Hungary: Volunteering Coordinator

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the World’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters and crises and health emergencies. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency; coordination and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programs and Operations; and (iii) Management. The Secretariat has five regional offices, as follows: Americas (Panama City); Africa (Nairobi); Asia and Pacific- AP (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); Middle East and North Africa-MENA (Beirut). As one of the five decentralised Regional Offices, Regional Office for Europe supports 54 National Societies to strengthen their humanitarian and development efforts, helping them to remain partners of choice within their country and sustainable and accountable for their actions. The position is integral part of the Regional Programme Team.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Europe, the incumbent is responsible for further advancing volunteering and youth development across Europe and Central Asia, in line with the IFRC Strategy 2020, Florence Call to Action, the Youth Policy and Youth Engagement Strategy. Volunteer Management has furthermore become a central priority during the ongoing migration situation affecting the entire Europe Region and has clearly demonstrated the need for new ways of engaging with volunteers. The large increase in elderly as well as unemployment in the Europe region requires greater attention and the need for engaging volunteers in addressing the challenges faced in these areas.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent shall:

• Act as Europe Region focal point for Red Cross Red Crescent Volunteering Engagement and Youth Development;
• Lead the development and implementation of Europe Region support and technical advice on Volunteering and Youth Development in the framework of the National Society Development Framework.
• Follow up on the findings on the IFRC Global Review on Volunteering, including the engagement in the IFRC Framework for Action for Volunteering which will be presented to the General Assembly in 2017. The aim is to support National Societies to identify new and relevant ways of engaging volunteers that increase the overall capacity of the National Societies and ensuring the long term sustainability of services delivered; and to continue to address the safety and security of volunteers and rights of volunteers through the development of a Volunteer Charter.
• Provide advice to Europe Region National Societies on the IFRC Volunteering Policy and work towards the full implementation of the policy.
• Lead the ROE support to NS on Volunteering Management in Emergencies in close cooperation with ROE Migration and DM units.
• Work closely with IFRC ROE Thematic Units (such as migration, health, DM) where relevant, with a view to ensure that youth and volunteering are mainstreamed in organizational development, capacity building initiatives and programmes within the Europe Region.
• Identify Europe Region youth priorities, advise, plan, organize, coordinate and follow-up on youth-related initiatives in order to strengthen youth engagement, development and action across Europe and Central Asia.
• Lead the planning, development and implementation of Europe Region technical support to the Red Cross Red Crescent European Youth Network, in view to improve the impact of the Network and enhance National Societies participation.
• Function as the Europe Region focal point for the European Network for the Development of Volunteering (ENDOV), in view to improve the coordination with and among Europe Regional National Societies in the area of Volunteering Development.
• Provide, in coordination with the Inclusion, Protection and Engagement-Unit in IFRC Geneva Secretariat, tailored technical support to National Societies in implementing/integrating Humanitarian Education, Social Inclusion and Culture of Non-Violence and Peace, and Gender and Diversity initiatives in their programmes. Special attention will be given to the support of region-wide roll out of the Agents of Behavioral Change (ABC) programme.

Education

• University degree, or equivalent, in relevant discipline (International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, Development Studies, etc.).
• IMPACT training or equivalent course is preferred.

Experience

• At least 5 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with specialisation on volunteering, youth and/or innovation approaches.
• Experience in strategy development and implementation.
• Red Cross/Red Crescent experience.

Knowledge, skills and languages

• Ability to building and maintain effective working relationships with networks of practitioners Innovative thinker and operator.
• Ability to identify appropriate methodologies and collaborative techniques. Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate findings to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work with leadership and senior management of a National Society Sound knowledge of project management concepts and methods.
• Fluently spoken and written English.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) or Russian is preferred.

Competencies and values

Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust

Comments

Contingent upon confirmation of funding

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

Please apply on the organisation's website: Click Here