Senior Officer, Humanitarian Diplomacy

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 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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, country cluster, and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC supports the operations, programming, and organizational strengthening of the National Societies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan countries, from its Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) in Central Asia.

Job Purpose

The role of the Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) Senior Officer is to support IFRC and its member National Societies with an effective framework, including the guidance provided by the Strategic Plan 2023-2025 Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications in Europe and Central Asia, for advancing core influencing objectives, aiming to support greater humanitarian impact and visibility. Humanitarian diplomacy complements and supports all existing policies, programs and strategies of the IFRC. It is also a tool to develop cooperation with stakeholders and to enhance programme outcomes.

The HD Senior Officer will support in positioning IFRC’s advocacy approaches and advise on humanitarian analyses, focusing on the situation reflected in the IFRC humanitarian priorities and vulnerabilities in Central Asia region.

Considering the dynamic of the region, different hazards the region is exposed to including climate related hazards, cross border elements, Central Asia being vulnerable in many fronts including to climate change impacts; it is anticipated that one of the priorities in Central Asia for HD Senior Officer will also be advocacy efforts on different aspects indicated above.

The Senior Officer will:
- Develop strong relationships with National Societies, the ICRC and external partners and stakeholders - engaging diplomatically on some of the most important humanitarian issues facing the Movement today for positioning and cooperation;
- Work with National Societies to develop their voice and to support the needs and aspirations of vulnerable people, including through confidential diplomacy, environment building, public influence and public advocacy campaigns;
- Facilitate effective influencing and advocacy, including through supporting the development of positions on critical humanitarian issues and their dissemination;
- Work in coordination with National Societies and the concerned IFRC units on key messages to achieve policy change and help position IFRC including the National Societies on specific humanitarian issues with decision-makers and other stakeholders;
- Provide support on areas that require specific programmatic advocacy activities to improve the implementation of programs, and advice on risks related to the engagement in these advocacy efforts;
- Support National Societies to share their humanitarian diplomacy experiences and knowledge and their learning, including through the digital platform set up by the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
- Contributing into the concise IFRC Humanitarian Diplomacy plan of action for the Europe region from Central Asia perspective.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Contribute to the strategic narrative underpinning programs and operations within the CCD
-    Draft (or contribute to the drafting) of the context analysis sections of country and Regional/cluster-level plans;
-    Initiate or assist in the drafting of key messages, briefing notes and presentations pertaining to the humanitarian landscape, response ecosystem and role of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the IFRC within that ecosystem;
-    As required, take part and support positioning in policy forums, panels or presentations related to the evolution of conflict and crises in the area of operation. 
-    Contribute into the concise Humanitarian Diplomacy plan of action for IFRC Europe region from Central Asia perspective with specific emphasis on good practices and experiences from Central Asia;
-    Connect with decision makers in the humanitarian field to participate in the agenda setting and policy making processes and engage National Societies to do so, including in the policy implementation.
-    Support National Societies to connect with governments in the implementation of decisions made in the 34th International Conference.
-    Provide regular updates for the Movement to share information on the humanitarian diplomacy activities made by National Societies and IFRC CCD, e.g., through the policy updates to the Geneva secretariat.
Regularly scan the geo-political, policy and socio-economic landscape in Central Asia 
-    Working closely with the Humanitarian Diplomacy network of the IFRC, develop a methodology that allows for a regular scan of all relevant factors that are likely to have a negative humanitarian impact on populations within the area of responsibility of the CCD. Those factors include, but are not limited to the socio-economic landscape (including access to income, purchasing power), geopolitical situation (including conflict dynamics) and policy environment (within Central Asia and neighbouring countries);
-    Proactively seek input and leverage expertise from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) related to the situation in their own context;
-    Contribute to the development of a network of analytical resources within the IFRC;
-    Produce analytical pieces on key contextual issues, operational challenges and RCRC advocacy positions (key messaging, positioning, updates, issues briefs, etc.); 
-    Provide regular, concise and relevant summary of the impacts that conflicts other emergencies are likely to have on the needs and behavior of population, including as it relates to migration;
-    Regularly update leadership on changes (current or expected) to the policy environment in the CCD.  

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Proactively identify humanitarian needs and gaps in services
-    Analyse humanitarian needs (primary and secondary) against the capacities of the humanitarian ecosystem (including civil society, government support, UN agencies and the private sector) with a view to identify gaps in service offering that would contribute to the vulnerability of specific populations. 
-    Provide regular insights to the IFRC leadership in order to direct programs towards idientified gaps, with a view to maximise the impact and value added of the Red Cross and Red Crescent network.
-    Make recommendations related to types of services and programs to be undertaken by the IFRC and its member National Socities as well as location and duration of those programs;
-    Support management in identifying and narrowing key Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) objectives, with a strong focus on the IFRC Humanitarian Diplomacy priorities;
-    Identify relevant decision makers and other opinion leaders and understanding the decision-making processes related to the specific culture and context in which they are operating; 
-    Work with the National Society technical leads and IFRC Secretariat leadership as appropriate to support HD work related to strategically prioritised HD areas and operational needs;  
-    Support National Societies to develop HD strategies, in coordination with the Disaster Law delegate in particular with regard to strengthening their auxiliary role;
-    Support Central Asia National Societies’ and IFRC Secretariat staff on perspectives and participation in the IFRC’s global HD initiatives, events and plans and ensure alignment between national, regional and global approaches;  
-    Advice on risk and opportunities for engaging in advocacy activities within Central Asia region;
-    In close coordination with the National Society Development team, support National Societies and IFRC in strengthening the visibility for and public understanding of Red Cross and Red Crescent mandate, role and activities;
-    Support National Societies to work with relevant partners/actors and to initiate strategic dialogue and partnerships, and participate in relevant networks and strengthen cooperation with current and potential donors from international organizations and corporate sector who are located in Central Asia to add value to resource mobilization and sustainable development of National Societies in Central Asia, 
-    Ensure adequate coordination and collaboration between IFRC initiative on humanitarian diplomacy, policy and advocacy, and the activities carried out by other humanitarian actors or authorities;
-    Contribute to increasing the overall quality and scope of humanitarian diplomacy through engagement with staff in Central Asia National Societies who have skills in advocacy, negotiation, communication and other diplomatic experience or knowledge to encourage a network of humanitarian diplomacy experts / focal points to exchange information, lessons and good practice and to support competency development; 
-    Support and ensure that National Societies and the IFRC, at all levels, are equipped with the necessary skills and training to implement Humanitarian Diplomacy policy;
-    Collect and disseminate lessons from humanitarian diplomacy within the team, within National Societies, and regional counterparts in the IFRC between Movement components and with external partners;
-    Undertake other appropriate duties and assigned pieces of work by the head of delegation.

Education

Required:

• Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or higher) in relevant area, such as international relations, development and conflict studies, political science, emergency management
  
  

Preferred:

• Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT, FACT, ERU, RDRT, CAP training

Experience

Required:

• At least 5 years of experience in intelligence gathering or policy analysis
• At least 10 years of experience in working for a humanitarian organisation internationally or similar working experience in humanitarian settings
• Solid experience in the drafting of analytical report
• Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context, including the key donors

Preferred:

• Proven track record and experience in a management role within an international, governmental or non-governmental organization
• Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis operations/ projects and activities preferably population movements, protection and/or health-related emergencies in complex settings
• Work experience with Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Effective project- & financial management skills
• Good analytical skills and solution-oriented
• Good mentoring and capacity development skills
• Ability to work well in a multicultural team
• Excellent stress management skills / Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Demonstrated accountability
• Exceptional organizational ability with an eye for detail
• Good communication and report writing skills
• Able to work independently and as part of the team
• Valid international driving license (manual gears)
• Self-supporting in IT
• Documentation preparation/presentation and computer-based production skills
• Fluently spoken and written English & Russian

Preferred:

• Strong demonstrable skills and expertise in capacity building
• Good skills in training, facilitation and presentations
• Knowledge of humanitarian affairs and migration

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;