Senior Officer, Climate Action

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 network. The IFRC is a membership organisation established by and comprised of 192-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Addressing climate and environmental crises is the first strategic priority of the IFRC’s Strategy 2030, which stresses the urgent need to massively scale-up climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, in view of increasing disasters and climate-related impacts on vulnerable people.

Climate change is a key focus area for the IFRC. The IFRC’s approach to collectively reducing the current and future humanitarian impacts of climate change is informed by its Strategy 2030 which places climate change and environmental crises as one the key challenges to be addressed in the coming decade. The first strategic priority of the IFRC Secretariat’s Plan and Budget for 2021-2025 also focuses on addressing the climate and environmental crises and seeks to generate systemic and transformational change. In recognition of the need to scale up action, IFRC has launched a Global Climate Resilience Platform to enhance access to climate finance, as to deliver a joint Global Climate Resilience Programme. IFRC also co-led the development of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, which calls to adjust projects so that they can help people affected by crisis better adapt to climate and environmental crises.

 

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer for Climate Action will be part of the Climate, Environment and Community Resilience Team, of the Health, Disaster, Climate and Crises (HDCC) Unit of the Americas. The Climate Action Senior Officer will be under the line management of the Americas Regional Climate, Environment and Resilience Coordinator and under the technical oversight of the Global Climate, Environment and Resilience Team.

Together they will seek to advance the work and position of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the Americas on climate action. The Senior Officer, Climate Action ensures quality technical advice and resources to support effective climate action and enables increased engagement of Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies.

The Senior Officer for Climate Action will oversee the advances in the Americas of the Global Climate Resilience Programme, supporting the National Societies engaging in the Climate Action Journey, with a special focus on climate-smart programmes and operations, as well as designing new climate change adaptation actions.

The Senior Officer will lead on regional capacity building on climate change and the development and roll-out of climate action approaches and tools, including around locally-led adaptation.

In 2024, the Scaling up Locally-led Adaptation and Transforming Humanitarian Responses to Climate Change project supported by USAID-BHA and funded under the Platform (subsequently referred to as USAID Climate Change Adaptation / CCA project), was launched for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Senior Officer for Climate Action will oversee and work closely with regional delegations of IFRC and NS country teams to follow up on project implementation. The project aims to support the implementation of the Global Climate Resilience Programme and commitments made under the Climate and Environment Charter in 5 countries in Americas and Carribean. .

The Senior Officer for Climate Action works closely with the various units of the IFRC Secretariat that have responsibility for climate-related work, at both global and regional levels, and the work of the reference centers (Climate Center, CREPD, CRECC). This includes coordinating HDCC Department planning and reporting in relation to climate change, liaising with other relevant teams as needed for project implementation, including alignment of strategic aims with activities related to climate action and programming on the ground to ensure maximum contribution to IFRC strategic aims and deliverables. The Senior Officer also promotes partnerships and alignment for scale-up and implementation of climate action with key climate stakeholders in the region.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Be responsible and accountable for ensuring the effective implementation of related projects, including the USAID climate change adaptation project, in Americas:

• Ensure the project(s) is/are delivered on time within the stipulated time, scope and budget within the Americas region. 
• Lead the initiation and planning of the project(s) and coordinate and oversee work planning across the Americas target countries.
• Support recruitment of staff needed for the implementation of the project(s).
• In close coordination with the IFRC Country and Cluster Delegations, support the development of contracts with relevant National Societies and other stakeholders as relevant. 
• Oversee the development of regional, sub-regional and country level budgets for the project(s) and ensure effective resource allocation. 
• Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative procedures and the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures related to project activities.
• Develop, or support the development, of a detailed plan to monitor, track and evaluate the progress of the project(s).
• In close coordination with the IFRC Country and Cluster Delegations, support implementation of project activities in target countries, ensuring delivery within agreed quality standards.
• Provide technical support as requested, connecting to and collaborating with other relevant technical leads at the regional and global levels.
• Coordinate with relevant internal and external parties for the flawless execution of the project(s).
• Perform risk management analysis to reduce project risks.
• Report and escalate any risks or challenges to upper management and the global project manager (where relevant), as and when needed.
• Provide quality inputs into narrative and financial reports.
• In close collaboration with the IFRC Country and Cluster Delegations, support coordination, communication and knowledge sharing across project countries in the region.
• In close collaboration with the IFRC Country and Cluster Delegations, support the development of partnerships with key stakeholders required to effectively implement the project activities.

Ensure quality technical advice and resources to support effective programming

• Support the development of strategies and plans for how to reach IFRC’s climate-related targets related to the Global Climate Resilience Programme, in close coordination with relevant colleagues.
• Support and guide advocacy efforts to scale-up climate action, and position National Societies as key partners for the climate and environment agenda.
• Provide technical advice on how to mainstream and scale up climate action in-country operational plans, programmes and emergency appeals.
• Provide technical advice on the design and implementation of new climate change adaptation actions.
• Provide technical advice to Regional Country Delegations and local stakeholders to support capacity-building activities for National Societies related to climate action, ensuring a coherent and comprehensive approach aligned with related technical areas (e.g. anticipatory action, nature-based solutions).
• Support resource mobilization and proposal development related to climate action, with a special focus on the Americas’ positioning within the Global Climate Resilience Platform, together with relevant colleagues.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Advance the work and position of the IFRC on climate action in the Region

• Support regional level planning and positioning efforts for the IFRC Secretariat on climate action.
• Draft technical and strategic documents for the Red Cross Red Crescent network on climate action in the Americas, in close cooperation with relevant colleagues.
• Contribute to climate-related efforts by other IFRC departments, as relevant (e.g. Policy, Partnerships, Communications).
• When required, represent IFRC Americas in key regional fora, ensuring effective coordination and information sharing with IFRC Regional Offices and the RCCC.
• Guide and contribute to the development of IFRC communications campaigns and products on climate action.
• Ensure the sharing of regular updates, experiences and lessons within and between IFRC Country/Cluster Delegations and National Societies implementing climate change adaptation programmes in the region. 
• Support the development of strategic partnerships on climate change adaptation regionally.
• Promote the IFRC network’s climate change adaptation efforts, including under the Global Climate Resilience Programme, with different partners and donors, and through different communications mediums.

• In coordination with IFRC Country/Cluster Delegations, obtain required information from National Societies participating in the Global Climate Resilience Programme to support resource mobilization and implementation.

Support effective coordination between the IFRC Secretariat and the reference centres related to climate action

• Support communication and dialogue between IFRC and the reference centers (IFRC CREPD, Climate Centre, CRECC) through information sharing, establishing connections between teams, and drawing from and linking expertise to IFRC work wherever relevant.

 Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team

• Oversight and lead project climate teams in-presence and remotely to achieve common objectives.
• Provide progress reports on results against objectives and risk analyses as required
• Contribute to a client-oriented approach that values accountability for results, proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
• Foster a collaborative working environment with colleagues in the IFRC Secretariat, Regions, Reference Centers, National Societies and external partners.
• Be available to deploy to Regions, Country Offices, or Operations to provide support as necessary.

Education

• Relevant post-graduate university degree
• Technical training in climate adaptation, sustainable development, climate science, climate-smart programming and/or climate resilience of communities
• Relevant studies or experience on advocacy for climate change, climate action, environmental policy and environmental law, preferred 
• Technical training in disaster risk management and/or response preparedness, preferred 
• Technical training on Community Resilience, Locally-led Adaptation, Nature-based Solutions, or equivalent work experience, preferred

Experience

• 5 to 7 years’ experience in climate advocacy, climate policy, environmental management, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation and/ or related field
• 3 to 5 years’ experience working for community resilience, development sector, humanitarian sector, and or disaster risk management, preferred
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in project management
• Good understanding of global environmental policy and commitments (SDGs, NDCs, Climate Charter)
• Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing
  Experience in the Americas region
• Good understanding of the IFRC and National Societies, preferred
• Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian actors, preferred

 

 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent communication, organization, and facilitation skills
• Self-sufficient in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.)
• Skills in developing and training staff
• Skills in negotiation and building relations
  
  

Languages

• Fluently spoken and written English and Spanish

Competencies, Values and Comments

COMPETENCIES AND VALUES

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.

 

COMMENTS

Important Note:

• Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract; therefore, only nationals of the country or foreigners holding a valid work permit will be considered.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans, and applicable national laws.
• The closing date is midnight Geneva time
• Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified

 

Multilocation Position

This is a local staff position that can be based in any of the IFRC Americas duty stations: 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 the application phase.