Panama: Legal Advocacy and Auxiliary Role Coordinator

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network 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.

The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“the IFRC”) works to a Business Model and has a Business Delivery Plan with key commitments that sharpen its focus, clarity, and efficiency and accountability results. The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, has five decentralized regional offices: one of which is the Americas, guided by the Secretariat strategies for implementation and areas of focus that builds on the vision of strategy 2020. The Americas’ region is organized in two main hemispheres: a group of service-based departments and geographical configurations of (i) Country Cluster Support Coordinators and (ii) Country Office(s), as well as the Deputy Regional Director, each of them led by the Regional Director; and another hemisphere: six building blocks composed by (i) Partnerships and Resource Development, (ii) Policy, Strategy and Knowledge; (iii) Communication, (iv) Disaster and Crisis: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, (v) Health and Water and Sanitation, (vi) Logistics, each of them led by the Deputy Regional Director.

The position is in the Americas regional office in Panama; reports directly to the Head of DC in ARO. The Legal Advocacy and Auxiliary Role, Coordinator provide leadership, technical support and quality assurance, aiming to position the IFRC and Red Cross National Societies, and build strategic partnerships - at all levels in the Americas - with public authorities, intergovernmental and international organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia, thus strengthening the Red Cross's auxiliary role to promote mandate and facilitate access and humanitarian spaces.

The department leads the operational aspect of humanitarian diplomacy efforts in close coordination with the Partnerships, Strategy and Knowledge (PSK) and the Partnerships and Resource Development units. Through the knowledge and learnings from the operations and programmes it supports, the DC has the responsibility of providing PSK, Communications, Partnerships and Resources Development and the Americas Senior Management Coordinator (SMT) with advice on Red Cross positions and policies and provide inputs and evidence that facilitate high-level humanitarian diplomacy actions. At national level, it is also responsible to provide services to National Societies to support their own humanitarian diplomacy actions, increase their humanitarian access and strengthen their auxiliary role.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the position is support the development of institutional policy and positions regarding to Red Cross areas of expertise in comprehensive disaster risk management, and establishing a strategic direction that is aligned with the National Societies. Focus IFRC advocacy efforts on strengthening the positioning of NSs in the Americas as privileged auxiliary partners of their respective public authorities in the humanitarian field. **

Improve coordination with public authorities, international agencies, civil society, the private sector and academia on issues of mutual interest based on defined IFRC policies and positions.

The Legal Advocacy and Auxiliary Role, Coordinator will manage a dedicated Coordinator to ensure the following services: Technical support and advice at the national level: provide support to NSs to enable them to assist their respective authorities in advocacy around policy and laws.

• Capacity-building: provide support to National Societies so that, on the one hand, they can develop their technical capacity in existing IFRC policy and positions and, on the other hand, develop their humanitarian diplomacy skills.
• Development of regional mechanisms: promote IFRC policy and positions in regional intergovernmental forums.
• Advocacy in international forums: Promote IFRC policy and positions in key humanitarian forums, including Red Cross events, the United Nations, and with other humanitarian and development actors.
• Development of the institution’s policy and position: In collaboration with the Policy, Research and Diplomacy Unit in Geneva, support the development of IFRC policy and positions regarding the Focus Areas of the IFRC Global Plan, as well as other comprehensive risk management issues with a view to expand technical advice and the advocacy agenda.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical support and advice at the national level:

• Develop a flexible menu of options in terms of national-level support, including developing and providing feedback on policy, laws, regulations and procedures, the organizing of workshops, consultations with partners, development of educational campaigns, and training on the rights and obligations of both communities and Governments about comprehensive risk management.
• Focus on the National Societies' role as auxiliaries to their respective authorities in the humanitarian field.
• To ensure promotion and implementation at national-level of the recommendations of the IDRL guidelines, checklist on law and disaster risk reduction, and additional disaster law’ recommendations.
• Expand the advocacy agenda to identify needs, in areas lead by DC Unit.

Capacity-building:

• Provide support to National Societies to develop their technical capacity in existing IFRC policy and positions
• Provide support to NS to develop their humanitarian diplomacy skills.
• Support National Society efforts to disseminate and implement defined IFRC policy and positions at the national level.
• Work closely with country clusters in the definition of NS agenda as auxiliary to their government and as part of their national Disaster management system.

Development of regional mechanisms:

• Promote IFRC policy and positions in regional intergovernmental forums.
• Participate in the development of sub-regional and regional instruments and mechanisms.
• Seek opportunities for working in collaboration and cooperation with regional and international organizations, and promoting IFRC policy and positions.
• Work closely with the Head of DCP Unit, building effective cooperation and partnerships with non-Red Cross/Red Crescent organizations individually (OCHA, UNISDR, OIM, WFP, PAHO, etc.) and collectively (RedLac) to support the Federation's overall Disaster Management and Community resilience strategy for the region.

Advocacy in international forums:

• Promote IFRC policy and positions in key humanitarian forums, including Red Cross events, the United Nations, and with other humanitarian and development actors.
• Promote collaboration with academia to support research and education, when appropriate

Development of the institution’s policy and position:

• Develop with specific technical areas of IFRC policy and positions regarding the Focus Areas of the IFRC Global Plan, as well as other comprehensive risk management issues, with a view to expanding technical advice and the advocacy agenda.
• Develop recommendations based on evidence that will result from research and hands-on experience in the specific themes identified.
• Work closely with the Disaster and Crisis and Early Recovery Coordinator and DM system support Coordinator to ensure that IFRC regional and National Society disaster and contingency plans are in line with IFRC rules, positions and policies.

Lateral relations and general tasks

• Establish effective working relationships with the other programmatic and service departments as required.
• Develop an effective working relationship with the ARO Finance Unit, Logistics and PMER Unit.
• Ensure that trainings organized by this Coordinator are appropriate and aligned with International Federation guidelines and policies (SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Disaster Relief, Seville agreement, etc.)
• Ensure that provides technical support and advice to the operations and other DCP activities when required.
• Develop effective working relationships with National Society counterparts.
• Establish a good working relationship with the ICRC delegations in the various countries in the Americas in conjunction with the Regional/country clusters.
• Ensure that Federation community resilience framework is well coordinated with Red Cross partners, UN and other agencies to ensure adequate preparedness and appropriate, efficient and timely emergency response and early recovery.
• When requested, represent the DCP Unit in meetings, task forces or trainings.

Management

• Select, orient and manage the Coordinator members under his/her direct responsibility.
• Ensure that the technical Coordinator under his/her responsibility has well defined results based priority plans and maintain updated capacities to provide sectorial technical support to response operations and programs at any time.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports in accordance with Secretariat requirements, formats and standards.
• To develop a strategic/sustainability plan for the development and scaling up of this particular area ensuring strong working linkages with other Coordinators of DCP Unit.
• To ensure that each thematic area is defined in a 2 year ARO strategic and applicable humanitarian advocacy agenda approach with prioritized strategic lines, clear objectives and concrete products.
• Provide support to DM system review process as defined in Toluca road map.

Education

• University degree in management and/or social sciences or related fields
• Basic Training Course: successful completion and selection
• Relevant post graduate degree, preferred.
• Clear and demonstrated knowledge of urban risk and community resilience issues

Experience

• 5+ years of experience of working for a humanitarian organization in a developing country in disaster management and development in which at least 3 years have been spent in the Americas.
• 5 years of experience analyzing, planning and managing development programmes and resources
• 5 years of experience of managing and supporting staff
• Experience of working with Red Cross/Red Crescent
• Demonstrated success in project/programme planning, budgeting, management, reporting and evaluation,

Knowledge and Skills

• Self-supported in computing systems
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem solving ability
• Ability to work in a Coordinator, excellent communication and management skills
• Ability to work in a cross-functional environment
• Available to travel to other countries
• Valid international driving licence (manual gears)
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Skills in training and developing staff
• Ability to adapt leadership style to the situation

Languages

• Fluent spoken and written Spanish and English
• Other languages: French, preferred

Competencies

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and Coordinator work; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust
• Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development; Strategic Orientation
• Functional Competencies: Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others

A letter of motivation must be submitted along with the application no later than January 26, 2018. In order to ensure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that you submit your application thru the following link http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=5083 taking into account the following:

Important Note:

Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract under the Panamanian labour law; therefore only Panamanians as well as foreign applicants with valid and current residence and work permit in Panama will be considered for this vacancy;

• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and local labour laws;
• The closing date is midnight Panama time;
• Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.