Officer, Livelihoods & Resilience

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 (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.

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

Job Purpose

The Officer, Livelihoods & Resilience will represent the Technical Group - Food Security & Alimentation (GT-SAME) within the organizational and functional framework of the Sahel+ Group Resilience Platform (RPS+). The officer will coordinate, energize and monitor the implementation of the SAME action plan and provide technical support to the SAME focal points for the implementation of the SAME technical group's action plan. The Officer will dedicate at least 50% of their working time to the Sahel+ FSL technical group.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Represent the Sahel+ FSL technical group in the organizational and functional framework of the Resilience Platform of the Sahel+ Group (RPS+)

1. Ensure coordination with the RPS+ Secretariat and Governance;
2. Ensure the representation of Sahel+ FSL technical group within the Movement’s internal coordination bodies;
3. Define the modalities and ensure coordination with the other Sahel+ technical groups (migration).

Coordinate, animate and monitor the implementation of the action plan of the Sahel+ FSL technical group, in coordination with the FSL regional delegate of the British Red Cross and the IFRC Livelihood Center, in particular

1. Ensure the quality implementation of the action plan within the time frame defined in the quarterly schedules;
2. Ensure a participatory balance within the Sahel+ FSL technical group by consulting all members of the Group and encouraging their involvement and the search for consensus.
3. Ensure that the implementation of the action plan of the Sahel+ FSL technical group is aligned with the strategic axes and programmatic activities of the Movement partners (SN, IFRC, ICRC, PNS);
4. Advise and provide guidance to all Movement stakeholders around FSL;
5. Involve other Movement stakeholders in the group's activities (SN, IFRC, ICRC, PNS) at the technical level and encourage them to contribute financially to Sahel+ FSL activities.
6. Monitoring, evaluation of the delivery of the action plan, in consultation with the Head of Delegation of the Federation and the FSL regional delegate;
7. Ensure reporting of the activities of the FSL technical group in accordance with the M&E plan (including different levels of accountability: the FSL technical group, RPS+, donors), and coordinate (internally at the IFRC) to ensure the correct financial reporting of the PoA.

Provide technical support to the FSL focal points for the implementation of the action plan of the FSL technical group (with the support and in coordination with the British Red Cross, the Livelihoods Resource Center and ICRC)

1. In coordination with the regional office of the Federation, ensure the mobilization of FSL focal points by country as well as a good understanding of the objectives of the FSL technical group and its action plan;
2. Support FSL focal points and NS in the analysis and revision of their strategic institutional plan or their FSL strategy to better take into account the resilience priorities of their respective countries;
3. Support FSL focal points in identifying institutional strengthening priorities for NS in the Sahel region and beyond (as and when need arise) in terms of FSL.
4. Supervise and support the focal points in the implementation of their role with their NS (communication on the activities taking place within the group, presentation of the Action Plan, etc.)

Lead the RPCA/PREGEC/Harmonized Framework task force of the technical group according to the predefined terms of reference of this task force:

1. In coordination with the Heads of Delegations of the Federation, ensure adequate representation of the RCRC Movement within the technical networks and the regional task force the various bodies of the Harmonized Framework/PREGEC/RPCA process (calendar to be determined, composition of the representation of Sahel + NS, PNS, IFRC);
2. Ensure communication within the task force between the different stakeholders: information on the Harmonized Framework process, reporting of representation and advocacy activities;
3. Support/train Focal Points to guarantee their effective participation in the CH country analysis sessions;

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Capitalize and disseminate the experience and activities of the FSL technical group and support the NS to make them influential players in FSL at the national and regional level.

1. Identify FSL good practices implemented by NSs as well as other external actors and synergies, by promoting their dissemination and connection between NSs and other organizations.
2. Coordinate the development of the technical group's quarterly bulletins with contributions from the NS and with the support of the Communications Officer;
3. Support the creation of a digital platform and ensure the collection and filing of data, in order to promote access to information on the sector and the exchange of experiences around FSL.

Monitoring and monitoring the food security situation in the Sahel:

1. Monitor food security in the Sahel, in coordination with NSs and specialized organizations in the region;
2. Participate in regional coordination mechanisms linked to FSL (FSNWG, Resilience Group, etc.) in representation of the Movement;
3. Develop common key messages validated by the FSL technical group and RPS+, which draw on information from monitoring the food security situation and context to influence national and regional FSL policies and actions;
4. Support and/or coordinate emergency food security assessments based on requests from NS;
5. Participate in inter-agency FSL evaluations (“harmonized framework”).
6. Support NS in the development of FSL response plans.

Education

• University degree in the field of food security, livelihoods, agronomy, socioeconomics, and/or nutrition.
• Master's degree in related field would be an asset

Experience

Required

• 5 years' experience in the food security, nutrition and emergency livelihoods and recovery sector, preferably in development and risk reduction projects.
• Proven experience in strategic analysis and planning, and in setting up organizational schemes (such as coordination platforms, exchange networks).
• At least 5 years of experience in project/programme management, grant management or related field.
• Experience working in humanitarian or development sector, with developing countries especially in the Sahel region.
• Experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.

Preferred

• Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC/Climate Centre.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Good knowledge of the Sahel region and of national and regional policies (humanitarian needs, issues, dynamics).
• Knowledge of the “harmonized framework” process or IPC analysis.
• Experience and/or knowledge of innovative SAME approaches.
• Good communication, group facilitation and coordination skills, presentation skills.
• Excellent writing skills, good ability to summarize and popularize for various audiences and good knowledge of program writing; among other things, in order to write quality technical reports, contribute to program development in relation to the function.
• Ability to take initiative, organizational skills and thoroughness.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal and diplomatic skills to represent IFRC interests and facilitate negotiation with new partnerships.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.

•  Fluent spoken and written English and French

Preferred

• Good command of Portuguese is an asset
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic).

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.