Background
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 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 volunteer-based humanitarian network. The IFRC is a membership organisation 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 IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the 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 IFRC is headquartered in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Geneva headquarters provides support to governance mechanisms; sets norms and standards; provides guidance to field offices; ensures consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; facilitates knowledge sharing; promotes collaboration within and respect for the Movement, and expands engagement with partners.
The headquarters is organised into three main divisions: (i) Partnerships; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management. The IFRC's Health and Care Department is situated within the Programmes and Operation's Division. In turn, the Department comprises four Teams, the Director's Team, Community Health Team, Emergency Health Team and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Team.
The IFRC Health and Care Department is currently engaged with the US Centers for Disease Control on several projects ranging from immunisation, public health in emergencies, information management and outbreak response, amongst others topics. The IFRC and the USCDC have entered into a 5-year Cooperative Agreement (Co-Ag) covering 2017 – 2021. Currently, the responsibility for the relationship management of the USCDC partnership lies with the IFRC Health and Care Department, in coordination with the IFRC's Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD) Department, situated in the Partnerships Division.
Job Purpose
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the IFRC's project manager for the 5-year Cooperative Agreement with the USCDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch, particularly in the areas of reporting (narrative and financial), relationship management, and project management. The successful candidate provides technical support to ensure clear communication lines, reporting and partnership-related project management, both internally amongst the various IFRC file holders receiving money through USCDC, and with respective USCDC grant administration focal points.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Support accurate and timely communication with USCDC counterparts on all issues related to the Co-Ag. Contribute to clear communication lines and the continuation of a strong working relationship between the two parties.
- Support effective grant management of the USCDC Co-Ag in close coordination with IFRC operational leads and relevant budget holders. In so doing, coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure an efficient working structure with clear roles and responsibilities for all concerned. Similarly, support relevant profiles in tasks related to the monitoring of funding spending, and analyse, propose, and support the implementation of corrective measures as appropriate.
- Monitor and flag to the CDC relationship manager for this grant (Senior Officer, Public Health in Emergencies) in a timely manner any potential issues including but not limited to underspending on pledges and needs for reallocation of funds and/or pledge extensions.
- Ensure timely and quality narrative reporting on each of the Co-Ag's projects, in line with the narrative reporting schedule agreed between the two parties. This will require consistent contact with individual project file holders responsible for the project's delivery across numerous IFRC offices at the country, regional and HQ level.
- Support close collaboration with IFRC finance colleagues responsible for supporting each project to ensure the availability of financial reports as required, in line with the agreed financial reporting schedule between the two parties.
- Work closely with relevant technical file holders and project managers to ensure any revisions to the Co-Ag projects are conducted to the necessary quality and in a timely manner. Support the CDC grant relationship manager to ensure that the need for such changes is negotiated and communicated clearly and effectively with counterparts at USCDC.
- Support project managers and technical profiles on issues related to project management as required, and advise these profiles on relevant USCDC funding rules, regulations and standards as required.
- Liaise closely with IFRC PRD colleagues to ensure their inclusion as necessary in terms of the relationship management with USCDC.
- Support and facilitate, as appropriate, partner field visits in close liaison with the relevant IFRC office and regional PRD colleagues.
Education
Experience
- Relevant work experience in the humanitarian or development field, including resource mobilisation, partnership management, planning and reporting. Preferred experience and knowledge of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
- Proven experience working with international funding agencies, preferably US-based organisations and/or relevant US government departments. Preferred experience specifically with grant and partner management with USCDC.
Knowledge, skills and languages
- Proven ability to write quality and compelling narrative proposals and reports
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical and logical thinking skills.
- Able to work effectively within a team as well as the ability to act on your own initiative.
- Contributes to a positive team atmosphere.
- Fluently spoken and written English, with knowledge of at least one of the IFRC's other working languages preferred (French, Spanish, Arabic).
Competencies and values
Comments
Please include in the motivation letter:
- Statement of availability
- Daily Fee rate
How to apply:
Please apply for this consultancy via IFRC website.