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 humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. 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.” The IFRC 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 part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The Regional Programme Quality and Monitoring Head reports directly to the Deputy Regional Director and supports MENA National Societies, the Heads of delegations, Heads of delegation Clusters in the region and technical Units in the Regional Office to support 17 National Societies in the region. The Regional Programme Quality & Monitoring head will co-lead the work with National Societies to enhance programme quality in humanitarian and development efforts, supporting them to remain partners of choice within their country and sustainable and accountable for their actions, providing sustainable results for people in need in line with S2030 and IFRC Plan and Budget 2025. The position is responsible for the overall management of the regional Programme Quality & Monitoring staff, with focus on driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of Regional and Country Strategy Plans, developing operational plans and reporting on results. S/he is responsible for ensuring reporting on delivery of high quality, evidence-based, innovative programs, integrating lessons learned, ensures that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system is in place and use of evidence that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making.
Job Purpose
The purpose of the IFRC Head Of Programme Quality & Monitoring work is to (i) support National Societies to deliver quality programme and monitoring services in their respective domains and countries; (ii) support National Societies’ to engage in the collection and use of evidence and that is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making and (iii) Ensuring capacity building, mentoring and coaching of technical specialists at NS’s in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators. (iv) liaise with other IFRC regions to share experiences and expertise. (v) ensure lessons learned from MENA and other regions are implemented and integrated into programming.
Key role of the Regional Programme Quality & Monitoring is to provide sound management and co-leadership to ensure results-based planning, monitoring and evaluation system that provides an evidence base of Federation performance, including relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and impact.Enhance knowledge management, learning and evidence based to ensure programme quality.
Re-focus the Unit and to scale up PMER and IM deliverables, in full alignment with the IFRC Strategy 2030, and the agenda for renewal 2025 based on National Societies priorities, needs and gaps.
The focus of the role is around the main pillars:
- Ensure programme quality including results at scale, quality assurance andclose monitoring against progress.
- Build effective partnerships within and outside the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
- Coordinate and lead on innovations and learning and knowledge management supporting peer to peer approaches, analytical work and sharing of learning within the region and at global level
- Provide effectiveteam management and constructively work with other departments across all of MENA and other regions.
- Liaise with relevant academic bodies to integrate current methods and learnings, and also contribute IFRC field based findings.
The Head will oversee a technical team that provides technical leadership and support to National Societies and Country/Cluster delegations, staff of the Regional Unit and to ensure full integrated approach to coordination with relevant colleagues within the RC/RC Movement and external partners in the Region (ICRC, private sector, governments, NGOs, etc)
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Regional Head Programme Quality & Monitoring unit will take a leading role to ensure strategic regional directions in line with Strategy 2030 ambitions and consistent quality assurance, capacity strengthening and strong coordination for MENA region, while engaging all relevant internal and external stakeholders. The post holder is therefore accountable for managerial leadership on the below areas:
Strategy, Planning and Reporting
- Lead the development/updating of the Situation Analysis, including analysis of regional/country context and ensuring participation and buy-in from all relevant staff, NS’s, partners and other stakeholders as necessary.
- Lead to develop/update and drive forward the Regional Strategy Plan that is in line with the 2030strategy.
- Provide leadership on development of the Regional/ Country Operational Plans, monitoring of progress against the plans, and completion of accurate, on-time Regional/Country Annual Report of outcomes and impact, aligned with the Global Results Framework.
- Support ownership and commitment to the Regional/Country operational plans by Country/Cluster delegations in MENA and technical units through clear communication, regular feedback on progress and engagement of all functions in updates.
- Participate in global discussions and working groups to represent MENA in strategy design and technical leadership.
- Support change processes and roll-out new ways of working to improve achievements.
- Drive strategic thinking that is underpinned by thought leadership & Innovation.
- Support RD/DRD to provide leadership and direction for the region and countries to become a Learning Organization.
Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning - and Knowledge Management
- Oversee and Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews in different National Societies in MENA Region and with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions/interventions to achieve results.
- Oversee a monitoring system that provides timely and accurate programme results by embedding MEAL across program implementation. This requires ensuring effective collaboration across PMER staff, Technical Specialists, Technical Advisors and program implementation teams in the region to develop logframes, indicators, implementation plans, quality benchmarks, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and related tools.
- Lead programme quality improvements by monitoring and improving Programme KPI performance, including resourcing and conducting high-quality evaluations to demonstrate outcomes and impact and ensuring that accountability mechanisms are in place for all programme’s so that identified actions are resolved, with critical issues escalated to senior management.
- Ensure the research, evaluation and policy work of the Regional/ Country/Cluster delegations contribute to generation of evidence for development and improvement of common approaches, sound decision making and policy influencing internally and externally.
Establish effective program learning and knowledge management systems in MENA region and ensure lessons learned from MENA and Other regions are implemented and integrated into programming and support adaptive programming and innovation that improves outcomes for NS’s.
Establish effective program learning and knowledge management systems in MENA region and ensure lessons learned from MENA and Other regions are implemented and integrated into programming and support adaptive programming and innovation that improves outcomes for NS’s.
Oversee team and National Societies’ networks to collate and disseminate relevant research, and support NSs to implement best practices in information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes.
Ensure consistent operational reporting on Federation-wide activities at the operational regional level, in line with the newly revised reporting requirements.
Take a leading role to establish a peer to peer connector/convener of PMER and IM experience within mena and cross regions to inform learning and development and enhance best practices within the region and beyond.
Liaise with relevant academic bodies to integrate current methods and learnings, and also contribute IFRC field based findings.
Information Systems Quality Assurance:
- Review current available information systems, and present ideas for system improvements.
- Lead timely data collection from different sources including NS’s Information Management Systems as per program requirements.
- Enhance quality of collected and reported data, by setting and implementing regular quality checks for validation, consistency and reliability of data and information.
- Lead data analysis of available datasets, and ensure produce regular statistical reports, visualizations, and maps necessary to facilitate quality programmes, performance monitoring, and decision making.
- Ensure technical support and guidance to Country/Cluster delegations and NS’s staff in the field, to collect, process and manage data. This includes responding to user ad-hoc inquiries.
- Ensure develop tools, guidelines, documentations and other learning materials, and ensure trainings to NS’s teams in data collection/data management Staff, M&E staff, and front-line staff to timely collect data with high quality, and to effectively used it to support daily operations, program monitoring and reporting.
- Perform field visits to provide information management support, system technical support, and user support to National Societies in MENA.
Effective matrix management:
- Contribute to the overall strategic vision and planning for the IFRC in MENA in collaboration with other departments and programs– with a focus on strengthening NS capacities for developing and implementing effective programmes monitoring and quality through the support of IFRC Country/Cluster delegations.
- Ensure close coordination with PRD for resource mobilisation and funding strategies, quality reporting and evidence-based proposals and programmes.
- Support the Deputy Regional Director to ensure strategic coherence and alignment, as well as programmatic and operational coordination between regional departments
Select, orient and manage the team members under his/her direct responsibility; ensure that the technical team 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.
Education
- Advanced university degree University degree in relevant discipline - required
- Relevant PhD or master’s in programme evaluation - required
- IMPACT course or equivalent knowledge - preferred
Experience
- 10 +years of working and management experience in the specialist area of expertise, including direct supervision of more than 5 people and the management of teams with more than 10 people with the IFRC, RC/RC National Society or similar network of national organizations – required
- 7+ years of working experience in institutional development and capacity strengthening preferably with an international organization – required
- Demonstrated professional experience in the humanitarian sector the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or in an international organization or NGO - preferred
- Good understanding of IFRC policies in the areas of National Society Development - preferred
- 5+ years of working experience in the MENA region – preferred
Knowledge, skills and languages
- Ability to build, lead, motivate and support effective teams – required
- Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically – ability to think laterally – required
- Good communication, negotiating and influencing skills – required
- Ability to adapt leadership style according to the situation – required
- Politically and culturally sensitive – required
- Available to travel to other countries – required
Languages
- Fluent spoken and written Arabic and English - required
- Good command of French - preferred
Competencies and values
- Effective Communication
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Judgement & Decision Making
- National Society and Customer Relations
- Creativity and Innovation
- Building Trust
- Managing staff Performance
- Managing staff Development
- Building Alliances
- Empowering Others
How to apply:
If you are interested in this position, please apply on the IFRC website: