Officer, Community Engagement and Accountability & Protection, Gender, and Inclusion

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. The overall aim of the 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.”  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 National Societies 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 Society Development 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 country cluster delegation 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. 

The structure of the Region in Europe is composed by the Regional Office for Europe based in Budapest and several local representations.  This position is based in Warsaw, Poland, which together with Moldova, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia forms the Country Cluster Delegation (CCD).  Tasks assigned will be linked to the implementation of the Federation-Wide Ukraine and Impacted Countries emergency appeal, projects and programs contributing to Unified plans as well as any other operations and programs which will be launched during the deployment time. 

In its work, IFRC ensures effective and timely risk communication, community engagement and accountability (RC/CEA) in its humanitarian service, as it allows active involvement of target communities in the design of interventions making these more tailored to their priorities and needs, enables higher accountability to affected populations by enabling them to submit feedback regarding the assistance received, and contributes to the longer-term sustainability and impact. 

Furthermore, IFRC also promotes the dignity, access, participation, and safety of targeted communities by mainstreaming the Red Cross / Red Crescent Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) approach. This approach is explicitly designed to mainstream PGI considerations into all project activities in accordance with the IFRC PGI Minimum Standards in Emergencies.

Job Purpose

The Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) and Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI) officer will work with the designated counterparts and technical and programme teams within National Red Crescent Societies part of the Warsaw-based CCD, to enhance the impact, reach, relevance, and effectiveness of their work, that includes both emergency responses and programmes, through the integration and coordination of CEA and PGI activities and approaches. This includes information provision, feedback systems (incl. sensitive complaints), risk communication, evidence-based advocacy, matters related to community-based protection, child protection, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) protection, prevention, mitigation and response, trafficking in human beings, disability inclusion, restoring family links (RFL). It includes working with relevant teams to support the development of sector-specific approaches including cash and voucher programming, shelter and health among others. Additionally, the CEA/PGI officer will support the strengthening of the programmes, projects, disaster preparedness and response activities within the Country Cluster Delegation by supporting the building of the understanding and technical capacity of IFRC and National Societies personnel in their mission of avoiding doing harm, mainstreaming DAPS (dignity, access, participation, and safety) principles and Minimum Standards, as well establishing safeguarding procedures and mechanisms. S/he will contribute to create a safe and inclusive environment supporting the enhancement or establishment of multi-sectorial humanitarian responses and programs that help addressing protection needs, mitigating and preventing risks, and recognizing capacities and agency of affected communities.

The role’s focus is on capacity strengthening, technical guidance, institutionalization and supporting a coherent approach and implementation to CEA and PGI across all IFRC network partners. This includes support to the National Societies technical personnel, CEA and PGI focal points, IFRC sector-heads, operations’ management, and CCD. 

The role and associated plans will be flexible and subject to the line manager`s approval to be able to respond to evolving, needs, opportunities and constraints of the context.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Support

• Act as focal point and resource person in the CCD on community engagement and accountability; and protection, gender, and inclusion.
• Oversee and support the technical implementation of the CEA, PGI, and Safeguarding action plans in the different countries.

• Work closely with IFRC Sector colleagues and National Society to help them identify gaps in their approach to CEA and support them to address these by integrating and/or scaling up appropriate CEA approaches both for ongoing and new emergency operations, projects, and programs.

• Support the roll out, while considering the long run sustainability, of a systematic and integrated approach to CEA, and PGI across Warsaw-based CCD National Societies through mainstreaming CEA, and PGI in NS plans, processes, and procedures.
• Provide technical advice to National Societies and IFRC sectors colleagues, including through the facilitation of training, on how they can:
  -Ensure assessments, programmes, and responses are transparent, participatory, and community-driven, capturing the context, needs, and priorities of all community members, including marginalized groups.
  -Integrate CEA activities, share information regularly, enable active community participation, and establish effective feedback mechanisms to continually review, adjust, and improve based on community input and monitoring data.
  -Offer guidance on implementing PGI standards and practices across all programmes and operations to ensure inclusivity and protection of vulnerable groups.
  -Support the development and dissemination of tools and resources that promote PGI, enhancing the capacity of National Societies to address protection, gender, and inclusion issues effectively.

• Support the development of appropriate incident management, reporting and case management systems and referral pathways to prevent, mitigate and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse. Work with Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) colleagues and the protection cluster to harmonise approaches to complaints in hotlines and other mechanisms.

Program designs and Implementation

• Support the integration of community engagement and risk communication for natural and man-made disasters, enhancing community-based solutions. This involves understanding community contexts, beliefs, and practices, and using feedback to continually improve communication strategies and program effectiveness.
• Promote the set-up and maintenance of National Society Integrity Lines, including by identifying and training personnel involved in their management and defining standard operating procedures.
• Support the design, implementation and facilitation training/workshops for managers, staff and volunteers in IFRC and National Societies based on existing standard IFRC trainings on protection, gender and inclusion, and those which are being developed.
• Support relevant National Societies providing humanitarian assistance to population movements to promote the dignity, access, participation, and safety of all persons, based on their different needs, capacities, and vulnerabilities, and without discrimination.
• Support the design and implementation of PGI projects, assist in managing the budget, and ensure quality programming; Contribute to the design and implementation of PGI programmes in line with the needs and tailored to reach the specific needs of a particular group or groups – i.e., disability support, SGBV (Sexual and Gender Based Violence) response, child protection – whilst integrating effectively with other sectors and existing capacities.
• Oversee the financial implementation of CEA, and PGI plans in different countries.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Support the integration of PGI within MHPSS programs, and other by identifying and designing joint projects that effectively meet the needs of the targeted groups.

• Monitor and report upon the changing context and the protection risks to ensure that prevention, mitigation and response activities are targeted and adapted to the changing context, risks and needs. Contribute this information to operations and programme coordinators, needs assessments and operational plans, humanitarian diplomacy efforts, communication materials, community engagement and accountability and donor reporting.

Capacity Building

• Support the plan and facilitation of CEA, and PGI trainings to IFRC and NSs staff and volunteers, providing people with the skills and knowledge to launch and manage CEA, and PGI tools and approaches within their programmes and operations.
• Support the rolling out and adaptation of CEA, and PGI Movement tools, methodologies, and activities, to support programmes and operations.
• Develop evidence-based learning demonstrating the impact of PGI and, community engagement on the quality and effectiveness of programming by supporting the rolling out of among others research, impact surveys, perceptions studies and case studies.

Coordination

• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including Regional and Global IFRC PGI mechanisms, ICRC Offices, National Societies, the ROE Office, UN agencies, and other service providers, to ensure alignment, integration, and ongoing dialogue on protection files.

Contribute to an effective and high quality IFRC CCD team:

• To provide progress reports to line manager;
• Be flexible and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources;
• Foster a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness;

Duties applicable to all staff
1.    Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals 
2.    Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3.    Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• An advanced university degree in a relevant area such as social sciences/behavioral/communication sciences or equivalent experience.

• Academic qualification or equivalent professional training in community development, social work, legal and human rights, social science, public health, or any other related field.

Preferred:

• Relevant post-graduate degree (master's or equivalent).
• Basic delegate training course, IMPACT, or equivalent knowledge.

Experience

Required:

• 3 years of experience in a CEA related role, for example, beneficiary communication, social mobilization, community engagement, communication for development, accountability officer and at least 3-5 years of experience working with protection, gender and/or gender-based violence, including safeguarding.
• Experience of designing and implementing CEA/PGI approaches, including community feedback mechanisms, tools for communicating with communities (radio, social media, social mobilization) and participatory planning processes.
• Experience in humanitarian settings and, specifically, in emergency response settings including conflict-affected, migration and/or refugee contexts.
• Experience with providing inputs to ensure that protection and gender/GBV are mainstreamed in humanitarian programmes throughout the project cycle.
• Demonstrated experience in applying humanitarian protection/gender/accessibility standards and guidelines in a range of contexts.
• Experience in basic case management, including survivor-centred approach, referral and data protection.
• Demonstrate knowledge in safeguarding principles and mechanisms, like PSEA and Child Safeguarding.

Preferred:

• Experience in leading community engagement approaches and capacity building efforts of local organizations. Experience with facilitating group and on-the-job trainings in international settings, with good knowledge of the adult learning cycle.
• Experience in planning targeted and appropriate behaviour change approaches.
• Experience of designing and implementing assessments, community consultations, research activities.
• Demonstrated coordination or team management experience in an organization within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or in an international organization or NGO.
• Experience in project management, particularly in developing and overseeing initiatives that align with organizational objectives and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Experience of working with local stakeholders and partners.
• Experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• Experience in an international organization or NGO.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Good understanding of current developments in the field of communication with communities, behavioural and social sciences, community engagement processes, strategic communication, research approaches.
• Good understanding of CEA and PGI issues in emergencies contexts.
• Sensitivity to challenging political contexts and understanding of risk management processes.
• Good knowledge of gender and diversity issues in humanitarian programming.
• Facilitations and training skills.
• Good knowledge of international humanitarian standards on protection, gender mainstreaming and GBV, and relevant working tools.
• Strong ability to incorporate PGI related systems and processes into operations and programmes, considering the context and low resource environments.
• Excellent communication and active listening skills.
• Culturally competent with excellent ability to work effectively as part of multicultural teams and engage in a respectful, considerate manner with local staff and communities.
• Extremely flexible and adaptable, at ease in ambiguous high intensity emergency environments.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and participatory assessment and research methodologies and analysis.
• Advanced analytical skills, able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming and operations.
• Good planning skills, with the ability to identify areas for improvements in programmes, operations and NS/IFRC ways of working through the integration of CEA and PGI approaches and activities.
• Strong skills in assessment and analysis.
• Well-developed ability to analyse situations and prioritise/ make decisions accordingly.
• Strong skills in coordination and advocacy.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Competencies, Values and Comments

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust;
VALUES: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability;