Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is an international organization and the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NS). 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 NSs 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 three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, and (iii) People and Strategy.

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) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Office of the General Counsel comprises the Legal Department and Data Protection Office in Geneva, as well as the other legal advisors of the Global Legal Team, strategically posted in the regional offices, the delegations and the Legal Unit in Budapest. The Office of the General Counsel is led by the General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department and Data Protection Office, who reports to the Secretary General.

The Office of the General Counsel provides legal services and advice to the IFRC globally in the following areas:

  • Management of legal risks;
  • Compliance with applicable legal and regulatory framework; and
  • Support to NSs in their own legal risk management and compliance with applicable legal and statutory base frameworks.

The Senior Legal Consultant is integrated within the Legal Department and Data Protection Office and is supervised by the Managing Legal Counsel for Organizational Frameworks and Governance Matters, overseeing the compliance and integrity workstream. In the fulfilment of the mandate, the Consultant works closely with the General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department and Data Protection Office, the Joint Statutes Commission (JSC), the IFRC team for National Societies Development Services (NSDS), the IFRC regional offices and country delegations, as well as with National Societies (NS).

The Joint Statutes Commission (JSC) is a joint body between the IFRC and the ICRC chaired by an ad honorem Chairperson. It assesses compliance of NSs’ statutory and legal base frameworks in accordance with the agreed standards to ensure that NSs can work effectively and adhere at all times to the Fundamental Principles. The JSC is entrusted with:

  • making recommendations on the statutory and legal base frameworks of NSs, including assessing the compliance of draft statutes with the minimum standards outlines in the National Societies Statutes, 2018 (Guidance document), as well as the compliance of draft laws/decrees with the minimum elements contained in the Model law on the recognition of NSs; and

Job Purpose

(...Continued from Organizational Context)

  • assessing applications by new NSs for recognition by the ICRC as component of the Movement and for admission to the IFRC.

The Legal Department and Data Protection Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is seeking a Senior Legal Consultant to provide legal services and advice on NS legal and statutory base, during a parental leave.

Project objectives

The Senior Legal Consultant provides the following services:

  • review of the NSs legal and statutory base and formulation of recommendations to meet the standards and deadlines agreed by the IFRC and the Movement;
  • review of applications of new NSs and recommendation on their recognition by the ICRC, as a component of the Movement, and for admission to the IFRC as relevant; and
  • support to the JSC and the Chair, and coordination of the work of the JSC as its Co-Secretary from the IFRC side, with the ICRC.

Desired outcomes

To provide high quality and timely legal services and advice to the IFRC on governance compliance matters, more precisely on NSs legal and statutory base.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strengthening of Institutional Compliance, Integrity and Standards

  • Conduct inductions/briefings/refreshments to NSs/IFRC colleagues on the Guidance Document/ strengthening NS legal and statutory base.
  • Coordinate the follow up with NSs upon their request on the feedback provided by the JSC.
  • Update the JSC material on the IFRC online platforms, including shared-drive and relevant data banks.
  • Provide regular input to the following reports:
    1. The Secretary General reports to the IFRC Governing Board and/or General Assembly;
    2. IFRC annual reports;
    3. IFRC Compliance and Mediation Committee’s Dashboard; and
    4. Council of Delegates, as well as any other report.

2. Strengthening of NSs’ Compliance Architecture

  • Together with the other JSC Secretary and on behalf of the JSC, reply to requests raised by NSs in relation to the assessment of their draft/amended/adopted Statutes, Laws or related regulatory framework, including assessment of the regulatory frameworks received in any of the four IFRC working languages, towards compliance with the standards of the Guidance documents or requirements of the Model Law, and formulation of recommendations.
  • Provide necessary guidance to NSs on their legal and statutory base, and on their auxiliary role, including legal support to NSs in their negotiations and discussion with their governments.
  • Provide support to the meetings of the JSC (both ordinary, extraordinary or meetings of JSC’s working groups), administratively and substantially.

3. Handling of New NSs’ Files

  • Provide support to new National Societies applying for recognition by the Movement and admission to the IFRC:
    • Sharing/clarifying to the applicant new National Societies and all colleagues who support them, all established procedures for admission;
    • Accompanying new NSs through the recognition process;
    • Developing JSC’s recommendations on recognition of new National Societies and admission to the IFRC; and
    • Developing and preparing the applicant National Society’s admission file for discussion and decision in the IFRC Governing Board and General Assembly.

Other:

  • Performing any other consultancy-related tasks as assigned by the Manging Legal Counsel for Organizational Frameworks and Governance Matters and the General Counsel.

Travel may be required from time to time to participate in meetings in Geneva or elsewhere as the case may be.

Method of delivery

The Senior Legal Consultant is required to work 60% from the office in Geneva, with occasion travel to participate in meetings in Geneva or elsewhere.

Support to be provided to the consultant

The Senior Legal Consultant is integrated within the Legal Department and Data Protection Office and supported by the Legal team as needed, more precisely the Managing Legal Counsel for Organizational Frameworks and Governance Matters and the General Counsel.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Time Allocation, for budget purposes

Up to 170 days of work, from 20 April 2026 to 08 January 2027 – 4 to 5 days a week depending on workload.

Agreed travel expenses (accommodation, flight and per diem), if any, will be reimbursed at cost in accordance with the IFRC’s relevant regulations.

Management of consultancy

The Senior Legal Consultant is integrated within the Legal Department and Data Protection Office and is supervised by the Managing Legal Counsel for Organizational Frameworks and Governance Matters, overseeing the compliance and integrity workstream.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only. 

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