Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 10 Jun 2019
Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)
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, health emergencies and other crises. 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 Myanmar Country Office is led by a Head of Country Office (HoCO) who is the line manager of the Programme Coordinator (PC). The Programme Coordinator line manages the technical Delegates in Disaster Risk Management and Health and dotted line management to field based technical delegates. S/he ensures that these positions are coordinated in supporting the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in delivering its core services to the people. The Programme Coordinator acts as the Head of Country Office in the absence of the incumbent.
Job purpose
Under supervision of the Head of Country Office, the Programme Coordinator is a focal position in coordinating all IFRC supported programmes under the MRCS Strategy 2016-2020, which is also the basis of the IFRC Operational Plan for Myanmar to ensure an integrated and harmonized support to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to reach the goal of increasing community safety and resilience through its community‐based programmes and disaster response.
This role maintains an oversight of the evolving humanitarian needs in country and ensures that IFRC programme support to MRCS is agile and continues to meet humanitarian needs via its programme interventions.
The Programme Coordinator collaborates closely with the Head of Sub Office in Rakhine and the National Society Development Coordinator to ensure that all service delivery and capacity building programmes are planned, coordinated and implemented as per donor commitments and will ensure quality technical inputs are regularly provided.
The position leads IFRC support to MRCS in coordinating all programmes including supporting IFRC’s engagement with MRCS operations in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan with Movement partners, donors and other internal and external stakeholders.
This position also has a focus on both ensuring that programmes remain relevant and accountable and continually adding to enhancing the capacity of MRCS.
Job duties and responsibilities
Programme Oversight
Lead IFRC support to the MRCS in strengthening its service delivery systems, designing and delivering programmes in accordance with its Strategy for 2016 ‐2020 and contributing to the Strategic Aims of Strategy 2020, IFRC plan and budget 2016 – 2020 and the IFRC Operational Plan for Myanmar.
Lead IFRC support to MRCS in developing programmes which are relevant to the needs of the vulnerable and implementing them as per agreed plans of action.
Coordinate strategic planning, implementation and monitoring of all IFRC‐supported programmes in Myanmar to ensure a coherent approach in the design and delivery of programmes, including capacity building.
Lead IFRC support to MRCS in coordinating programmes and engagement for all programmes with Movement partners, donors and other internal and external stakeholders.
Actively engage programme and technical IFRC delegates in supporting MRCS to design and deliver quality programmes.
Coordinate with MRCS, ICRC, PNSs and humanitarian stakeholders to facilitate a synergetic effort to programmes.
Lead the process of effective, timely and comprehensive reporting to partners and back donors in collaboration with the respective technical colleagues in the MRCS and the Country Office.
Ensure effective communication with donors and maintain an oversight of all programme related funding and pledges and ensure these are delivered on time and are of quality.
Ensure that all programme areas have continuous access to technical advice and guidance to support programme implementation, including backstopping for technical delegates as required.
Promote opportunities for the MRCS to develop capacity of its staff in managing programme activities in accordance with international accepted standards by providing professional expertise in policy development, programme monitoring, impact assessment, reporting skills, administrative systems, international contacts, etc.
Ensure that evaluations carried out are timely, relevant, effective and implemented to the best international practice of shared learning and accountability and ‘lessons learned’ are incorporated in future programming.
Support the MRCS, in close coordination with technical delegates, with the development of a coordinated community‐based approach leading to building community safety and resilience.
Ensure the programmatic approach is in line with IFRC policy, framework, standards, tools etc such as the IFRC Community Resilience Framework, the Roadmap to Resilience, and the AP NSs DRM Strategy 2016 – 2020.
Work closely with the NSD Delegate and other technical delegates in the enhancement of MRCS capacity.
Promote the full integration of National Society Development interventions within and across all programmes to ensure coherent and systematic coordination of capacity building inputs and approaches across all the programmes.
Resource Mobilization
Together with MRCS, coordinate with the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office, Partner National Societies and donors to mobilize resources in support the IFRC Operational Plan for Myanmar.
Support the MRCS in developing appropriate work plans and a viable resource mobilization strategy to enhance its financial self‐reliance and independence.
Co-operation and Coordination
Support the MRCS in developing effective mechanisms for coordinating the inputs of Movement partners to its programmes and services, establishment of formal partnerships including supporting operations in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan.
Facilitate regular operational and technical coordination meetings among Movement partners and ensure that pre‐agreed thematic issues are followed up in support to MRCS capacity building.
Closely coordinate with the ICRC on issues related to support to the MRCS, in accordance with the relevant policies of the Movement such as SMCC and Principles and Rules of RCRC for Humanitarian Assistance.
Liaise with international, governmental and non‐governmental organizations and promote collaboration with them whenever possible.
Facilitate and encourage inter‐agency approaches towards needs assessment and programme implementation. This may include sharing of assessment data, coordination and integrated programming with Movement and non‐Movement partners.
Maintain an active overview of strategic issues and trends in the external environment.
Guide the enhancement of reporting capacity of MRCS and IFRC staff through on-the-job training, workshops, and other capacity building initiatives on technical and managerial aspects.
General management
Provide day to day management of all staff reporting to the position in the Country Office.
Assume budget holder responsibility over relevant projects and ensure appropriate control on income and expenditures versus plans as well as guarantee sound planning and financial management in accordance with IFRC policies, standards and practices
Ensure compliance with applicable laws and agreements to minimize risk of harm to the IFRC and its personnel, properties and resources. Special attention is to be given to compliance with procurement procedures and standards.
Contribute to upholding IFRC policies, procedures and management system within the Country Office and support their improvement and review as necessary.
Promote a culture of performance and continuous learning to improve the accountability and impact for vulnerable people.
Represent the IFRC in relevant national and international engagements and meetings as required by line manager.
Support the Head of Country Office in all other matters related to the IFRC activities in Myanmar and be prepared for changing working conditions and reasonable adjustments of the job description during the mission.
Deputize for the Head of Country Office when requested, including acting as Head of Country Office in absence of the incumbent.
Lateral Relationships
Establish and ensure effective working relationships with the other delegates.
Ensure effective relationships with the National Society counterparts and leadership.
Ensure effective relationship with technical and service departments at regional level.
Position Requirements
Education
University degree or equivalent professional experience is required.
Qualification in development studies or a related area is preferred.
Experience
Experience of managing and supporting staff is required.
Minimum 3 years’ experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent is required.
Minimum 7 years’ experience working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country context is required.
Experience in supporting the development of community‐based activities is required.
Experience of working for a National Society is preferred.
Experience of specific Region where application is being done is an advantage is preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
Good understanding/practice of Federation tools; VCA, CAS, OA is required.
Good understanding/practice of PMER issues is required.
Understanding of opportunities and constraints for sustainable development is required.
Skills in leading, training and developing staff is required.
Programme and project management is required.
Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations is required.
Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talent and experience of team members in a productive way is required.
Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive is required.
Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners is required.
Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organization is required.
Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality is required.
High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels is required.
Ability to work within a multi‐cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment is required.
Languages
Fluently spoken and written English is required.
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred.
Competencies
Adhere to all IFRC’s values and core competencies according to the IFRC Competency Framework
Core Competencies – Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust.
Functional Competencies: Strategic orientation, building alliances, leadership, empowering others, solution oriented
Managerial Competencies: Managing staff performance and development
How to apply:
The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.
Interested candidates should submit their applications at
https://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=26617