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
There are currently disparate communities and pockets of good practice across the spectrum of Early Warning and Early Action (EWEA), but there is no international mechanism that brings together the relevant actors from the development, humanitarian and climate communities. Further, while advances in science, technology and institutional coordination mean that it is often possible to anticipate a severe event and take action before it occurs, investments in early warning systems have focused on equipment and technology to predict the event, without ensuring the next step is taken to allow for early action in the most at-risk communities.
This partnership seeks to fill that gap and bring action at scale, bringing together existing governance and partnership mechanisms to better consolidate efforts by all stakeholders to leverage increased financial commitments, improve the way money is spent and aggregate and monitor targets along the spectrum of national and global frameworks, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction (DRR), domestic capacity building and early action. REAP ( Risk informed Early Action Partnership) will strengthen efforts in countries to develop early warning systems linked to early action, contributing to scaling up or building on for example the CREWS initiative and WISER and ARRCC programs to ensure investments are serving people most at-risk.
This Partnership was launched at 2019 Climate Summit in New York by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies will host the Secretariat at their offices in Geneva, Switzerland, with the REAP Secretariat being fully independent of the IFRC.
The IFRC, a convening member of REAP, is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation 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 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 partnership will work in line with the principles and ambitions of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and the World Humanitarian Summit’s Agenda for Humanity. The Global Commission on Adaptation’s Action Track on Preventing Disasters will be a key delivery mechanism for the Partnership.
Job Purpose
It is envisioned the Manager, REAP (Head of REAP Secretariat) will lead, oversee, and strategically drive REAP forward and will represent REAP in its engagements with senior government members, the international system, private sector, and civil society. The Manager REAP (Head of REAP Secretariat) will lead the team of three: two Technical Leads representing stakeholders and one Policy Coordinator. All will be based in Geneva and will report directly to the Manager, REAP (Head of REAP Secretariat).
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Key duties and responsibilities of the Manager, REAP (Head of REAP Secretariat):
Strategic Leadership and Direction
Lead on working with thematic leads and strategic stakeholders to develop a long-term plan for the partnership and Secretariat, ensuring the plan is agreed by the board at COP26.
Oversee the establishment and implementation of working group(s).
Develop and operationalize plans and policies for complementarity between REAP and existing international arrangements/organizations and oversee their implementation at a global level.
Deliver REAP Strategic Vision; Implementation plan and Commitments as per Strategic Vision document
Ensure the partnership works in line with the principles and ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the World Humanitarian Summit’s Agenda for Humanity.
Lead and manage effective stakeholder engagement:
Be a lead representative for REAP with high-level government officials, iinternational/national. organizations, embassies, donor governments and international/national media and develop effective advocacy & communications.
Continue to increase global support for REAP and manage financial commitments from organizations and governments to ensure all targets are met, maintaining focus on vulnerable people and communities.
Oversee development of a monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework to track progress towards REAP targets, ensuring stakeholders deliver on commitments and share best practice and learning within and across the spectrum of EWEA activities.
Ensure contributing activities are harmonized as far as possible, prioritizing empowerment and inclusion of civil society and local communities to enable information reaches at-risk communities and can be acted upon appropriately.
Set direction and manage a team.
- Line manage and support the technical leads and coordinator in fulfilling their roles.
- Develop and motivate members of REAP team to support culture of continuous improvement and delivery of high-quality service.
- Plan, manage and monitor the use of resources (people, budgets etc) to deliver the agreed activities for area of responsibility.
Education
Required
- University degree
Preferred
- Post-graduate degree
Experience
Required
- Over 10 years of experience in working in humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on working in a multicultural environment, with developing countries and/or with an international organisation at technical level
- Relevant experience in development and implementation of early warning systems, vulnerability/resilience analysis, disaster risk reduction, and/or disaster and crisis response preparedness
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders across many disciplines, to achieve societal impact, institutional and policy change
- Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.
- Building and maintaining strong contact networks and relationships at international levels to facilitate rapid access to information, leveraged through networks at home and internationally
Knowledge, skills and languages
Required
- Ability to see the bigger picture and lead a pragmatic approach to build understanding and consensus
- Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
- Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation 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.
- Energetic and enthusiastic individual, engaging, brokering and facilitating learning and dialogue among diverse groups.
- Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
- Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
- Fluently spoken and written English
Preferred
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
How to apply:
Please apply via IFRC website.