National Society Development Delegate

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 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.”  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 the 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. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  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.

IFRC has had a consistent presence in Afghanistan since 1990 to support the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in its organizational development, auxiliary role and outreach, humanitarian diplomacy, partnership development, humanitarian response operations, and longer-term programming. A core part of IFRC’s mission is to coordinate and support the work of member National Societies, driving the transformations that are essential for the IFRC network to fulfil full potential as a global humanitarian actor – engaged, accountable and trusted – and to deliver on an agreed agenda. The IFRC Secretariat as well as engages with the ICRC on Movement Coordination and Cooperation in line with an existing Movement Cooperation Agreement.

In response to massive humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, the IFRC is supporting ARCS in scaling up humanitarian response alongside longer-term programmes. During 2023, the IFRC will support ARCS programming under three pillars: Pillar 1 on addressing immediate humanitarian needs; Pillar 2 on supporting recovery and bridging to development, and; Pillar 3 on strengthening local response capacity.

In view of the scaled-up IFRC support, the capacity of IFRC Country Delegation in Afghanistan is being bolstered. The capacity will enable IFRC to support ARCS with a more rigorous, systemic, and structured coordination, collaboration, and cooperation towards a more efficient and effective implementation of its Strategic Plan 2021-2025. Furthermore, capacity to support the ARCS in National Society Development initiatives will be enhanced. In this background, a National Society Development Delegate will be engaged. 

Reporting to the Deputy Head of Delegation– and operating under the technical guidance of the Regional Head of of Membership Services – the National Society Development (NSD) Delegate is accountable for guiding and supporting ARCS for its further implementation of NSD priority work, providing technical assistance to NSD work wherever required and facilitating engagement of further expertise (including expert support from IFRC network), coordinating NSD support provided by various actors and enabling quality assurance to the NSD support provided, working actively with operations and programmes teams to bring synergy between ongoing operations, programmes, NSD, and facilitating learning.

Support for the National Society legal base process:

1. Facilitate support and follow-up on ARCS’s legal base revision process, ensuring the process and revised legal base meets the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) standards.

 Supporting the National Society in implementing its Strategic and Operational Plan:

1. Provide technical assistance and support to ARCS in setting approaches to create shared understanding of its Strategic Plan and Operation Plan across all levels (among different departments as well as across its regional offices and branches).
2. Provide technical assistance and support to ARCS in developing, contextualizing, and rolling out necessary training and induction to disseminate its Strategic Plan and Operation Plan.
3. Provide technical assistance and support to ARCS in defining or streamlining roles and functions to implement its Strategic Plan and Operation Plan as well as approaches to follow-up with their implementation and revision accordingly.

Supporting implementation and coordination of ARCS NSD Initiatives:

1. Provide oversight and support to ARCS in implementing its NSD initiatives – including but not limited to Branch Development, Digital Transformation, Finance Development, HR development, Leadership Development, Logistics Development, Quality and Accountability, sustainability of flagship services, and Volunteering and Youth Development – as defined by various working groups of the National Society and endorsed by the leadership.

Movement-wide coordination on NSD support and facilitating learning:

1. Coordinate and integrate NSD support provided by various Movement and non-Movement actors in close collaboration with the ICRC Cooperation Coordinator, ensuring that such support is aligned with the ARCS NSD priorities, existing Membership and Movement and coordination mechanism (wherever applicable), and contributing to ongoing transformation process of the National Society in a manner which avoids fragmentation of support.
2. Ensure coherence and quality in NSD support provided by various Movement and non-Movement actors and creating awareness and promoting use of the Membership-wide approach, strategies and tools, and information sharing.
3. Coordinate the capturing of learning from NSD support provided by various Movement and non-Movement actors to continuously contribute to enhancing a harmonized approach to NSD.
4. Ensure ARCS is in the centre of all coordination and conversations concerning NSD including ensuring leadership engagement at strategic level.
5. Support the ARCS and the IFRC network in ensuring that ongoing operations, programmes, and services bring synergy with current NSD priority areas as well as strengthen longer-term NSD work.  

People Management:

1. Supervise IFRC personnel covering Membership Services aspects as well as promote a culture of continuous learning, individual and team accountability in the team by setting team objectives, monitoring team performance, and conducting timely performance reviews.

Effective matrix management:

1. Lead in contextualizing and facilitating awareness sessions for IFRC staff on applicable Membership Services and NSD tools, standards, policies, and procedures to enhance understanding of each about their role in some NSD aspects.
2. As part of the ‘One IFRC Team’, be available for time-bound interim support to other IFRC Country Delegations, Country Cluster Delegations, Regional Offices or Geneva head office when agreed with line and technical managers.

University degree or equivalent qualifying experience in a relevant field

Background in non-profit management or consulting such as on Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) & Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA)

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

At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, including in NSD, in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Experience in local capacity building, volunteer management and/or community development in cross-cultural and diversity-sensitive environments

At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience of progressive career development and growth, working in the RC/RC Movement

Experience in management at senior level or in consulting and facilitating organizational transformation in a National Society

At least 3-5 years’ experience of mentoring, coaching and managing staff

Experience in systems thinking and facilitating or coordinating cross-departmental/sectoral collaboration in change process

Experience in supporting National Society leadership to identify, manage and mitigate organizational risk, and setting and implementing change strategy/process.

Experience in facilitating and setting coordination approaches among multiple organizations

Extensive experience of writing plans, proposals, and narrative reports 

Field experience in high-risk and/or fragile context(s)

Required

Ability to work in a stressful and demanding environment while keeping a consistent, courteous, and positive attitude towards others

Demonstrated personal integrity and accountability, including proven ability to protect National Society and individual confidentiality

Proven ability and track record working with and inter-relating to the leadership of the National Society

Sound knowledge in Red Cross Red Crescent NSD-related key documents and available tools, including understanding on uniqueness of volunteer/membership-based organizations

Familiarity in Movement and Membership coordination mechanisms and tools

Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically and looking complex organization through systems thinking

Sound knowledge in change management and experience in more than two areas linked to Red Cross Red Crescent NSD related matters (such as, but not limited to, legal base development, strategic planning, branch development and leadership development)

Able to present financial information clearly, orally and in writing

Able to work with due sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment and dispersed teams

Self-supporting in computers and internet-based tools

Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

Knowledge in approaches and tools that help organisations and individuals to design, test, learn, and replicate different ways of working appropriate to the context.

Skills in coaching and mentoring senior leadership

A good understanding of Asia Pacific, and preferably Afghanistan, context

Knowledge of Dari and Pashto

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

Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others

Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development (for positions that manage, manage staff performance, have direct reports etc.)