Field Coordinator

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. The overall aim of 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.”  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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

This position is part of the IFRC’s Country Delegation in Ukraine.  While the international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues as a major humanitarian emergency, work is also already underway for the recovery of Ukraine.  With its network of 200 branches, 1,500 staff members, 8,000 volunteers, and members across the territory of Ukraine, the Ukraine Red Cross Society (URCS) is providing daily emergency response needs as well as key services related to recovery, rehabilitation, and health and social services at the community levels.  In 2023, URCS developed a two-year “One Plan” setting out ambitious objectives in relief, recovery, public health and social services as well as its own development.  Though an emergency appeal for Ukraine and other impacted countries launched in 2022 and continuing through 2023, IFRC has mobilised over CHF 200 million to support the URCS’s work to date.

While still supporting the URCS’ emergency response, IFRC’s role in Ukraine is shifting to a greater focus on National Society Development (NSD) under the “One Plan” – which includes both capacity support in programmatic areas and more fundamental aspects of development, known as organisational development (OD) – as per IFRC’s National Society Development Policy. In the area of OD, IFRC is especially engaged in support to URCS in its branch and volunteer development programme (BraVo), human resource and resource mobilization development, and the development and implementation of Interregional Offices (IRO) providing corporate service support to regional branches.  It also continues to play a key role in mobilizing international resources and coordinating NSD support from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including IFRC member National Societies, 13 of which currently have representatives based in Ukraine.

Job Purpose

The incumbent is responsible for supporting the Ukraine Red Cross Society (URCS) in the development and initial operational steps of its IRO located in Dnipro.  With care not to duplicate operational coordination structures, the role holder will promote effective coordination and information sharing on the issue of NSD with and between PNS in the oblasts covered by the IRO, and facilitate coordination of the IRO and URCS branches with other international partners, notably through UN coordination systems. As requested, the role holder will also support URCS and ICRC in operational coordination tasks.  It is anticipated that the Field Coordinator’s coordination functions will gradually be taken over by the IRO itself. The incumbent will also facilitate oversight and assistance as needed for IFRC-supported projects in the oblasts covered by the IRO, if any.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Support URCS in the establishment and initial steps of an Interregional Office (IRO)

• Assist the Head of the IRO in the design, set up, planning and early operationalization of the IRO.
• Support the Head of the IRO in network building with regional branches, assessing their needs, and assisting them in aligning their strategies and activities with the “One Plan”.
• Support the Head of the IRO to assist regional and local branches in building their programmatic capacity and long-term organizational development needs (such as volunteer management, building operational capacity, financial and administrative services, logistics capacity development and warehousing).
• Assist the Head of the IRO in ongoing monitoring and reporting on the humanitarian and security situation in the covered regions.
• As needed, provide information about global, regional, and national IFRC policies, strategies, and tools.

Enable effective Movement coordination around NSD support in the regions covered by the IRO

• Working with the IRO and relevant branches, facilitate effective coordination with and between Movement partners about their NSD support in the covered regions, including through regular meetings.
• Support partners to build synergies in their efforts, avoid duplications and ensure alignment with the “One Plan”.
• As requested by the Head of the IRO, support interested branches to engage with new Movement or other partners
• Support and promote “focal point leadership” by relevant Partner National Societies (PNS), per standards agreed by the URCS National Committee.
• Facilitate a strong two-way flow of information between the inter-regional and national levels, assisting in reporting on key issues and developments to relevant partners in Kyiv.
• Ensure that any Movement coordination issues or disputes that cannot be resolved locally are relayed to the Kyiv level.
• Coach and support the IRO to gradually take over these coordination functions.

 

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Build and promote coordination with external partners

• Monitor and engage with UN-led coordination structures, seeking opportunities for regional and local branches to connect and profile their work and keeping IFRC members informed.
• Support the Head of the IRO in inform and assist branches to enable them to engage effectively with regional and local authorities at all levels, UN and international humanitarian organizations, NGOs, and community groups.
• Support the Head of the IRO to assist branches in developing equitable partnerships with international partners outside the Movement.
• In coordination with the Head of the IRO, identify and promote opportunities for branches to profile their work.
• Support the IRO and regional and local branches to welcome and manage high-level visits from international officials and Movement and other partners.
• Coach and support the IRO to gradually take over these coordination functions.

Monitor, facilitate and oversee IFRC-supported projects

• Where there are IFRC-supported projects in the regions covered by the IRO, provide local level monitoring and oversight.
• Facilitate and communicate about the progress of IFRC-supported projects, raising any challenges to the appropriate level in Kyiv.
• Serve as IFRC finance, admin and logistics focal point in the covered regions as needed. Ensure that financial records are up to date and that the finance team receives information (such as cash requests, monthly forecasts, etc.) as required.
• Continuously assess socio-political, humanitarian and security situations and gaps in the covered areas.
• Report results regularly to IFRC team and NS counterparts to inform potential adjustments needed to ensure accuracy.
• Maintain regular communication with the IFRC head of delegation, advising on challenges, needs, and changes to operational context, as relevant.
• Provide effective and supportive management to any IFRC staff overseen by this post.

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or equivalent qualification.

Preferred:

• Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT. FACT, ERU, RDRT training or equivalent knowledge.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 7 years relevant work experience in emergency settings, including managing staff
• At least 7 years of field experience in capacity strengthening and/or organizational development support
• Minimum of 3 years’ work experience with an international organisation, international non-governmental organization, NGO and/or government development agency.
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience with RC/RC.
• Experience in managing programmes and projects including planning, monitoring and guiding implementation, budget development and management of significant field-based projects, reporting and technical advice and guidance.
• Experience in field intervention, volunteer management, mentoring and capacity building, training project staff and working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience and knowledge of project management.

Preferred:

• At least 3 years’ experience in managing emergency operations.
• Field experience within the RC/RC.
• Prior work experience in Ukraine.
• Significant experience working with humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Strong knowledge of IFRC and sectoral standards and best practice in organizational development and capacity strengthening.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage a team in high stress environments in an emergency context.
• Excellent mentoring and capacity development skills.
• Good analytical skills.
• Ability to work well in a multicultural team.
• Understanding of emergency response.
• Understanding of cash-based interventions.
• Ability to conduct rapid assessment, baseline, and satisfaction survey assessment.
• Strong demonstrable skills and expertise in capacity building in emergencies.
• Good communication and report writing skills.
• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
• Good command of Ukrainian/Russian language.

 

Competencies, Values and Comments

Core competencies: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability.

Managerial competencies: Managing Performance, Managing Staff Development.

Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others.