Switzerland: Senior Officer, Localization

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 mission of the IFRC is to support National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to prevent and alleviate human suffering and promote human dignity around the world. We do this in line with our fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Together, IFRC, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) form the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. IFRC is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world.

The Secretariat's headquarters is organized as three main business groups: Partnerships, Programmes and Operations, and Management Services. The Policy, Strategy, and Knowledge department is part of IFRC's Partnerships divisions. The department consists of six teams, including Policy and Diplomacy Unit. The Senior Officer, Localization, will report to the Manager of the Policy and Diplomacy Unit.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer will lead the IFRC’s work as co-convener of the Grand Bargain’s Workstream on Local and National Responders. This will include managing research on practical solutions to barriers to greater investment in local response, coordinating group efforts, including joint missions and dialogues, integrating localization issues in other Grand Bargain workstreams, and building awareness and engagement with the Workstream among local actors and other stakeholders.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Support the IFRC's work as co-convener of Grand Bargain Workstream 2: More support and funding tools for local and national responders:

• Coordinate with Grand Bargain signatories, local actors, and other stakeholders to facilitate participation, engagement and cooperation in Workstream activities
• Plan and organize global Localization Workstream regular and ad hoc meetings, teleconferences and communications
• Ensure wide dissemination of Workstream plans, products and discussions, including through an online platfrorm
• Support the interaction of local actors and their viewpoints with other Grand Bargain workstreams
• Organize inter-agency missions, field consultations and regional meetings in support of the Workstream workplan
• Coordinate desk and country-based research projects on barriers and opportunities for promoting increased and more direct funding to local actors (including examination of regulatory barriers, issues in the use of pooled funds, and best practice in building local resource management capacity)
• Oversee the development of guidance notes, through extensive consultation, on principles of capacity strengthening and financing and support the work of other Workstream members in developing additional guidance

Provide policy support to IFRC Secretariat and National Societies on localization:

• Provide policy support to National Societies on localization related issues, including policy engagement with donors.
• Keep National Societies informed about IFRC activities on localization and abreast of key issues, developments, and debates.
• Manage the development of tools to promote internal understanding of outcomes, engagement, and potential opportunities related to localization, among Geneva departments and regional and country offices

Education

Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in international development, law,
or related field.

Experience

• 7 years' working experience in the humanitarian sector working with local and international actors.
• Strong preference for a candidate with work experience in a local humanitarian organisation or governmental emergency management position from the global South.
• Extensive experience in project management and delivery.
• Extensive professional experience working on capacity strengthening and financing issues in an international or cross-cultural environment.
• Preferred: Experience in managing inter-agency and/or inter-governmental processes.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong understanding of the localization agenda and its challenges at the international and local levels.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in ambiguous and sensitive situations.
• Strong networking, representational and communication skills, an ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organization.
• Possessing a deep understanding of interests and positioning of major organizations and institutions in the humanitarian sector.
• Strong network among relevant managers across the humanitarian sector.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Excellent written and spoken English and, preferably, fluency in at least one other relevant language

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.

Applications are excepted solely through this webform available on the IFRC's jobs website.