Regional Head (Europe), PMER and Quality Assurance

Organizational Context

This position is advertised both as national and international position. 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Terms of Employment for International or National staff, this will depend on the appointed candidate.

 

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. 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 also defines four enabling functions: Strategic and Operational Coordination, National Society Development, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Accountability and Agility.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this position is to have overall responsibility for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) and Quality Assurance.

 

• Ensure programme quality, including results at scale, quality assurance and close monitoring of progress.
• Coordinate and lead on innovation and learning and knowledge management supporting peer-to-peer approaches, analytical work and sharing of learning within the region and at the global level.

Liaise with relevant academic bodies to integrate current methods and learnings and also contribute IFRC field-based findings.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this position is to have overall responsibility for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) and Quality Assurance.   · Ensure programme quality, including results at scale, quality assurance and close monitoring of progress. · Coordinate and lead on innovation and learning and knowledge management supporting peer-to-peer approaches, analytical work and sharing of learning within the region and at the global level. · Liaise with relevant academic bodies to integrate current methods and learnings and also contribute IFRC field-based findings.

 

Job duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, the key role of the post is to ensure a results-based planning, monitoring, and evaluation system that provides an evidence base for performance, including relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. The post also enhances knowledge management and learning to continuously improve programme quality.   Managerial · Ensure a well-managed team while promoting a culture of performance and continuous learning. · Serve as the IFRC focal point for PMER in Europe, coordinating PMER implementation, capacity building, sharing, and learning of the IFRC and National Societies. · Ensure an effective coordination of PMER expertise within the region, creating connections and opportunities for intra-regional support and cooperation between clusters, countries and the Regional Office.   National Society Capacity Building · Support National Societies to deliver quality programmes and monitoring services in their respective domains and countries. · Support National Societies in engaging in the collection and use of evidence and ensuring that reliable data is used for decision-making. · Ensure capacity building/mentoring/coaching of technical specialists at NSs in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators.   Strategy, Unified Planning and Reporting · Lead the process for the development of the unified Plans of the IFRC network in the Europe region, including analysing the regional/country context and ensuring participation and buy-in from all relevant staff, NSs, partners, and other stakeholders. · Drive the design and implementation of the Regional Multi-year Plan, ensuring alignment with the IFRC strategy. · Facilitate and provide support to the development of Country Unified Plans, monitoring of progress and completion of accurate and timely Unified Mid-Year and Annual Reports. · Support planning, monitoring and reporting for emergency operations, including through advising on Federation-wide approaches, and ensuring complementarity between emergency and longer-term planning and reporting (as captured in unified plans and reports)

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Information systems quality assurance

The following are to be implemented in close coordination with IM functions and efforts embedded in Health, Disaster, Climate and Crises:

· Lead timely data collection from different sources, including NS’s Information Management Systems, as per program requirements.

· Enhance quality of collected and reported data by setting and implementing regular quality checks for validation, consistency and reliability of data and information.

· Ensure adequate technical support and guidance to Country/Cluster delegations and NS’s staff in the field, to collect, process and manage data. This includes responding to user ad-hoc inquiries.

· Develop tools and guidelines to ensure that training needs are met in data collection/data management.

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Knowledge Management

· Oversee and participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews and with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions/interventions to achieve results.

· Oversee a monitoring system that provides timely and accurate programme results by embedding MEAL across program implementation.

· Monitor the PMER aspects of donor compliance in close coordination with Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation, Finance and Health, Disaster, Climate and Crises.

· Ensure continued relevant external trends, innovation, best practices, and priority needs in planning, monitoring, and evaluation, both internally and externally.

· Lead programme quality improvements by monitoring and improving Programme KPI performance, including resourcing and conducting high-quality evaluations to demonstrate outcomes and impact and ensuring that accountability mechanisms are in place.

· Collate and disseminate relevant research across the Movement and wider with the aim of supporting NSs to implement best practices in information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

· Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes.

· Ensure consistent operational reporting on Federation-wide activities at the operational regional level.

· Establish networks which promote a peer-to-peer connector/convener of PMER and IM experience.

· Liaise with relevant academic bodies to integrate current methods and learnings and also contribute IFRC field-based findings.

 

 

Effective matrix management

· Contribute to the effective coordination with technical units of the Regional Office.

· Ensure effective coordination with focal points from Country Delegations, Country Cluster Delegations and Geneva focal points.

· Provide technical guidance and support to IFRC PMER focal points in the region, including support in recruitment and induction as needed.

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent in business administration, management, risk management, finance, economics, public health, political science, international studies, international development or other relevant field of study; or a first-level university degree combined with extensive relevant experience.	Required
Formal training or certification in risk management or a background in institutional/programmatic risk management.	Preferred

Experience

At least 7 years of experience in strategic planning, PMER, project/programme management, learning or risk management functions.
At least 7 years of work experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis and/or data modelling.
At least 7 years of experience managing staff.
Experience in evaluation design and execution.
Experience working in a multicultural, international environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Highly developed leadership skills.
Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity.
Strong project management skills and capabilities, including workplan development.
Excellent oral and written communication, networking, and representation skills.
Proven ability to motivate and manage a team.
Strategic analysis, systematic planning, data analysis and implementation skills and ability to translate strategy into reality.
Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills.
Highly organized and results oriented.
Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and ability to negotiate while maintaining effective working relations with complex stakeholders and multiple reporting lines with flexibility, resilience, maturity and a high degree of emotional intelligence.
Knowledge of IFRC and its policies, processes and governance structures.

Fluent spoken and written English	Required
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish, or Arabic)	Preferred
Other Languages	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.

Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.

Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.