Senior Officer, Humanitarian Diplomacy

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”

 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

 

The IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) is a membership organisation, consisting of the world’s 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, acting through more than 160,000 local branches or offices and with 16 million community-based volunteers. They are supported by the IFRC Secretariat, which works to support, coordinate and represent the action of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide. Together, the members and their Secretariat are known as the “IFRC network”.

Each National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society is an independent national organisation dedicated to saving lives, promoting community health, safety resilience and well-being, and building inclusive societies. As auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, National Societies support their authorities to reduce risks, protect human dignity, delivery aid and improve the lives of vulnerable people, while always acting in conformity with the Fundamental Principles.

Their unparalleled local presence, combined with the IFRC Secretariat’s role in global coordination and response, brokering knowledge, strengthening abilities, mobilising resources and representation, form the world’s largest and most effective humanitarian network.

The IFRC network is diverse and inclusive. It is uniquely placed to deliver life-saving services before, during and after disasters, and health emergencies, perilous migration journeys and other crises, and to deliver the long-term programming that is critical to building sustainable community resilience, adapt to climate change and promote public health.

The IFRC network is neutral, impartial and independent. It is a trusted partner both in emergency response and in individual, community and institutional resilience, and it is a leader in the anticipation, prevention, and response to disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, has five decentralized regional offices: one of which is the Americas Regional Office in Panama that covers 34 countries through six delegations.

The Senior Officer, Humanitarian Diplomacy supports IFRC and National Societies in the Americas region by providing advice and guidance to advance influencing objectives with relevant stakeholders and enhance humanitarian impact and visibility. S/he liaises with a variety of individuals from diplomats to grass-roots volunteers, high-ranking staff, officials and national authorities.

 

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, Humanitarian Diplomacy supports the effective implementation of the Americas humanitarian diplomacy priorities, aligned with the Global Strategy and relevant  IFRC and Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement framework. S/he participates in diplomatic efforts, advocating for principled humanitarian action, building relationships with relevant regional bodies and organizations.

S/he collaborates to ensure that the IFRC in the Americas region is well informed, and strategically positioned for advocacy efforts.

S/he reports to the Regional Head for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Regional Liaison. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Advancing the humanitarian diplomacy agenda through regional engagement•

• Engage proactively to build and maintain strategic relationships
• Facilitate partnerships with the diplomatic and international community in the Americas
• Identify opportunities for influencing decision and opinion makers in the humanitarian arena
• Support the development of a network of Americas’ National Societies focal points to advance the humanitarian diplomacy agenda in the region.
• Work closely and in coordination with IFRC programs at regional office and cluster level, as well as with the humanitarian diplomacy global team.

Monitoring and reporting regional trends and country profiles

• Monitoring and evaluation of region and country politics and development frameworks to position IFRC regional and global priorities; alert and inform the senior management team
• Conduct regular assessments and reviews to ensure continuous improvement of strategies and practices.
• Prepare and present reports on humanitarian diplomacy activities and initiatives to senior management and stakeholders

Building and promoting capabilities

• Support and coordinate the design and delivery of capacity building programs for Americas National Societies, IFRC staff, and key stakeholders in the humanitarian diplomacy domain
• Promote knowledge sharing and learning within Americas National Societies, IFRC staff, and key stakeholders taking advantage of the technology, tailor-made approach and existing and new learning methodologies
• Support, grow and expand talent and abilities of Americas National Societies to influence decision and opinion makers
• Work closely with the National Societies to develop tailored capacity-building initiatives that address specific needs and challenges, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive approach

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Additional Regular Tasks

• Support the promotion of the IFRC humanitarian diplomacy strategy, including by representing the unit and through delegated tasks at meetings, events, training and workshops
• Upgrade engagement with key stakeholders, including by developing, tracking and implementing a regional calendar of proposed events related with IFRC priorities
• Provide analysis of key humanitarian diplomacy scenarios in Americas region
• Assist in the development of IFRC speeches, presentations, panels, trainings and informative sessions in the Americas
• Prepare and maintain updated strategic and high-quality briefing notes and information resources at senior management level
• Prepare, coordinate and deliver official communications and correspondence to the diplomatic community and Panama’s national authorities
• Support the development and promotion of humanitarian diplomacy opportunities, including by producing technical materials for influencing decision makers and resource mobilization
• Support high level visits through protocol procedures and preparation of strategic information
• Prepare financial documents for the proper management of the humanitarian diplomacy unit including budget preparation
• Prepare proposals for donors to mobilize financial and technical support to enhance NS capacities
• Maintain close coordination with the communications unit to align and prepare messages and actions during emergencies, campaigns and regular influencing actions
• Support and contribute with IFRC regional office and cluster coordination meetings and exercises, including regular engagement with ICRC
• Other activities and initiatives as needed related to humanitarian diplomacy priorities in the Americas region.

Education

• University degree in international relations, public administration, social sciences or relevant discipline
• Relevant post-graduate degree, preferred

Experience

• 7 years of progressive work experience in similar positions
• 4 years of experience in international organizations, embassies or public agencies
• Experience in relationship management
• Experience in public relations
• Experience in official procedures and rules governing affairs of state or diplomacy
• Experience in multi-cultural environments
• Experience in developing and keeping a professional network

 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent advocacy and diplomatic skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proven experience in building and maintaining effective working relations
• Proven experience in communications, collaboration and cooperation
• Proven skills and experience of program management, including Monitoring & Evaluation and project/program reporting
• Proven experience of budgeting and financial management of projects / programs
• Proven experience in successful coordination and partnership with other organizations
• Professional discretion and confidentiality 
• Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams

 

Languages

• Fluently spoken and written English and Spanish
• Fluently spoken and written French and/or Portuguese, preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability CORE

COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development; Strategic Orientation

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation; Leadership; Empowering Others

 

APPLICATION

A letter of motivation must be submitted along with the application no later than the closing date. In order to ensure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that you submit your application taking into account the following:

Important Note:

• Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract under the labour law of any of the following countries, where the IFRC have legal status: 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); therefore only those citizens, as well as foreign applicants with valid and current residence and work permit in those countries, will be considered for this vacancy.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and local labour laws
• The closing date is midnight Geneva time; Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.