Senior Officer, CSP Advocacy

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-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 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 (NSDOC); (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization (GRHDD); and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services (MPSCS).

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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Federation in delivering its broader Humanitarian and Developmental mission will host the Country Support Platform (CSP) of the Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) as an operational arm of the GTFCC.

The Senior Officer, CSP Advocacy will act to lead, support and coordinate activities in the development of an Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilisation strategy for the CSP at all levels reporting to and under the direction and supervision of the CSP Coordinator and be based at IFRC Headquarters Geneva. She\he will work closely with the GTFCC Secretariat and GTFCC member organizations.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, CSP Advocacy, under the overall direction and leadership of the CSP Coordinator, will be supporting the development and facilitating the implementation of the Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilisation Strategy, raise the profile of the CSP in its contribution to the objectives of the cholera roadmap and the GTFCC by providing clear advocacy messages, delivered on a multi-faceted communications platform (through various media, events and publications) and lead on meeting effective resource mobilisation targets as indicated in the results tracker and CSP proposal, with a focus upon GTFCC member organisations in particular and in close consultation and collaboration the IFRC Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD) team. S/he will act in close regular consultation and collaboration with the CSP Coordinator and the WHO Team Lead Cholera Control and Epidemic Diarrheal Diseases position that also leads the GTFCC Secretariat.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Officer, CSP Advocacy will ensure the effective delivery of the Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilisation strategy and ensure it meets planned outputs and outcomes as reflected in the CSP Results tracker and proposal. The Senior Officer will take a leadership role under the direction of the CSP Coordinator in managing and coordinating advocacy messages (Global, Regional and National) using a variety of media platforms and events following a regular and planned communications plan.

The Senior Officer Advocacy will ensure the required resource mobilisation targets (both ‘in-kind’ and financial) will be achieved, working directly with GTFCC donors and partners and in close consultation and collaboration with the IFRC PRD Team. S/he will be working with a multi-disciplinary team, contribute to the overall objectives of the GFTCC and specifically in providing tailored and targeted support at country level in countries affected by or at risk from cholera. S/he will act, through the CSP Coordinator, to work in close regular consultation and collaboration with the WHO Team Lead Cholera Control and Epidemic Diarrheal Diseases position that also leads the GTFCC Secretariat. And the GTFCC members.

Technical support and Coordination:

• Provide technical support and coordinate, under the direction of the CSP Coordinator, to ensure that the Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilisation strategy is rolled out effectively and meets targets at all levels including support and guidance to CSP Field based Delegates and national counterparts.
• Act as primary liaison between the CSP Coordinator and potential donors to seek both ‘in-kind’ and financial contributions to sustain and expand the CSP and indirectly contribute to the delivery of NCP’s.
• Under the direction of the CSP Coordinator, formulate and deliver funding proposals with the CSP Team members to approach prospective donors at all levels and in close collaboration with PRD.
• Coordinate advocacy, communication, and resource mobilisation activities to enable interactions between the CSP field-based team and the GTFCC secretariat, WHO cholera team focal points, the GTFCC Working Groups and GTFCC partners as required.
• Contribute to the collective efforts of the CSP Team as they deliver the expected outcomes of the CSP Project, as defined in detail in the Project Proposal, Results Tracker and Budget and contribute to the management of any revisions required of those documents during the duration of the project.
• Contribute to the collective efforts of the CSP Team in ensuring financial sustainability of the CSP.
• Contribute to cholera interventions that are supported and guided by the CSP team that are coherent, evidence based, aligned with the government and GTFCC Roadmap objectives and strategies and are well described, communicated, and resourced.

Monitoring

• Lead, under the direction of the CSP Coordinator, in monitoring the activities and expected results from the Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilisation Strategy and produce regular reports and analysis on its effectiveness according to the role.
• Contribute to all required internal and external reporting, both narrative and financial, and submitted following IFRC internal procedures and protocols to meet with IFRC and donor requirements in a timely manner according to the role.

Education

Required

• Relevant degree or post-graduate study in International Development
• Relevant degree or post-graduate study in Communications or Resource Mobilization.

Experience

Required

• At least 5 years working experience in a role that advocated and communicated for humanitarian or developmental action and resource mobilization.
• At least 3 years working experience in grant management, partnership development and proposal and report writing.
• At least 3 years management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment, with developing countries and/or with an international organisation or INGO at management level.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required

• Broad knowledge of Advocacy, Communications and Resource Mobilization and experience in practically applying this knowledge into strategy, programmes and positioning
• Programme and project management
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of spoken and written French
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and values

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

Comments

Duties applicable to all staff within the CPS

• Actively work towards the achievement of the GTFCC objectives and goals
• Represents the CSP at relevant meetings, events, and forums when required to do so

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Please apply through the IFRC website