropriate shelter preparedness, emergency response and (early) recovery programming solutions for populations affected by disaster, consistent with their mandates, through remote technical support or field deployments for in-country technical assistance.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Enhance and strengthen the capacity of National Societies at branch and headquarters level in preparedness and contingency planning and community level shelter risk reduction and preparedness, as a component of the overall multi-sectoral resilience program, together with disaster risk reduction, health, water and sanitation, protection, gender and inclusion, migration and displacement, disaster law, etc.
• Develop and promote shelter and settlements approaches tailored for the various Pacific contexts including in disaster and climate-related displacement.
• Guide National Societies and strategic partners in work related to reduction of shelter-related risks in communities using participatory approaches and tools such as PASSA and PASSA Youth, as a component of overall resilience programming
• Support the development and roll-out of appropriate shelter and settlements capacity building initiatives, including contributing to tools, policies, training, mentoring and other skill-development opportunities.
• Promote utilization of the IFRC shelter and settlements technical guidelines by National Societies – and support them to adapt some of the tools to their context and procedures
• Identify, document, disseminate and promote best practices in shelter from the experiences of National Societies.
• Provide support for training, mentoring and the deployment of any shelter and settlements surge personnel to support emergency responses if required, as well as formulate terms of references (TOR) and briefings, for such missions.

Lead IFRC’s IASC Shelter Cluster convener role in the Pacific to promote and coordinate shelter sector preparedness, and to increase the predictability and quality of emergency shelter sector responses:

• Represent the IFRC and Pacific Shelter Cluster within the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) Regional Inter Cluster Coordinator’s Group (RICCG).
• Develop and strengthen relationships / partnerships with and between Government shelter cluster lead agencies, the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT), Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement partners, donors, NGO’s, UN agencies, private sector, academia, diaspora groups, etc. at national and regional levels for shelter cluster preparedness and response activities.
• The IFRC Pacific Shelter Coordinator will lead engagement of the Pacific Shelter Cluster in key regional fora and networks
• Support Government counterparts to ensure appropriate coordination of shelter and settlements assistance at country level before and after natural disasters, guided by the Federation's global shelter commitment to the global IASC cluster system and regionally, to the Pacific Humanitarian Team. This support should be provided through Red Cross National Societies who are co-leading the Shelter Cluster in their respective country.
• Support National Societies to strengthen their capacity to take an active co-leadership role of their respective national Shelter Cluster.
• Support and enhance the institutional awareness and operational capacity of National Governments with respect to shelter cluster / sector coordination through continued advocacy and the development of tools, policy, strategy etc.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Expand the awareness and understanding within the Movement and with external stakeholders, of the IFRC role and responsibilities as the global co-lead/Pacific lead for the Shelter Cluster, including linking emergency shelter response with longer term shelter and settlement solutions.
• Lead a stakeholder consultation process in preparation for a climate smart, people-centered Pacific Shelter Cluster Strategy, including but not limited to (i) ensuring alignment with regional stakeholder’s initiatives (e.g. PIFS, FRDP, donor strategies, humanitarian stocks prepositioning initiative) and with regional and global agendas (e.g. localization, climate resilience), (ii) alignment with national level priorities, and (iii) defining standards and approaches for shelter preparedness, response and recovery, within the disaster management cycle.

Program Management:

• Manage, coach and mentor shelter staff within the Pacific CCD shelter team, including any future team members, any surge Shelter Cluster Coordination Team members and Shelter delegates
• Foster engagement and participation of NS in regional and global networks for knowledge exchange and learning (e.g. the Asia Pacific RCRC Shelter and Settlements Network), and facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges between Asia Pacific (AP) National Society shelter focal points, in coordination with IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office.
• In close coordination with the APRO Regional Shelter and Settlements Coordinator and other key stakeholders, proactively initiate and support resource mobilization initiatives for Pacific National Societies for preparedness and response activities and required human resources.
• Lead on the delivery and further development of the Pacific Shelter Programme and budget according to the evolving situation in the Pacific to ensure the program continues to thrive in the short and longer terms. This will include exploring avenues for mobilizing any additional funding required, together with CCD Suva Program and Partnerships Manager.
• Provide timely narrative and financial reports internally (operational, mid-year, annual, etc.) and externally (donors, PHT, GSC, etc.)as required.
• Coordinate closely with the Asia Pacific Shelter Coordinator and the Shelter and Settlements Department in Geneva and Global Shelter Cluster Support Team to ensure alignment on global, regional and CCD operational plans and strategies.
• Coordinate closely with Movement partners, particularly Australian Red Cross, given their shared leadership role with IFRC around Shelter Coordination in Asia Pacific and strategic program focus on specific Pacific National Societies.
• Aligning with CCD unified planning, orient the activities to be undertaken in a cohesive and integrated manner, ensuring seamless coordination and synergy among various components for effective implementation.

Networking and Representation:

• Liaise and collaborate as appropriate with international, government and non-government agencies, UN agencies, private organizations and academia to support shelter and settlements initiatives in the Pacific to promote issues in key humanitarian shelter and housing sector initiatives and develop and promote the IFRC’s role in shelter and settlements.

Represent IFRC in Pacific level inter-agency events on shelter and settlements as required – as a key actor influencing Pacific regional policies, advocacy and agenda.

Education

• IMPACT course or equivalent knowledge.
• Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in structural/civil engineering, architecture, construction management, project management or related field.
• Recent training course(s) in emergency shelter implementation and / or coordination (within the last two years).

Experience

• Experience within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in particular working successfully in collaboration with National Societies.
• A minimum of five years shelter/housing or rehabilitation programming experience, including site supervision and contract and/or project management preferred.
• Previous experience working in Pacific Island Countries and knowledge of the Pacific region.
• Experience in developing and implementing shelter or community infrastructure projects on behalf of development organizations.
• An awareness of appropriate local construction technologies and materials.
• Experience with the emergency shelter cluster coordination and IASC contingency planning, in particular working successfully in collaboration with National Government Ministries.
• Familiarity with current standards and guidelines for humanitarian emergency response, in particular Sphere.
• Experience in managing and supporting staff.
• Experience of managing budgets.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Good professional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of IFRC policies and procedures, particularly with regard to separation of Federation and National Society shelter responsibilities.
• Knowledge of the Humanitarian Reform/ IASC Cluster system.
• Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to use own initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Valid international driving license (manual gears).
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Teamwork
• Multi-tasking
• Sensitivity to diversity
• Integrity and personal conduct  
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Interpersonal skills