Consultant, Administrative Lead, Measles & Rubella Country Platform

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 the 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.” The 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 the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country delegations) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Health and Care Department’s New Strategic Direction 2023 focuses on Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening through 4 Pillars:

Pillar 1: Global Health Security

Pillar 2: Global Health Protection and Universal Health Coverage

Pillar 3: Global Water Security

Pillar 4: Transformative Partnership

The 4 Pillars under Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening are supported by 3 Enablers:

Enabler 1: Strengthening National Society Leadership on Health and WASH

Enabler 2: Strengthening IFRC Secretariate Health Infrastructure at county, cluster, region and Geneva level

Enabler 3: Digital Solutions and Data

Due to the recent global financial cutbacks in public health and immunization activities, technical support to many country Ministries of Health in the African region has been withdrawn thereby seriously threatening the planning and implementation of vaccination campaigns in 2025 and 2026. As a consequence, a partnership between the IFRC and the Measles and Rubella Partnership (M&RP) seeks to establish a Measles & Rubella Country Platform (M&R Country Platform) to overcome this gap in technical support to the Ministries of Health. The M&R Country Platform serves to advance the goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030 and is committed to reducing measles and rubella morbidity and mortality by supporting countries to implement the Measles and Rubella Strategic Framework 2021- 2030.

Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy

The M&R Country Platform aligns to the Federation’s Strategy 2030 as it supports the achievement of Global Aims:

Global Aim 1: People anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crisis.

Global Aim 2: People lead safe, health and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to support the administration of a multi-country, global health grant agreement with a timeframe until June 2026. The consultant will work with IFRC teams at country, cluster, regional, and global level to support the administration of the grant, ensure compliance with obligations and exploring new opportunities, and coordinating and reviewing reports.

Support to global grant administration

1. Facilitate efficient deployment of consultants to countries, by coordinating logistics, liaising with country teams regarding operational readiness, and ensuring that all necessary documentation, approvals, and arrangements are in place to support safe and productive in-country assignments.
2. Ensure the smooth and timely execution of all recruitment processes required under the grant, working with IFRC teams to finalize and post Terms of Reference for consultancy roles. This includes thoroughly reviewing candidate CVs, coordinating interview schedules across multiple time zones, participating in interviews, and ensuring that all stages of recruitment comply with organizational and donor standards.
3. Oversee the comprehensive management of consultant engagements throughout the entire consultancy cycle, including drafting and raising consultant contracts in the internal systems, maintaining updated records of scopes of work, and serving as the primary administration point of contact for consultants. This also involves ensuring that consultants receive timely onboarding and consistent administrative support.
4. Strengthen internal coordination and effective team functioning across the platform, by organizing regular weekly check-in meetings, tracking action points, and ensuring timely follow-up.
5. Finalize narrative reports in support of the grant as per the schedule and content agreed with donors. This will require contact with individual project file holders responsible for the project's delivery and ensuring appropriate technical quality assurance (content, data, gaps) to ensure high-level reporting to address donor needs.
6. Promote strong accurate expenditure tracking across all grant activities, by collaborating closely with country program teams, finance colleagues, and partner organizations to verify consultant expenditures and monitor burn rates.
7. Work with IFRC file holders, partnerships, and finance colleagues to finalise donor financial reports in line with the agreed financial reporting schedule for the donors, and support closure of financial commitments.
8. Support country-based project managers and teams on issues related to administration and project management.
9. Ensuring a high degree of accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail in administration of the grant.

Method of delivery

The bulk of the consultancy can be done from the consultants’ home location.

No travel is planned for the consultancy but may take place and will be agreed with and organized once the consultancy is underway.

Schedule for payment of fees

The consultant will be paid on a monthly schedule based on the receipt of invoices listing days worked at the contracted rate. Relevant travel and operational expenses will be included along with receipts for reimbursement.

Time Allocation, for budget purposes

Number of billable days will vary by month depending on project needs, but the consultant should plan for 4 to 5 billable days per week until 31 December 2026.

Management of consultancy

The consultant will be managed by the Senior Officer, Immunization.

The consultant will work closely with IFRC teams at country, cluster, region and Geneva level. These teams will include members from the following departments: Health and Care, Finance, Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization, Communications.

Required

• Master's degrees in a global health-related field, plus additionally an MBA.

Required

• Strong knowledge with at least 5 years of experience in project management and administration of global health programs.
• Prior work experience at IFRC or Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies.
• Proven experience working with partners including WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi.
• Experience administering global health grants for diverse, low-resource settings.
• Experience working with international, national, and local global health partners.

Required

• Excellent English written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate and conduct work in English is required.
• Excellent time and project management skills, attention to detail.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities that are subject to change.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience working effectively as a team member in diverse, multidisciplinary environments.
• Ability to foster collaboration among internal and external stakeholders and partners to achieve program goals.

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Please include the below in your application:
  • A cover letter summarizing your experience and suggested approach to the consultancy
  • Curriculum Vitae

Notes

• The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply.
• Agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed at cost in accordance with in the IFRC’s relevant regulations.