Programme Coordinator

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. 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. 

 As part of the Asia Pacific Region, the Afghanistan country delegation supports Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) through capacity strengthening and program implementation guided by the ARCS’s established strategic plan in the areas of health, disaster risk management, food security and livelihoods, social outreach, organizational development.

Reporting to the Head of Country Delegation (HoCD), the Programme Coordinator oversees and guides all programmes and emergency operations, through effective coordination and collaboration with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and the IFRC membership. The incumbent is responsible and accountable for swift, high-quality and well-coordinated programming, including budgetary management and responsibilities, quality assurance, integration, accountability and reporting, ensuring the use of resources in an effective and efficient manner. The Programme Coordinator maintains an oversight of the evolving humanitarian needs and challenges in Afghanistan and ensures that IFRC programme and operations support are agile and tailored to meet the needs of the ARCS.

The Programme Coordinator will also support the Head of Country Delegation (HoCD) with strategic and day-to-day support to ARCS as needed; and provide direct management and oversight of the relevant thematic programmes and operations teams. The Programme Coordinator will also provide support to the HoCD on assigned functions and duties, including efficient and effective Membership and Movement Coordination as well as engaging inter-agency coordination mechanisms.

Policy, Planning and Standards

• Lead the design of the IFRC Network Unified Plan to implement Strategy 2030 with ARCS and the IFRC membership.
• Ensure that the Country Delegation integrates multi-sectoral programmes aligned with Strategy 2030, ARCS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, and community needs.
• Ensure development of needs-based programmes that support recovery and link to development while strengthening local response capacity.
• Provide guidance on integrated programming in DRR, climate, urban risk, cash, PGI, CEA, migration and health, and ensure the use of IFRC network policies, tools and standards.
• Guide technical teams to take context-informed and risk-analytical approaches using assessments and humanitarian intelligence.
• Develop and coordinate flagship programmes in Afghanistan based on ARCS priorities including special emphasis on high vulnerabilities.
• Support adherence to IFRC policies, procedures and management systems and contribute to their improvement.
• Support ARCS, IFRC and membership engagement in policy dialogue.

Programme and operations Oversight

• Coordinate implementation and monitoring of the Unified Plan, including pledges managed by IFRC, ensuring coherence across initiatives and technical capacity support.
• Serve as focal point for programme and operational support to ARCS, providing strategic direction, overseeing budgets, guiding implementation and representing the IFRC network with partners and donors.
• Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the ARCS, that budgets are monitored, and any problems identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
• Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements
• Support ARCS in strengthening service delivery systems and ensuring programme design reflects strategy and community needs.
• Ensure close coordination with ARCS technical units, APRO, Geneva, IFRC membership, reference centres, ICRC and external partners.
• Ensure systematic monitoring, evaluation and reporting of IFRC-supported programmes, identification of good practices and compliance with IFRC and international standards.
• Provide direct oversight to programme teams including staff management, planning, monitoring, reporting and workload alignment with APRO technical counterparts.
• Promote integration, learning and the use of IFRC knowledge networks, reference centres and shared leadership approaches.
• Ensure full integration of National Society Development (NSD) within programmes in coordination with the NSD thematic leads.
• Ensure effective donor communication and compliance with reporting requirements, including Unified Reporting and donor-specific formats.
• Capture evidence of resilience investments through mapping, analysis and evaluations.
• Lead emergency response actions in absence of an Operations Manager using IFRC tools including DREF and Emergency Appeals.
• Work with the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships team to identify resource mobilization opportunities.

Institutional Preparedness and Readiness

• Support ARCS to enhance institutional preparedness for disasters and emergencies.
• Facilitate and coordinate PER implementation of ARCS with the IFRC membership and support cash readiness.
• Support ARCS in preparedness and pre-disaster coordination.
• Maintain and update IFRC Country Delegation readiness and contingency plans and support ARCS planning.

Coordination and external engagement:

• Facilitate membership coordination with ARCS and support implementation of Strategy 2030, Agenda for Renewal and the Way of Working in Afghanistan.
• Ensure effective Movement coordination, including Seville Agreement 2.0 commitments, in programme design, implementation and reporting.
• Promote collaboration and shared leadership across the IFRC network for joint assessment, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Engage in inter-agency humanitarian coordination, represent the IFRC network in cluster and sector fora and strengthen partnerships.
• Represent the IFRC in national and international meetings in coordination with or on behalf of the HoCD.
• Support representation with ARCS directors and IFRC technical leads in coordination with authorities, agencies, donors and partners.
• Nurture relationships with academia and the private sector to enhance innovation, research and evidence for advocacy on preparedness and resilience.
• Coordinate with communications to develop visibility products that reflect ARCS role and community voice.
• Maintain close cooperation with APRO technical file holders.

Supply Chain management:

• Line manages the supply chain team, ensuring performance, wellbeing, and accountability in line with the IFRC end to end supply chain approach.
• Ensure early and continuous supply chain involvement in programme and operations design and budgets to enable timely and cost-effective delivery.
• Exercise strategic oversight of the supply chain support ensuring compliance with IFRC policies, donor rules, and national regulations using a risk-based approach.
• Act as supply chain risk owner in coordination with relevant functions, identifying, mitigating, and escalating operational risks that may affect programme delivery.
• Strengthen emergency readiness and supply chain capacity through planning, prepositioning, surge support, and coordination with IFRC regional and global supply chain services.

General Management

• Accountable to the HoCD for delivery of the IFRC Network Plan and operations results.
• Promote continuous learning and team accountability by setting objectives, monitoring performance and conducting reviews.
• Support the HoCD on strategic coherence, coordination, planning, budgeting, staffing, partnership engagement and security management.
• Support enforcement of IFRC’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption.

 People Management

• Advise ARCS directors on workforce planning and job descriptions when requested.
• Supervise IFRC programme and operations personnel working alongside ARCS, ensuring clear priorities and technical support capacity.
• Promote continuous learning, team accountability and timely performance management within the IFRC programme team.

Required

• University degree in development, other relevant area, or equivalent qualifying experience
• Post-graduate qualification in project management, humanitarian assistance or similar

Preferred

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

Required

• 10+ years of established professional mastery in programme/project management, programme/operations coordination
• 5+ Years of experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent or international organization(s)
• Experience working in emergency response context, resilience, health, disaster
  risk management and migration/displacement
• Advanced experience in integrated programming
• Experience as practitioner in mainstreaming community engagement and accountability (CEA), and protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) approaches
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in leading organizational development and/or capacity building initiative(s)
• Experience in coaching, skills transfer and applying collaborative working model
• Experience in living under strict security measures with limited movement
• Field experience in high-risk and/or fragile context(s)

Preferred

• Advance experience in resource mobilization targeting government and institutional donors such as ECHO, FCDO, Islamic Development Bank, GAVI, USAID and World Bank
• Field experience in Afghanistan

Required

• Comprehensive understanding of IFRC policies, procedures, and IFRC-wide approaches
• Effective team and project management skills
• Good analytical skills and solution-oriented
• Proficiency in writing project concepts or proposals and in reporting
• Good mentoring and capacity development skills
• Ability to work well in a multi-cultural environment
• Familiarity in managing relations with donors and understanding of their expectations
• Ability to work in a stressful and demanding environment while keeping a consistent, courteous and positive attitude towards others
• Demonstrated integrity and accountability
• Self-supporting in computers and internet-based tools
• Fluent spoken and written English 

Preferred

• Valid international driving license (manual gears)
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Core competencies: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer
Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.
Managerial competencies: Managing Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others
Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability