Switzerland: Officer, Cash Preparedness & Capacity Building

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) is the world's largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 189 member National Societies. The Organisation acts before, during and after disasters and health emergences to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality) and by Strategy 2020, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade. The member National Societies of the IFRC have a long history of using cash transfer programming (CTP) in disaster response. The Tsunami response was a turning point for the RC/RC Movement in the use of cash transfers in disaster relief and recovery programming with learning supporting increasing acceptance of this mechanism in major emergencies as seen in the response to the Pakistan earthquake 2006, Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh 2007, Haiti earthquake (2010), Pakistan floods (2010), Sahel crisis (2011); Philippines typhoons (2012, 2013), Nepal earthquake (2015), etc. Aligned with our mandate to build the capacity of National Societies and the IFRC Plan and Budget for 2016-2020 to support programmatic and operation objectives of National Societies , the vision will be met through the following main strategic objectives reflecting our guidance for mainstreaming CTP: 1. Position the IFRC as the leading agency in humanitarian response through communication and coordination both within and outside the Movement using evidence based learning and experience sharing. 2. Facilitate IFRC’s relief capacity by instituting an enabling system for agile delivery of CTP and in-kind based response. 3. Strengthen appropriate humanitarian response by developing programme tools to support the IFRC and National Societies in implementing the most appropriate response option. 4. Develop IFRC and National Society resource and capacities to be operationally ready to design and implement large scale rapid relief programming.

Job Purpose

This position will focus on supporting IFRC and Red Cross Movement cash preparedness initiatives at global, regional and country level, with travel to the field when required, and Movement cash coordination efforts.
The position will contribute to IFRC meeting its commitments to the Grand Bargain, arising from the World Humanitarian Summit, as well implementing the IFRC Cash Roadmap 2017-2022 with regards to cash scale-up, coordination and localization.
The Movement is supporting several cash preparedness activities in different countries and regions to increase the number of National Societies that are “cash ready”. This will enable them to ensure that cash based responses are routinely considered during the response options analysis and to mainstream cash programming across all operations when relevant with the objective to enable disaster and crisis affected people to meet their diverse needs in the most appropriate, timely and dignified way through in-kind and/or cash transfer programming delivered by National Societies and IFRC disaster response capacities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Global CTP preparedness

• Design and develop specialist training and support training initiatives related to CTP Preparedness, market assessments (RAM, MAG, etc.), CTP systems, tools and standards that enable effective implementation of relevant methodologies, in coordination with Movement partners and ensuring best practices are delivered and documented.
• Provide technical support to National Society teams to effectively plan, implement, manage and evaluate cash preparedness projects and initiatives across the Movement. Responsible for coordinating the roll out of RC/RC Movement CTP preparedness framework, tools, procedures and advocacy activities contributing to CTP institutionalization and preparedness enabling NS and IFRC to scale up humanitarian CTP responses.
• Support capacity building for National Societies to include cash based programming as agreed with NS/region. The individual is expected to deliver and support capacity building processes such as implementing the RCM Preparedness framework, face-to-face trainings, learning by doing exercises and remote/face-to-face coaching.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of cash preparedness four tracks: enabling systems, programme tools (including market assessment), resources and capacity and coordination) and to provide support, as required to wider impact assessment initiatives.
• Contribute to a market assessment repository and feedback folder held in Geneva. Share and disseminate market assessment news, documentation and training opportunities that exist within and outside the Movement.
• Analyse and apply experience and evaluation learning to the development of CTP Preparedness projects, market assessments and other CTP activities to ensure continuous improvement to better meet the needs of vulnerable people.
• Support networking and partnerships linked to the Cash Preparedness initiatives at global, regional and NS level
• Promote CTP awareness across the thematic and geographical business units of the global IFRC Secretariat.

RC/RC Movement CTP Coordination

• Coordinate the RC/RC Movement Cash Peer Working Group (CPWG), including convening meetings and setting meeting agendas, ensuring the defined activities and accountabilities are agreed, and supporting task delivery as required.
• Conduct research, collect and analyse data on specific areas of CTP programme implementation, draft briefing papers and consolidate resources to ensure the CPWG is up to date on the latest developments in CTP internally and externally.
• Support the development of a wider community of practice on CTP including development and dissemination of a CPWG newsletter.
• Represent IFRC in internal and external CTP meetings and contribute knowledge to the CPWG.
• Lead the RC/RC Movement market assessment sub-working group of the CPWG in strategizing next steps and implementing activities such as developing the relevant learning products to disseminate the Movement tools (RAM/MAG) and advocate for market assessments as standard practice.

Evidence-based learning and communications

• Research, collect and analyse data and information about specific areas of CTP programming (cash preparedness, coordination, market assessments, etc.). Contribute to documenting the wide range of CTP experiences and innovative approaches that exist within the Movement via case studies, videos and other materials of key programmatic and thematic CTP issues that can be used for internal and external communication, dissemination and advocacy purposes.
• Monitor and maintain updated information and statistics on CTP use in Emergency Appeals, DREF and other IFRC and present this information as necessary for the Secretariat management, donors and other parties.
• Research, document and highlight good practice and learning in CTP by National Societies and prepare and disseminate case studies for internal and external audiences.
• Support networking and partnerships with CTP related organizations (CaLP, ELAN, etc.), donors, private sector, etc.
• Maintain updated information on CTP for the public website, DMIS and FedNet.

General

• In cooperation with the plan and budget manager, implement any grants for activities and provide grant management functions as necessary to fulfil IFRC implementation and reporting responsibilities to donors. Actively support and advise on CTP fundraising opportunities that might exist in the zones, regions and at country level.
• Participate in internal and external CTP meetings and contribute to technical, coordination and advocacy initiatives within the RC/RC Movement or with other partners, the wider humanitarian community, donors and public sector when required.
• In cooperation with the IFRC global Disasters & Crisis team work to ensure maximum results are achieved and project impact is sustainably institutionalised and leads to scalable CTP programming where appropriate.
• Be available to deploy to Regions, Country Offices, or NSs to provide CTP support as necessary for up to 60% of the time. Education

Required:
University degree in Disaster Management / Disaster response or other relevant area
Experience
Experience

Required:

• At least three years of disaster management and particularly disaster response operations.
• Previous experience of designing and/or implementing cash transfer programmes within the RC/RC Movement.
• Previous experience in preparedness work with National Societies.
• Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching.
• Experience working in emergency and/or development contexts.

• Experience working in challenging and multicultural environments.
  Preferred:

• Previous experience in market assessments and or markets analysis.

• Experience of successful institutional fundraising and managing donor relations and adequate narrative and financial reporting.

• Previous experience of using International Federation planning, reporting and finance tools. Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

• Knowledge and experience of RC/RC Movement and use of its cash and markets tools.
• Proven capacity to write narrative reports and case studies.
• Flexible, able to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Excellent computer skills (Excel, presentations and database) and knowledge of preparation and use of statistics.
• Fluency in English

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  Preferred:

• Sound knowledge of and commitment to, an integrated approach to disaster management (relief and recovery and proven experience in cash-based programming delivery to meet a range of multi-sector needs.

• Familiar with Federation Disaster Management and CTP tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, VCA, etc.).

• Good command of other IFRC official languages (French, Spanish or Arabic). Competencies and values

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

Please submit your application using the following link: http://www.ifrc.org/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/