Coordinator, Programme

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

The four countries supported by the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for East Asia – China, Japan, Mongolia, and Republic of Korea, cover 28 per cent of the Asian continent and comprising 1.5 billion people. Disasters, poverty, unprecedented aging of the population, urbanization and migration contribute to increased vulnerability in this region. The population are also exposed to increased health risks due to epidemics, communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The IFRC Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) for East Asia supports National Societies in East Asia in becoming stronger domestically and abroad, and in both disaster response operations and sustainable development initiatives. The CCD acts as a resource centre and conduit for exploration and adaptation of global initiatives to meet the sub-region’s needs and capacities.

Job Purpose

Under supervision of the Head of Country Cluster Delegation (HoCCD), the Programme Coordinator is responsible for developing and ensuring the delivery of the IFRC Unified Planning process in line with the IFRC 2030 and following the Ways of Working principles that guide IFRC-wide approaches, putting East Asia National Societies (EANSs) in the centre and enhancing the localization agenda.

Key areas of responsibility of the position include:

-    Programmes and operational coordination, centered around the Unified Planning process and its implementation with shared engagement.

-    National Society Development (NSD), In close coordination with the Membership Services Manager, supporting EANSs transformative agenda with a focus on local support.

-    Humanitarian Diplomacy at programme and operation levels, leveraging IFRC participation in the Humanitarian Country Team in Mongolia, and in other countries of the sub-region when these are established as well as Government relations and EANSs auxiliary role.

-    Proactive Membership coordination with the EANSs at the centre. Participate in Movement Coordination.

-    Coordinating and facilitating collaboration among EANSs, including the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), for the Large-Scale Disaster initiative.

-    Accountability and agility, managing a small portfolio of programmes and operations in complementarity with the IFRC membership in East Asia.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programmes and Operational Coordination

• Lead in the design of the IFRC annual, and where relevant, unified Plan to implement Strategy 2030 with full engagement of EANSs and the IFRC membership supporting EANSs (through various modalities).

• Support EANSs in developing programmes and operations which are relevant to the needs of vulnerable communities and implementing them as per agreed plans of action.

• Support EANSs in designing and coordinating emergency response actions with IFRC-wide approaches and tools, including in accessing DREF and Emergency Appeal resources.

• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the Unified Plan with a focus on the pledges managed by the IFRC Secretariat, also ensuring a coherent approach in the design and delivery of various initiatives, including technical capacity building, engagement with authorities, etc.

• Ensure that the team responsible for programmes and operations works closely with relevant technical units of the EANSs as well as the IFRC AP regional office (and Geneva when necessary) as well as with the ICRC, IFRC membership, relevant IFRC Reference Centres and key external stakeholders throughout the programming cycle to facilitate a synergetic effort to programmes and operations.

• Provide technical guidance and oversight in implementing and monitoring programmes and operations to ensure the application of IFRC policies, frameworks, procedures, standards, guidelines and methodologies at all times.

• Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of IFRC-supported programmes and operations to ensure that implementation is timely, relevant, effective and in line with best international practice, and to identify replicable best practices.

• Coordinate IFRC-wide efforts to mobilize resources for the annual Plans, including contributing to identify and engage with potential donors, and in preparing project proposals and relevant documents.

• Coordinate such resource mobilization efforts with the respective regional and global teams for increased efficiency and coherence.

• Actively participate in and support IFRC’s knowledge and peer-to-peer networks, promote the engagement and utilization of Red Cross Red Crescent reference centres, labs and hubs, and contribute to “shared engagement” initiatives for better utilization and optimization of technical capacities and resources.

National Society Development

In close coordination and under the leadership of the Membership Services Manager:

• Accompany the transformation agenda of the EANS as strong, inclusive, and effective local actors, with a focus on accountability，digitalization，volunteers (including youth), resource mobilization and auxiliary role.

• Provide evidence-based approaches to organizational learning, leadership development and volunteer/staff motivation of the EANSs.

• Promote the full integration of National Society Development (NSD) interventions within and across all programmes and operations (IFRC-wide) to ensure coherent and systematic coordination of capacity building inputs and approaches.

• Provide strategic direction and technical guidance to EANSs in designing and implementing transformative initiatives where relevant, using the IFRC NSD funds as catalyst for change.

• Support and (if possible) scale up the current EANS’ youth engagement as a platform for youth-led climate action across the region, further institutionalizing the campaign and identifying domestic resources for its sustainability.

• At the request of the HoCCD, contribute to manage complexities with the current EANS governance transition as per needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• At the request of the HoCCD, contribute to manage complexities with the current EANSs governance transition as per needs.
• Ensure coordination with the IFRC regional and global teams (membership services, NSD, etc.) to access wider NSD funds (including CBF for example) and peer learning opportunities for the benefit of EANSs.
• Provide membership coordination and support the EANSs in implementing IFRC policies and GA resolutions

Humanitarian Diplomacy
• Together with the HoCCD, enhance the visibility of the IFRC Network actions in East Asia, with EANSs at the centre and recognizing the contributions of the IFRC membership.
• Coordinate communication efforts with EANSs and the IFRC membership, representing the needs of people at risk, capturing the voices and concerns of communities supported as well as ensuring such stories are reaching policymakers and development partners.
• Represent the IFRC in the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) operational meetings, together with EANSs as well as the IFRC membership as relevant. Ensure a coordinated and coherent engagement on programmatic matters with the UN Agencies in East Asia across the IFRC network.
• Together with EANSs, continue to leverage the auxiliary role to participate in policy dialogues at regional level, with a specific focus on DRM, health, and inclusion (including the youth agenda).
• Lead in designing innovative climate programming in partnership and through an IFRC-wide approach to access new funding streams as per the changing financing context.
• Build and nurture solid relationships with key external partners – including development partners, I/NGO, academia, and the private sector – to enhance innovative approaches in programming and promote research or evidence-based programming through partnerships.

Large-Scale Disaster (LSD) Initiative
• Lead and coordinate the development, implementation, and oversight of LSD initiatives in East Asia, including DPRK
• Provide coordination to high impact and regular activities and initiatives to analyze and address existing gaps and barriers for cross-regional and international cooperation during LSD.
• Facilitate the design and familiarization of LSD scenarios with multi-stakeholder response.
• Coordinate the planning and simulation exercises to test the scenarios, pre-agreements, systems, procedures, coordination, and readiness of stakeholders involved.
• In collaboration with EANSs, enhance dialogue, connectedness to key state and non-state entities and promote access to the latest analysis, developments, frameworks and other available relevant information on LSD preparedness and response.
• In collaboration with EANSs, dialogue, coordinate, and establish partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, regional and inter-governmental bodies, private sector and other key stakeholders in order to ensure effective coordinated response in case of LSD.

* Please refer to the attached document for a comprehensive description of the JD for this position.

Education

Relevant university education or an equivalent of qualifying experience

Post-graduate qualification in management or leadership is preferred.

Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge

Experience

At least 7 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector

Prior work in a membership organization in roles that include member capacity development

At least 3 years working experience in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment

Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian/development actors

Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing   

Experience in the Asia Pacific region is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Understanding of East Asia Context- humanitarian landscape, needs and opportunities

Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.)

High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with stakeholders at all levels

Good understanding/practice of IFRC tools such as VCA, CAS and Shared Leadership

Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talents/experience of team members in a productive way

Results-oriented, demand driven, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations

Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and promoting new approaches to engaging partners

Good understanding/practice of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting issues

Understanding of opportunities and constraints for sustainable development

Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills

Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality

High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels

Programme and project management skills

Ability to work within and lead multi-cultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams

Fluently spoken and written English

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, 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.

Functional Competencies: Strategic orientation, building alliances, leadership, empowering others, solution oriented.

Managerial Competencies: Managing staff performance and development

Available documents

• JD - Programme Coordinator_East Asia CCD 2024.pdf