Programmes Coordination / Liaison Officer

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 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.

The IFRC’s Central Asia Delegation is based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It also has a presence in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It supports the National Societies to collaborate, through formal and informal exchange platforms, exchange visits, and online and in-person meetings. By working together and with the IFRC, the National Societies in Central Asia stay up to date, relevant and influential in their approach to addressing humanitarian trends and challenges.

The IFRC supports the National Societies on disaster management and preparedness, disaster risk reduction, health, community engagement and accountability, cash and vouchers assistance, disaster law, humanitarian diplomacy and positioning with authorities, branch and volunteer development, leadership support and development, financial sustainability, and systems development. The IFRC also supports accountability as a cross-cutting theme.   

The Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan was established in 1926 and is the only recognized independent public organization in Turkmenistan to carry out humanitarian activities across the country. It has 51 branches, 172 staff and 5,000 volunteers. In 2012, the law “On the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan” was adopted, regulating its auxiliary role and, in 2020, the Turkmenistan law “On international humanitarian assistance in case of emergency” was adopted.

The IFRC office in Turkmenistan is located in Ashgabat and operates on the basis of the Status Agreement between IFRC and the Government of Turkmenistan.

TThe Programmes Coordination/ Liaison Officer provides overall coordination and programming support to the IFRC CCD programmes and projects in Turkmenistan, as well as strengthens relationship with the public authorities, Movement and external partners. The role will include but not limited to supporting the National Society of Turkmenistan in planning and implementing their initiatives in general with the guidance from IFRC CCD Central and Asia and Regional Office for Europe technical leads.

The Program Coordination / Liaison Officer will also be responsible for strengthening IFRC’s relationship with the Government in support of the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST), and Red Cross and Red Crescent’s work regionally and globally. This will include coordination with the NRCST’s HQ leadership, respective departments, and branch level staff to promote coordinated and aligned agenda and initiatives in the country, in coordination with IFRC CCD and other Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) network partners.

The Programme / Liaison officer will also explore engaging with partners in order to strengthen the NRCST`s humanitarian work and programmes.

The Officer will serve as a liaison with UN and other international organizations based in Turkmenistan and will facilitate Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement coordination with them at country level.

As being the only position to be located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; the Programmes Coordination / Liaison officer will also facilitate key finance and admin tasks that will require the IFRC office`s services. 

Programmatic support:

• Overall coordination and programming support to the IFRC CCD activities and strategies supporting the NRCST, including arranging coordination meetings between IFRC, NRCST, and other RCRC partners;
• Assist and promote strengthening partnership of the NRCST with other NSs in Central Asia and globally;
• Assist NRCST in timely delivery of the narrative and financial reports of IFRC funded programmes and projects;
• Facilitate and support the IFRC CCD with reporting, budgeting and fundraising for IFRC activities at country level and provide narrative and financial reports on agreed actions, projects and programmes;
• Lead country research into opportunities for resource mobilisation and partnership development for RCRC work in the country, region and beyond;
• Support IFRC CCD with managing financial and administrative aspects of the IFRC office in Ashgabat on day-to-day basis. This includes adherence to local legislations and requirements by the tax and other authorities as relevant and support for various visits, workshops and training events in the country.
• In cooperation with IFRC CCD and IFRC ROE technical thematic leads, and under the supervision of IFRC CCD Programme Manager support the exploration and identification of entry points for integration of Disaster Management, Cash and Vouchers Assistance, Disaster Law, Community Engagement and Accountability, Humanitarian Diplomacy, climate, and other innovative resources and best practices in the country jointly with the NRCST;
• Prepare and share ad hoc/monthly/quarterly briefing notes, reports and records of meetings and follow-up action plans to key IFRC CCD focal points;

Effective communication with partners and stakeholders:

• Serve as key liaison between the IFRC CCD, NRCST, and other present/interested RCRC network partners in the Central Asian to ensure effective communication and relations to disseminate policies and strategies in support of NRCST;
• Act as key liaison between IFRC CCD and key representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan (ministries, agencies, and official decision-making structures), as well as with international non-profit and profit organizations, partners;
• Serve as key focal point in Turkmenistan for IFRC CCD and ROE thematic file holders to closely coordinate relevant thematic activities, mitigate risks, and channel key updates and advise to advance IFRC’s priorities, goals, and vision at country and regional levels;
• Support the development of unified planning as per NRCST`s priorities and strategies, and promote the plan to engage partners in support of the identified programmatic priorities;
• Collect and share updates with IFRC CCD on key developments and opportunities in the country relevant to IFRC and NS activities and interests;

Contribute to an effective and high quality IFRC CCD team:

• To provide progress reports to line manager;
• Be flexible and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources;
• Foster a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness;

Finance and Administrative support:

• Provide administrative support for IFRC staff visiting Turkmenistan and for any events organized in the country (visas, registration, accommodation, etc.);
• Liaise with office building management on issues related to office maintenance;

• In coordination with IFRC CCD Finance And Administration Coordinator To liaise with local authorities and other official agencies related with financial and administrative processes;

Support the IFRC CCD Finance and Admin Coordinator with the management of IFRC funds and assets in Turkmenistan (including but not limited, regular inventory, bank payments processing, bank account reconciliations, etc.).

Required:

• University degree (bachelor's or equivalent) in public administration, social sciences, international relations, economics, law, or other relevant field of study;
  
  

Preferred:

• Relevant post-graduate degree (master's or equivalent);

Required:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following fields: international relations; diplomacy; communications; public administration or human rights law;
• Working experience in the humanitarian aid, development or relief sector;
• Demonstrated professional experience working for the Government, an international organization, and/or diplomatic service;
• Solid experience in partnership development and mobilization of financial resources;
• Experience in relationship management;
• Experience in multi-cultural environments;

Preferred:

• Experience of working for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement;

Required:

• Strong analytical skills;
• Interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate while maintaining effective working relations;
• Excellent knowledge of current affairs in Turkmenistan and Central Asia;
• Discretion, loyalty, and ability to identify and handle sensitive issues and confidential information;
• Excellent communications and writing skills;
• Skills in training and coaching senior staff;
• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing);
• Fluently spoken and written English;
• Other languages: Russian and Turkmen;

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic);

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust;
VALUES: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability;
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances; Empowering others;