Senior Officer, Safe Shelter Awareness

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.

The 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.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability and (iv) People and Strategy.

The 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 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. 

In Myanmar, IFRC is supporting the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to roll-out a multi-million Swiss franc humanitarian operation in response to the 28 March 2025 earthquake alongside longer-term programmes. To effectively accompany the MRCS in addressing to the medium to long term recovery needs wrought by the earthquake, the IFRC Country Delegation in Myanmar is bolstering its capacity.

The Senior Officer for Safe Shelter Awareness is responsible for supporting the implementation of shelter and settlements, WASH and community infrastructure interventions with a focus on safe construction practices and environmentally sustainable solutions. This includes accompanying MRCS counterparts in construction quality assurance and capacity enhancement around Build Back Safer (BBS) interventions as well as in rolling out the IFRC Participatory Approach to Safe Sheter Awareness (PASSA) with the MRCS and affected communities.

The role involves collaboration with the Civil Engineer for Shelter and WASH in development of Information Education and Communication materials promoting disaster-resilient construction practices, addressing housing, land and property (HLP) issues, and ensuring compliance with humanitarian standards, including Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI).

The Sr Officer for Safe Shelter Awareness also contributes to inter-agency coordination, engages with local authorities, and supports community-based reconstruction efforts to ensure safe, inclusive and sustainable shelter and WASH solutions for affected populations. This includes ensuring that all interventions enhance protection, dignity, lifesaving measures and privacy while promoting environmentally friendly solutions and building capacity to mitigate future disasters.

• Under the supervision of the IFRC Shelter Recovery Coordinator, provide support to the MRCS Shelter and Field teams in quality assurance and capacity enhancement for shelter interventions that address both immediate and transitional/long-term needs with the active participation of the affected communities.
• Co-develop with the NS counterparts technical deliverables for shelter and infrastructure-related interventions such as detailed drawings, bill of quantities, procurement specifications etc. ensuring compliance with local, national, and international standards.
• Conduct joint field visits to monitor the construction progress of shelter and community infrastructure projects, ensuring quality control of materials and workmanship, compliance with technical specifications and standards, and adherence to construction timelines.
• Produce regular, timely and accurate reports to the Shelter Recovery Coordinator on activity progress and encountered difficulties / challenges as required. Support the roll-out of PASSA methodology at the community level and incorporate PASSA findings into the recovery planning and implementation.
• Promote integration of BBS messaging and safer construction practices in all stages of the community-based shelter programme implementation and ensure continuity of PASSA activities throughout the project cycle (from planning to phase out and handover).
• Ensure evidence-based monitoring of recovery interventions in line with IFRC and Movement minimum standards, including for community engagement and accountability (CEA), and protection, gender and inclusion (PGI).Identify adapted / specific solutions for vulnerable population groups who are unable to undertake self-reconstruction, ensuring inclusive and needs-based assistance.
• Support the Shelter Recovery Coordinator in his/her representation role in the existing Inter-agency Shelter Coordination mechanisms at national/hub level. Ensure appropriate coordination and cooperation with all stakeholders working in the same area, focusing on consistency for any assistance provided.
• As required, establish coordination with local authorities and community representatives to secure land allocation for vulnerable households and to ensure that all shelter interventions are need-based and prioritize the most vulnerable without discrimination based on gender, disability, ethnicity, beliefs, or other personal characteristics.
• Promote, coordinate and support intersectoral activities with other MRCS sectors, including but not limited to Health, CVA, PGI and CEA.
• Carry out translations of any relevant technical and construction related documentation from English to Myanmar language and vice versa as needed.
• Any other relevant duties and responsibilities assigned by Line Mangers.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of the IFRC’s goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Relevant university degree or equivalent professional qualification in Civil Engineering / Architecture / Construction Management or related technical field is required.

• 3-5 years of humanitarian shelter and WASH experience is required.
• Construction knowledge (masonry, carpentry, use of traditional materials e.g. bamboo) is required.
• Experience in community mobilization and facilitation, leading or facilitating community meetings, village committees, self-help groups etc. is required.
• Trained on at least one of the standard participatory learning techniques and methodologies (examples: PRA, CLTS, PHAST, CBHFA, PASSA…) to engage local communities in understanding their own situations and planning for post-disaster recovery and resilience is preferred.
• Experience of working with the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement or other international humanitarian organizations/INGOs focused on shelter and recovery is preferred.

• Skill in staff training and development, particularly on construction supervision and quality control methods is required.
• Monitoring and reporting skills is required.
• Advanced Computer skills: Auto CAD/Land Development, Structural Analysis Programme, Windows, Word Processing, PowerPoint, Excel. (spreadsheet and database application) + Ability to use video conferencing application i.e., Microsoft Teams, Zoom is required.
• Ability to be flexible to work in pressurized working environments e.g., disaster affected area is required.
• Fluent spoken and written English is required.
• Fluently spoken and written Myanmar language is required.

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.