Delegate, Volunteer Management

IFRC has launched a major Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and Impacted Countries that is coordinated on European regional level – with numerous country level operations ongoing. ICRC, IFRC and numerous Partner National Societies are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response in Ukraine and impacted countries. In initial months the operation is supported by a large number of Surge delegates in all impacted countries and in the European Regional Office; over time, the operational structure will be fully integrated into existing structures at Country / Country Cluster and Regional Office level to ensure full synergies with the overall regional work.

Moldova is among the lowest income countries in Europe, with a population of only 2.6 million, making it the country with the highest number of people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine crossing into its territory per-capita in the world. Approximately 5% of people arriving from Ukraine are placed across the country in Refugee Accommodation Centers (RACs) and 95% in host accommodations (especially those travelling with pets stay mainly in the countryside with host communities). Ensuring that adequate assistance is provided to all people impacted by the Ukraine crisis in Moldova is vital, including those most vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and exclusion, such as women and children, older people, and those living with disabilities. At the same time, given the levels of poverty in Moldova, interventions in support of the country’s response to the ongoing crisis should also consider needs of local communities since, despite the efforts and support provided by the government and different humanitarian actors, people and resources are being stretched to their limit.

The Moldova Red Cross Society (MRCS) requested support to be able to scale-up its operations addressing the growing needs of its communities related to the conflict in Ukraine, related crises, and social cohesion. In responding to the needs of people in Moldova, the MRCS, IFRC, and other Movement partners are strongly focused on coordinating their efforts, strengthening the long-term sustainability and capacities of the MRCS, and preparing for both current and future emergencies.

Moldova Country office is strengthening the capacity of Moldova Red Cross Society (MRCS) together with ICRC and PNS’s through its country level and movement contingency plans.

The current operational priorities in Moldova include:

• Provision and distribution of basic assistance, primarily hygiene kits, food assistance, and essential household items
• Development of core business processes and disaster management capacities at the domestic level
• Emergency preparedness, particularly for winter
• Health, first aid, and hygiene

The mid-to-long-term operational priorities are focused on:

• Establishing a multipurpose cash assistance program for immediate and medium-term humanitarian support, as well as potential contingency situations and emergent displacement crises
• Crisis preparedness both directly with the national authorities and via MRCS in the development of its domestic capacity
• Significant multi-year investment in national society development
• Coordination of partner national society efforts and investments

Mainstreaming Safeguarding, Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) considerations throughout all programs of the operation

The ultimate aim of this role is to build capacity of the National Society’s (NS) Volunteer Management System that will contribute to the building of strong NS in line with its goals of strategy while maintaining and strengthening IFRC knowledge and systems to facilitate high-quality National Society development support to the MRCS. The incumbent will work closely with the IFRC Country Office to ensure high-quality Volunteer Management support to the Moldova Red Cross Society.

1. Identify volunteers’ priorities, advise, plan, organize, coordinate and follow-up on volunteering-related initiatives in order to strengthen volunteer engagement, development and action across the country.
2. Provide technical support to membership throughout the country in volunteering dimensions such as legal base, insurance systems, volunteer management systems and procedures for volunteering orientations.
3. Ensure an integrated approach to volunteering development within Health, Wash, Disasters Management and Principles and Values programmes and concentrate on volunteering as a cross-cutting topic.
4. Ensure that adequate training is provided to programme managers regarding volunteering management and the impact in their different programmes and projects.
5. Develop/adapt and support the implementation of a volunteer database within the operation. Database should have minimum volunteer profiles and attributes as prescribed by NS as relevant to their context. (IFRC Regional Office to support with guidelines e.g. SADDD Sex, Age, Disability and Disaggregated Data encouraged).
6. Work with Partner National Society colleagues individually and collectively to ensure a coherent Volunteer development Strategy is developed and implemented in line with the IFRC Cluster and Regional Office and as guided by the NS development Framework.
7. Develop and manage procedures, processes, and policies for establishing tools, mechanisms, and systems to deal with the increasing demand for volunteering during emergencies, disasters, and crisis.
8. Develop, coordinate, and manage a system to track, evaluate and maximize learning, and instructional experiences for volunteers, as well as implement a training curriculum for newcomers.
9. Ensure the mental wellbeing of volunteers by establishing Psychology support guidelines and feedback mechanisms to ensure that all issues are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
10. Provide necessary support in the revision of the National Society policies, programmes and strategies and adapt it to incorporate recent demands and realities of the country, the National Society and local branches. The new policies should be disseminated widely among all staff in charge of volunteers and program’s leaders.
11. Support MRCS to coordinate Volunteer Development information collection, analysis, and reporting with program partners.

• University degree, or equivalent, in relevant discipline (International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, Development Studies, etc.)- Required
• IMPACT training or equivalent course – Preferred

• At least 3 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with specialization on volunteering, youth and/or innovation approaches- Required
• Experience in strategy development and implementation- Required
• Experience working with a Red Cross/Crescent Society. - Required

• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with networks of practitioners- Required
• Innovative thinker and operator- Required
• Ability to identify appropriate methodologies and collaborative techniques- Required
• Skilled in training, mentoring and coaching individuals and groups, as appropriate- Required
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Ability to communicate findings to a variety of audiences- Required
• Flexible and willing to deal with ambiguity, changes and challenges. Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines- Required
• Experience with project planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, ideally working directly with local organizations in complex environments. - Required

Languages

• Fluent spoken and written English- Required
• Good command of Working knowledge of Romanian or Russian. – Preferred

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