Programme and Operations 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 (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.

The IFRC is currently present in Nepal through a Country Delegation (CD - first established in 1965 with a presence through regional representation at times), providing support to Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) programmes and capacity building amongst other areas. The longer-term mission of the Nepal Delegation is to facilitate organisational growth, technical capacities, partnerships, and resource mobilisation that enable Nepal Red Cross Society to deliver on its humanitarian mandate in the country through the provision of technical support, advocacy, representation and coordination functions, in accordance with Strategy 2030 and annual Operational Plans. 

The Country Delegation also provides integration services to seven IFRC members with presence in Nepal, leveraging its Status Agreement with the Nepali authorities to engage with the Government of Nepal, the diplomatic community, development partners as well as other key stakeholders. 

Job Purpose

Under the direct management of the Head of Delegation (HoD), the Programme Coordinator is responsible for developing and ensuring the delivery of the IFRC Unified Planning process in line with the IFRC 2030 and following the Ways of Working principles that guide IFRC-wide approaches, putting NRCS in the centre and enhancing the localization agenda. The same goes for Operations including the mobilisation of DREF and Emergency Appeals where required in line with HoD directions.   

Key areas of responsibility of the position include: 
-    Programmes and operational coordination, centered around the Unified Planning process and its implementation with shared engagement.
-    National Society Development (NSD), supporting NRCS transformative agenda with a focus on local support.
-    Humanitarian Diplomacy at programme and operation levels, leveraging IFRC participation in the Humanitarian Country Team as well as Government relations and NRCS auxiliary role.
-    Proactive Membership coordination with the NS (NRCS) at the centre. Participate in Movement Coordination.
-    Accountability and agility, managing a small portfolio of programmes and operations in complementarity with the IFRC membership in Nepal. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Operational coordination
• Lead in the design of the IFRC annual unified Plan to implement Strategy 2030 with full engagement of NRCS and the IFRC membership supporting NRCS (through various modalities).
• Support NRCS in developing programmes and operations which are relevant to the needs of vulnerable communities and implementing them as per agreed plans of action.
• Support NRCS in designing and coordinating emergency response actions with IFRC-wide approaches and tools, including in accessing DREF and Emergency Appeal resources.
• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the Unified Plan with a focus on the pledges managed by the IFRC Secretariat, also ensuring a coherent approach in the design and delivery of various initiatives, including technical capacity building, engagement with authorities, etc.
• Ensure that the team responsible for programmes and operations works closely with relevant technical units of the NRCS as well as the IFRC AP regional office (and Geneva when necessary) as well as with the ICRC, IFRC membership, relevant IFRC Reference Centres and key external stakeholders throughout the programming cycle to facilitate a synergetic effort to programmes and operations.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight in implementing and monitoring programmes and operations to ensure the application of IFRC policies, frameworks, procedures, standards, guidelines and methodologies at all times.
• Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of IFRC-supported programmes and operations to ensure that implementation is timely, relevant, effective and in line with best international practice, and to identify replicable best practices.
• Coordinate IFRC-wide efforts to mobilize resources for the Unified Plan, including contributing to identify and engage with potential donors, and in preparing project proposals and relevant documents.
• Coordinate such resource mobilization efforts with the respective regional and global teams for increased efficiency and coherence.
• Actively participate in and support IFRC’s knowledge and peer-to-peer networks, promote the engagement and utilization of Red Cross Red Crescent reference centres, labs and hubs, and contribute to “shared engagement” initiatives for better utilization and optimization of technical capacities and resources.

National Society Development
• Accompany the transformation agenda of the NRCS across the 9 thematic areas of its consolidated NSD Plan 2021-2025, with a focus on local units and volunteers (including youth), domestic resource mobilization and auxiliary role.
• Promote the full integration of National Society Development (NSD) interventions within and across all programmes and operations (IFRC-wide) to ensure coherent and systematic coordination of capacity building inputs and approaches.
• Provide strategic direction and technical guidance to NRCS in designing and implementing transformative initiatives where relevant, using the IFRC NSD funds as catalyst for change.
• Support and (if possible) scale up the current NRCS youth engagement (“Paribartak Nepal’) as a platform for youth-led climate action across the country, further institutionalizing the campaign and identifying domestic resources for its sustainability.
• Accompany the NRCS efforts to enhance their domestic resources with a focus on land and assets management.

• At the request of the HoD, contribute to manage complexities with the current NRCS governance transition as per needs.
• Ensure coordination with the IFRC regional and global teams (membership services, NSD, etc.) to access wider NSD funds (including CBF for example) and peer learning opportunities for the benefit of NRCS.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Humanitarian Diplomacy
• Together with the HoD, enhance the visibility of the IFRC Network actions in the country, with NRCS at the centre and recognizing the contributions of the IFRC membership.
• Coordinate communication efforts with NRCS and the IFRC membership, representing the needs of people at risk, capturing the voices and concerns of communities supported as well as ensuring such stories are reaching policymakers and development partners.
• Represent the IFRC in the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) operational meetings, together with NRCS as well as the IFRC membership as relevant. Ensure a coordinated and coherent engagement on programmatic matters with the UN Agencies in Nepal across the IFRC network.
• Ensure that the IFRC global commitments as Shelter Cluster convener are upheld in Nepal, including through NRCS with regards to shelter cluster preparedness work.
• Together with NRCS, continue to leverage the auxiliary role to participate in policy dialogues at national level, with a specific focus on DRM, health, and inclusion (including the youth agenda).
• Lead in designing innovative climate programming in partnership and through an IFRC-wide approach to access new funding streams as per the changing financing context. This includes in particular the recently launched partnership with WWF in Nepal.
• Build and nurture solid relationships with key external partners – including development partners, I/NGO, academia, and the private sector – to enhance innovative approaches in programming and promote research or evidence-based programming through partnerships.

Accountability and agility
• Promote the application of and compliance with strategies, resolutions, policies, frameworks, standards, and tools endorsed and adopted by member National Societies in global and regional statutory mechanisms, including the Strategy 2030 and the Principles and Rules of Red Cross Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance. Contribute to upholding IFRC policies, procedures and management system within the Country Delegation and support their improvement and review as necessary.
• Be accountable to the HoD on achievement of results as a proactive manager and dynamic member of the Senior Management Team of the Country delegation.
• Be responsible and accountable for the overall day-to day management and coordination of programme and operations, including assuming budget holder responsibilities, ensuring sound planning and financial management in accordance with IFRC policies, standards, and practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and agreements to minimize risk of harm to the IFRC and its personnel, properties and resources. This includes compliance with procurement procedures and standards, identifying risks and challenges to the ongoing operations and programmes and raising them with country-level and regional-level counterparts.
• Select, mentor, and manage a small team for programmes and operations, including ensuring that each member has a well-defined scope of work (aligned with the Ways of Working), an annual performance review and (as applicable) opportunities to further develop in the organization.
• Ensure timely and quality IFRC-wide reporting (including financial reporting) on the Unified Plan as well as reporting to partners and donors as per respective pledges to the IFRC. 
• Support the HoD in all other matters related to the IFRC activities – including ensuring strategic coherence and alignment as well as programmatic and operational coordination – and be prepared to adapt working conditions and make reasonable adjustments of the job description during the mission.
• Deputize the HoD, including being Acting Head of Delegation when the incumbent is absent.

Education

Required

Relevant university education or an equivalent of qualifying experience. 

Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge.

Preferred

Post-graduate qualification in management or leadership. 

Experience

Required

At least 7 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector

Prior work in a membership organization in roles that include member capacity development. 

Management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment

Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian/development actors. 

Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing

Preferred

At least 3 years of working experience in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Experience in the Asia Pacific region  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Understanding of the humanitarian landscape, needs and opportunities.

Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.).

High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with stakeholders at all levels.

Good understanding/practice of IFRC tools and approaches related to programmatic / membership coordination.

Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilize talents/experience of team members in a productive way.

Results-oriented, demand driven, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.

Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and promoting new approaches to engaging partners.

Good understanding/practice of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting issues.

Understanding of opportunities and constraints for sustainable development.

Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills.

Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.

Programme and project management skills.

Ability to work within and lead multi-cultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Functional Competencies: Strategic orientation, building alliances, leadership, empowering others, solution oriented.

Managerial Competencies: Managing staff performance and development.