Innovative Finance Advisor - Portfolio Development and Knowledge Management

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and longer-term systemic challenges, and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with the International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.
 

Purpose

Based on the successful launch of the Humanitarian Impact Bond and the Climate and Environment Transition Fund, the ICRC is building a portfolio of innovative finance instruments to be applied throughout its activities. By 2030, ICRC aims to mobilize 5% of its income through New Financing Models (NFMs), bringing additional forms of support to people affected by conflict by generating new partnerships across sectors, harnessing financing beyond grants, and mobilizing public and private capital. 

This Innovative Finance Advisor for Portfolio Development and Knowledge Management is a new position grounded on the NFMs unit’s achievements of the past few years and the ambitions of the upgraded ICRC NFMs Centre of Expertise (CoE). It will play a critical role in updating the CoE’s strategy to 2025 and 2030, identifying areas of growth and innovation, shaping the CoE’s applied research and NFMs portfolio, building institutional and ecosystem knowledge on NFMs, consolidating the training approaches, positioning the ICRC as a leader in the innovative finance for humanitarian impact space and ultimately supporting the ICRC on its course to reach its ambitious targets by 2025 and to 2030. 

Reports to (role)

• Head of New Financing Models Center of Expertise.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with most units in the Resource Mobilization Division (REM) at headquarters and in the field, Regions and Delegations, the Protection and Essential Services Department, with the Finance and Administration Division, the Office of the Director-General, the Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Division, the Office of the President and others.
• Externally, interacts with governments, national societies, and private donors, DFIs/IFIs, financial services sector, investors, academia and a series of initiatives such as the Humanitarian and Resilience Investing Initiative and others. 

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

Working closely with the Head of the CoE and the rest of the team, in consultation with internal and external stakeholders, building on the NFMs launched or in design, on the 2019 NFMs Strategy Paper, on the lessons learned body of work generated by the ICRC, its partners and others, following the strategic orientations of the NFMs CoE, she/he leads the drafting of the CoE’s strategy document on NFMs Pathways to Diversification and Scale by 2025 and to 2030. 

By the end of 2022, he/she will deliver a first document on NFMs Pathways to Diversification and Scale to 2025 and to 2030. From 2023 onwards, he/she will update the core elements of the document on an annual basis, with updated annual projections and ambitions. More specifically, he/she will support the Head of the CoE and the IFAs in updating the applied research portfolio and the development of the NFMs portfolio with a view to:

• Mandate or undertake applied research in growth areas or models with a particular focus on generating additional humanitarian value and contributing to the diversification of resources at scale, outside current portfolios or in support of the thematic IFAs
• Support the CoE’s agility and the capacity to pivot and advance toward greater diversification and scale by implementing herself/himself or by proposing pathways to implementation outside current portfolios or in support of the thematic IFAs

He/she leads Knowledge Management for the CoE, including: 

• Overseeing the CoE’s internal and external communication and knowledge products roadmap, supported by the CoE’s Associate, in close collaboration and delegation with the rest of the NFMs team and ICRC’s communication teams
• Piloting ICRC’s contribution to the IMD course Driving Innovative Finance for Impact
• Planning any other forms of training required or complementary to existing internal and external trainings, including ad hoc sessions for specific internal target publics 
• In collaboration with other file holders in the team, ensuring briefing files for ICRC’s leadership, the Resource Mobilization Division, priority delegations and others are done or up to date, 
• Staying abreast of major developments within the innovative finance ecosystem, including innovations coming from ICRC operational contexts and from relevant fora, research centers, sector initiatives, etc. 

Additional Duties

• Follows up on all work-related messages and correspondence with the relevant contacts and departments
• Is aware of the delegation’s objectives and has a good knowledge of the Movement and other contacts relevant to the position
• Collects and shares information so as to improve the ICRC’s understanding of the environment and humanitarian trends and responses
• Represents the ICRC in an appropriate way during activities, in meetings and in the field, and avoids any activity that may reflect negatively on the ICRC’s image
• Takes responsibility for their own professional learning and development

Scope & Impact

• The position holder will play a critical role in shaping the NFMs CoE path to diversification and scale and in implementing it, in opening new avenues for NFMs, in equipping the ICRC to deliver on NFMs, in sharing knowledge on NFMs internally and externally, in positioning the ICRC externally. 
• This position involves coordinating with internal and external experts on innovative finance and on major developments and innovations in the sector.
• Geographic remit: Global.

Certifications / Education required

• Educated to a master’s level or equivalent in finance, economics or international business. CFA or equivalent qualification is an asset
• Fluent in English (native level), French and additional languages a strong asset
   

Professional Experience required

• At least 10-15 years’ experience as a practitioner in development finance, private sector finance, social finance, or related field
• Experience leading research, applied research or start-up projects, synthesizing large amounts of information and formulating conclusions
• Demonstrated experience in generating knowledge products
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to develop and maintain strong internal and external working relationships and communicate across a range of stakeholders (government, private sector, humanitarian and development actors)
• Entrepreneurial with a capacity to adapt and excel in changing internal and external environments
• Experience working in developing countries or conflict-affected countries a strong plus
• An extensive network of support with relevant institutions from different sectors a strong plus
• Ability to manage several work streams concurrently and semi-independently in a dynamic, entrepreneurial work environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to the ICRC’s humanitarian mission

Additional information

• Location: Geneva
• Type of contract: Open-ended
• Grade: C1
• Activity rate: 100%
• Estimated start date: As soon as possible
• Location: Geneva, Switzerland 
• Application deadline: Wednesday, the 15th of June 2022 

 
The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.