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 composed 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 IFRC aims to enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience and foster a culture of peace worldwide. It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
Job Purpose
This consultancy seeks an experienced communication professional to further develop and roll-out IFRC’s communication plan for epidemic and pandemic preparedness programmes, support or lead on the development of advocacy and communication materials targeting a wide range of audiences, and coordinate dissemination strategies with IFRC and Red Cross Red Crescent communication focal points.
Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy
IFRC Strategy 2030
“We will enhance local response and preparedness capacities alongside complementary international support mechanisms, so that our network will respond effectively to any emergency.”
“We will also significantly invest in epidemic and pandemic preparedness. This includes investing in local actors, networks and volunteers as frontline responders and early risk detectors.”
Through the IFRC Plan and Budget 2021–2025, the Federation laid out ambitious goals and identified strategic priorities related to disaster management and health:
- Goal 1: People anticipate, respond to, and quickly recover from crisis
- Goal 2: People lead safe, healthy and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive
- Strategic Priority 2: Evolving crisis and disasters
- Strategic Priority 3: Growing gaps in health and well-being
Theresolution “Time to act: Tackling epidemics and pandemics together”, and the integratedDisaster Risk Management (DRM) Policy adopted at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in December 2019 have laid a strong foundation for IFRC’s work inglobal health security and disaster risk management.
Objectives
The objectives of the consultancy are to
- Contribute to the further development and to the implementation of IFRC’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness programming communication, advocacy, and knowledge sharing activities, at the country and at the global level.
- Lead or support the development of communications and advocacy materials, products, and social media assets targeting a wide range of audiences.
- Make recommendations and coordinate dissemination strategies with IFRC and National Societies focal points to ensure internal and external visibility.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop an overarching communication, knowledge sharing and advocacy plan for internal and external target audiences of interest for IFRC’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness programmes.
- Suggest a way forward to identify a name under which to rebrand IFRC’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness programmes.
- Develop advocacy key messages, leadership speeches and strengthen internal and external advocacy activities.
- Develop creative concepts and scripts for audiovisual communication materials and social media assets.
- Produce articles, web stories, success stories, videos.
- Support and guide a selection of country teams with the definition and roll-out of their communication plans.
- Suggest and support dissemination strategies with IFRC and National Societies focal points to ensure internal and external visibility.
Timeframe
The consultancy will be for up to 70 days between October 2023 and April 2024.
Management of consultancy
The consultant will be managed by the IFRC Health and Care Department Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness Program Manager.
The IFRC will reimburse travel expenses when the consultant needs to travel for communications missions, based on prior approval of file holder and following IFRC institutional rules and regulations. The consultant is expected to work from home. Travel will be agreed upon with respective file holders.
Experience
Required
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in developing communication strategies and advocacy plans with humanitarian or development organizations.
- Experience in conducting similar consultancies, with demonstrable evidence of producing high-quality results.
- Experience producing high-quality creative concepts for digital, print, audio, and audiovisual communication materials.
- Experience producing and developing human-centred web stories and social media content.
- Experience with the management of websites and analysis of web statistics.
- Prior experience working with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, IFRC and/or ICRC.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
- Fluently spoken and written English.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
Preferred
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
Other
Required
- Availability to travel to document epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response stories during the consultancy period.
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.
IFRC values equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, nationality, class, political opinions, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief.
How to apply
- Please submit your application via IFRC website in English only.
- Please include your Preferred Daily Rate in CHF (Swiss Franc) in your cover letter.