Officer, Community Engagement and Accountability

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 Harare Cluster Office based in Zimbabwe (Harare) covers 3 countries (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe). 

Job Purpose

The CEA Officer deploys in response to disasters (including disease outbreaks) and crises around the globe as part of IFRC Emergency response. The CEA Officer will work in collaboration with other Movement Partners, Job description Internal JD Template delegates, national staff and volunteers, local health authorities and affected communities as part of a team within the mandate of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The position will provide strategic and technical advice and training to build the capacity of NS and the IFRC to integrate a more systematic approach to CEA throughout the programme and disaster cycle. This will include supporting and promoting the use of innovative approaches to information sharing, community participation and feedback, behaviour and social change communication and evidence-based advocacy.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Designs, plans and coordinates community engagement assessments and guide intersectoral work towards collecting insights on socio-cultural and contextual factors that can inform planning and guide community engagement efforts.
• Defines the plan and strategy to mainstream community engagement effectively into the operation and to meet the specific needs of affected people and ensure their participation.
• Leads and coordinate the setting up/strengthening of appropriate feedback systems and rolling out of research to gain a deeper understanding of the community perceptions, beliefs, rumors and complains.
• Assess/synthetize qualitative and quantitative information, data and evidence relevant to community engagement to support key operation teams and decision makers and inform action.
• Ensures the most vulnerable groups participate in key decision-making processes, have equal access to information channels and feedback mechanisms and any specific protection issues are taken into account.
• Leads the operationalization of the Movement minimum actions and commitment, policies and guidelines relevant to CEA and ensures the roll out and adaptation of CEA tools, methodologies, trainings and activities.
• Oversees the rolling out of CEA approaches across the operations and makes recommendations on operational strategies to ensure strengthened engagement of and accountability to people and communities.
• Guides coordination efforts across the Movement components and supports inter-agency coordination with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of community engagement actions, including the rolling out of technological solutions and innovative approaches.
• Engages in dialogue with key stakeholders’ leadership to ensure community engagement issues and insights drive humanitarian action.
• Identifies partnership opportunities with key local and international partners.
• Coordinates National Society’s support to integrate CEA in their strategies, frameworks, and plans, setting out how community engagement activities and approaches will be institutionalized in the longer term.
• Coordinates capacity building efforts on essential CEA aspects within the Movement and outside.

Education

• A university degree in Communication or Social/Behavioural Sciences (i.e. Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology or Health Education) or relevant experience is required.

Experience

• Five years’ experience planning and delivering community engagement approaches, beneficiary communication, communication for development or accountability to communities at a national level.
• Experience working for humanitarian or development organisations, within the context of developing countries.
• Experience setting up and managing tools for communicating with communities. For example, radio programmes, TV shows, SMS systems, community committees, social mobilisation or mobile cinemas and community dramas etc.
• Proven experience in planning targeted and appropriate behaviour change communication strategies
• Experience setting up and managing accountability to community systems. For example, feedback and complaints mechanisms, rumour tracking systems, or participatory planning processes.
• Experience of coaching, training and developing local staff and volunteers in order to build long-term capacity and create ownership.
• Experience of planning and delivering community engagement interventions in emergency situations.
• Experience of designing and implementing assessments, community consultations, research and/or focus groups discussions.
• Experience working with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Good planning skills, with the ability to identify areas for improvements in programmes, operations and NS/IFRC ways of working through the integration of CEA approaches and activities.
• Good coordination and negotiation skills, with the capacity to build partnerships with internal and external organisations and bring people together to collaborate on CEA approaches and activities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills, able to build relationships with people at all levels of the organisation across multiple countries and cultures, both in person and remotely, to build commitment and support for CEA.
• Excellent project management skills, able to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously, to a high standard and to deadline.
• Advanced analytical skills, able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming and operations.
• Highly motivated, self-starter able to take initiative and lead a team or process.
• Good knowledge of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
• Good knowledge of gender and diversity issues in humanitarian programming.
• Fluently spoken and written English

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Professionalism
• Communications
• Collaboration and teamwork
• National Society and customer relations
• Building alliances
• Accountability
• Creativity and innovation