Manager, Regional Programme

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.”  IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

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 IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

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.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Regional Programme Manager position will be providing technical support to the British Red Cross following the below organisational values and context.

We help anyone, anywhere in the UK and around the world, to get the support they need if crisis strikes: connecting human kindness with human crisis.

We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

We are part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent global humanitarian network.

Job Purpose

• To provide programme management support to Southern Africa partners, mostly Namibia Red Cross Society, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society and Eswatini Red Cross Society, to facilitate quality implementation of programmes in Southern Africa focused on early action and preparedness, food security and livelihoods and COVID 19 responses, to deliver on BRC’s regional strategy.
• To ensure effective, efficient, and appropriate use of BRC resources in supporting partner National Societies in Southern Africa to strengthen organisational capacity in relation to preparedness and early action, including on cash transfer programming and food security and livelihoods, to respond to emergencies and build resilience in vulnerable communities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Programme & financial management

1. Ensure all BRC’s supported programmes in assigned countries are aligned to the International Management Methodology and adhere to the BRC’s Programme Cycle Methodology.
2. Manage and monitor the BRC budget for assigned programmes, ensuring all programmes demonstrate value for money and cost effectiveness.
3. Work closely with the National Societies to develop and manage all programmatic support, ensuring that all reporting, monitoring and evaluation is of a high standard and ensures full accountability to donors and beneficiaries.
4. Coordinate possible consortium arrangements mostly in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini, with other PNSs present in country.
5. Ensure the establishment and integration of effective monitoring, evaluation and learning within the assigned countries to support the development of approaches to planning, innovation and delivery.
6. Ensure the BRC’s financial management systems, policies, procedures and systems meet required standards.
7. Ensure that any risks to BRC programmes and activities are appropriately managed.

 

Technical & advisory support

1. Provide technical advisory input to BRC-supported programmes in the assigned countries, including contributing to assessment, planning, implementation of action plans, and analysing evidence to demonstrate and improve the effectiveness of BRC’s work. Coordinate support from BRC’s technical advisors in supporting the programme.
2. Ensure the required technical advice to CCM and partner National Societies (mostly Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini Red Cross Societies) is provided to institutionalise forecast based financing and preparedness, including cash and FSL, through the development of national society institutional capacity and linkages to government programmes including shock responsive social protection.
3. To support Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia Red Cross Society Livelihoods planned interventions through PPL support, COVID 19 responses and any other support required in all national societies.

 

Disaster Management

1. Provide support to the partner National Societies to develop Early Action Protocols to be submitted to IFRC
2. Support the Country Cluster Manager to deliver BRC’s support for disaster and crisis response activities in the assigned countries.
3. To follow up and keep updated on COVID 19 responses and pandemic needs.

 

 

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Internal and External Relations

1. Ensure good working relationships with relevant country offices of Movement members and develop/maintain operational alliances with other partner National Societies to ensure well-coordinated, coherent and efficient ways of working with designated countries.
2. Coordinate support of BRC’s technical advisors supporting the programmes in assigned countries.
3. Develop and manage relationships with business partners within the BRC UK office ensuring appropriate support for initiatives from Fundraising, Communication, IT, International HR and International Finance in collaboration with the Country Cluster Manager.
4. Support BRC’s internal and external engagement, influencing and resource mobilisation relating to disaster management through representation at fora, production of written briefings and reports, proposal development and support to senior colleagues.
5. Support Southern Africa NSs, mostly Namibia RC, Zimbabwe RC and Eswatini RC, strengthening external institutional relations.

Resource Management

1. Ensure that BRC’s resources are used effectively and accountably to provide maximum impact on the lives of vulnerable people in the assigned countries.
2. Maintain a high level of accountability to donors in all BRC supported activities in the assigned countries.

People & Security Management

1. Matrix manage (dotted line relationship), technical or other advisors, or surge delegates and teams, as required.

 

Other

1. Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and work within the Society’s equal opportunities policy.
2. Undertake other duties as are reasonably required.

 

Education

• International Development, Business Administration, Project Management, Social Sciences degree or any related qualification.

Experience

• Substantial experience of working in the development, delivery, and coordination of Disaster Risk Management programmes, including significant exposure to overseas work.
• Carrying out monitoring, evaluation and needs assessments.
• Working with local partners to build capacity or share skills.
• Budget and proposal development for a range of donors.
• Management and accountability of humanitarian/development programmes funded by major institutional donors.
• Analysis, developing and implementing forecast-based financing programmes and projects.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Robust working knowledge of the international humanitarian system.
• Knowledge of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• Knowledge of programme cycle management in operation.
• Understanding of the disaster management cycle, and the concept of anticipatory action and preparedness.
• Understanding of vulnerability issues in key sectors (food security & livelihoods, cash transfer programming, social protection) in relation to Southern Africa region.
• Building and maintaining partnerships and relationships.
• Proven skills in project / programme management techniques, processes and controls including project planning; needs assessment and developing operational plans; resource allocation in an emergency response context.
• Appreciation of, and ability to navigate a multicultural environment.
• Ability to advise decision makers and exert influence where required.
• Budget management to high external standards of accountability.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
• Security awareness and management of self and others.
• Technical / professional knowledge within the areas of forecast based financing/early action and/or preparedness for effective response capacity building interventions.
• Understanding of the key issues relating to cash transfer programming.
• Understanding of how social protection systems can be used as a channel for cash transfer programming in anticipation of or in times of crisis.
• Formal training in project management methodology.
• Understanding of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation is an asset.
• Specific skills in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Accountable for Resources - Level 2: Understands the broader environment and uses knowledge to deliver.
• Embracing and leading change - Level 2: Promotes constructive change.
• Working Collaboratively - Level 2: Pro-actively builds collaborative relationships internally and externally.
• Communicating and influencing - Level 3: Takes multiple steps to communicate and influence.
• Solution focused - Level 2: Sees multiple connections.
• Leading and engaging - Level 2: Builds team commitment and engagement.
• Upholds the fundamental principles and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous, and dynamic).
• Ensures inclusive practice and promotes diversity.
• Ability to work unsociable hours at times as required.