Delegate, National Society Development

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.

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 IFRC has been present in the South Caucasus region, including through Country Delegation in Armenia since 1992 with large scale humanitarian programmes. Currently, IFRC has a Regional Country Cluster Delegation based in Tbilisi, Georgia that covers three countries in the South Caucasus. Since end of 2020, the IFRC opened a country office in Armenia.

Since September 2023, Armenia has experienced a massive influx of individuals following the military escalation starting on 19 September. Recognizing the urgency Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) is responding to the immediate needs of the people arriving to Armenia, as well as the medium- to longer-term humanitarian needs to contribute to early recovery of people affected by the disaster, including the population arriving to Armenia, host communities, and people from the disputed region who arrived during previous population movements. IFRC plays a constructive and proactive role in supporting the collective Movement response in close coordination with ARCS and ICRC. Thus, the Emergency Appeal was launched as part of a Federation-wide approach, based on the response priorities of the ARCS and in consultation with all Federation members contributing to the response.

Job Purpose

The NSD Delegate:

• serves as adviser to the National Society in Armenia and Head of the Country Office to strengthen the National Society’s institutional capacities to fulfil its humanitarian mandate and implement the National Society Development Plan of Action.
• works in a very close everyday coordination with the Membership Services Unit, Regional office of Europe.
• provides technical support on development activities tailored to NS specific needs and context in line with IFRC’s global policies and standards.
• ensures close links between NS development and programming support, working closely with other regional coordinators and delegates of IFRC as well as Movement partners.

The aim is to assist the National Society in having the required capacities and capabilities for operational effectiveness in emergencies and crises across the whole country in line with its auxiliary status to public authorities in the humanitarian field, including inter-alia image, presence, financial sustainability, human resources.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic and Program support:

• Work closely with the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) and Movement partners to support the creation and implementation of the National Society Development Plan
• In close coordination with Membership Services regional team deliver technical support to NS for Assessment of NS NSD needs, in particular through wider use of the Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCAC) process.
• Identify potential organizational issues (structures and systems) which could hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance based on field information and develop possible appropriate solutions.
• Support the alignment and coordination of technical capacity building in the areas of volunteer management, branch development, logistics development, cash preparedness, community engagement and accountability (CEA)/risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), resource mobilization, shelter, communications, and preparedness for effective response (PER) with the respective technical experts at Cluster and regional level
• Develop/Finalize NSD support planning by identifying key milestones, indicators, deliverables, and timed action plans
• Promote inclusion of development/capacity-building actions of the NSD plan into all current and future program/project budgets both for emergencies and longer-term
• Facilitate support on NS legal base in close cooperation with relevant IFRC technical teams
• Support the NS in adopting the cross-cutting policies (e.g. on corruption, alcohol consumption, child protection, etc.) to the local context
• Support with submission of the applications and implementation of the NSD funds (National Society Investment Alliance, Capacity Building Fund, Empress Shoken Fund).

Governance and Leadership Development:

• Support the Head of country office in facilitating leadership development and Governance development support
• Provide support to the NS to review and develop their annual plans in line with the NS Strategy/support development of strategic documents), IFRC strategy 2030 and NSD Plan of Actions. These would include service expansion/scale-up based on an analysis of NS institutional capacities and needs of vulnerable communities.
• Upon the request of the NS support the revision of NSs Strategic plans aligning them to local and emerging needs and challenges, in line with the principles of S2030.
• Mentor, coach and provide day-to-day accompaniment for NS staff in leading NSD processes that are relevant for a successful operation, and to align with the demands for emergency plans of actions and response activities
• Together with the Head of the Country Office support NS Leadership and Senior Management in preparation and participation in RCRC Statutory meetings and IFRC Regional Events.

Branch and Volunteering Development:

• Conduct rapid assessment to support the ARCS to analyze the state of volunteering, identifying their respective strengths and limitations, key gaps, and opportunities for improvement and expansion, including volunteer management systems. This would include a gendered, age-group, and geographical analysis
• Ensure volunteer management and youth engagement activities of the NS supporting and guiding development of innovative approaches to foster growth in volunteering, ensure development/reviewing of NS Strategies, policies, procedures and relevant mechanisms, supporting conduction of appropriate coaching and training
• In close coordination with Membership Services regional team deliver technical support to NS for the expansion of the Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA)/conduction of BOCA reviews.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Ensure NS HQ staff equipped with the necessary tools to follow up branch development plans (BOCA)
• Support the branch development process and guide the NS through the possible envisioned changes. Support implementation of branch development Plans of actions, assessments, facilitate the adaptation of existing tools and other initiatives that contain recommendations and action points for branch development
• Support NS HQ with organization and conduction of Branch Development Forums/events to foster the positive change process.
  Establish close collaboration and provide mentoring and coaching to relevant staff members of the NS involved in branch development and volunteer management processes and activities
• Contribute to the development and implementation of key policy documents, handbooks, procedures, including in resource mobilization, volunteer management, youth engagement for branches
• Perform and update a detailed mapping of the NS branches including their challenges, capabilities and needs in collaboration with NS staff through BOCA analysis
• Ensure mainstreaming of branch development and volunteer management within all NS’s programs supported by IFRC and partners including IFRC Operation Plans

Technical Assistance and Guidance:

• With support from IFRC and PNS technical experts, and in liaison with ICRC Cooperation, identify, apply, and develop (if not existing) practical tools on NSD-related support to the operation, including emergency procedures for volunteering, HR, finance etc.
• Provide technical support in organizational development, including through analysis of needs and implementation of subsequent plans by applying existing IFRC tools.
• Provide technical support towards strengthening HR management and development, including identifying and coordinating required expertise.
• Identify and support the provision of expertise for the development of contemporary financial management and accountability systems, including financial risk management.
• Ensure that supply chain management system procedures and systems are in place.
• Liaison with the technical expertise, promote to the National Society to commit on implementation of the digitalization’s infinitives and ensure that information management and data security are in inclusive in the development plans.
• Ensure effective linkage between the IFRC development and program activities through close collaboration with IFRC responsible program staff.
• Ensure close coordination with PRD Team in Budapest to support the National Society in building its financial sustainability through the development of a domestic resource mobilization function.
• Facilitate resource mobilization for organizational development and related areas and manage the budget.
• Ensure that relevant financial sustainability tools / materials are available and used by the NS.

NSD Coordination:

• Support the NS in managing the NSD Coordination in Armenia, ensure meetings are planned and held regularly and decisions and recommendations proposed by the Group are followed through.
• Ensure coherence and provide coordination between the RCRC Movement partners to identify a unified approach to strengthen the capacity of the NS based on its needs.
• Work closely with the movement partners to support the ARCS the implementation of the National Society Development Action plan.
• Engage and coordinate required development expertise from within the Movement and external actors.
• Support the Head of the Country Office engaging with external non-Movement actors (e.g. UN agencies) to ensure all support to capacity strengthening is aligned to the needs of the National Societies.

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or extensive professional experience in related field
• Basic Delegates Training Course or equivalent knowledge
• Background in non-profit management and consulting

Experience

Required:

• Experience in local capacity building, volunteer management and/or community development in cross-cultural and diversity-sensitive environments
• At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience of progressive career development and growth, working in the RC/RC Movement
• Experience in management at senior level and/or in consulting and facilitating organizational development in a National Society or similar voluntary organization
• Knowledge in financial management and in project design, budget, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting       

Preferred:

• Experience in working for the National Society/s of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, or Central Asia countries.
• At least 3-5 years’ experience of mentoring, coaching, and managing staff
• Experience in development of fundraising strategies and resource mobilization
• Working knowledge of IFRC’s Organizational Development and volunteer development policies and tools including the NSD Framework, National Society Strategic Planning and National Society Self-Assessment

   

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically
• Sound knowledge in financial management and in project design, budget, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
• Ability and track record working with and inter-relating to the leadership of the National Societies and supported organizations
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work and communicate effectively in a multi-cultural and cross-functional environment and virtual or/and dispersed teams
• Skills in coaching, mentoring, and training
• Excellent negotiation, consulting, and management skills
• Teamwork and trust-building for inclusive National Society relations
• Focused on quality and standards, results, and accountabilities
• Self-supported in digital and software (including Microsoft Suite, internet, email) and good command and ease with digital platforms
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred:

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

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