Deputy Operations Coordinator– Maternity Cover (Consultant)

The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is organized into four Business groups in Geneva and five Business Groups in the field, namely the Regional Offices for Africa, Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Europe Region is organized through Clusters covering the National Societies in Eastern Western and Central Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, Russian Federation and Belarus, Red Cross EU Office as well as country offices in Greece, Turkiye and Ukraine under the reorganized IFRC Secretariat, located in the regional office in Europe.

Operational Context

As the Syrian crisis enters its 12th year, Türkiye is either hosting or being a transit route for a considerable number of Syrian refugees. Additionally, the migration movement from Afghanistan to Türkiye, which relatively has a longer history than the Syrian crisis, and the Ukraine conflict that broke out at the beginning of 2022 are among the most featured refugee and migration movements closely followed by the Government of Türkiye (GoT) and humanitarian actors. This situation has now been further exacerbated with the impact of the earthquakes of the 6th of February on host and refugee communities alike.

Given this, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) supports the existing refugee population in Türkiye through the largest cash assistance program in the world, the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN), and through its community centre services and activities, seeking to sustain resilience and well-being of the refugees in the longer term.

As a maternity cover, the Deputy Operations Coordinator is required to manage the Field Coordination Unit under the ESSN project comprised of two Regional Coordinators, eight Field Officers, two Field Assistants, one Programme Officer and two drivers. Additionally, the Deputy Operations Coordinator will manage the Ukraine crisis response (Ukraine Appeal and the Government of Japan-funded project). The incumbent will report to the Deputy Head of Delegation.

Objective of the consultancy

As a maternity cover, the Deputy Operations Coordinator is required to manage the Field Coordination Unit under the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) project comprised of two Regional Coordinators, eight Field Officers, two Field Assistants, one Programme Officer and two drivers. Additionally, the Deputy Operations Coordinator will manage the Ukraine crisis response (Ukraine Appeal and the Government of Japan-funded project). The incumbent will report to the Deputy Head of Delegation.

Desired outcomes

Successfully cover for the project(s) deliverables until the end of 2023.

Consultancy tasks

ESSN Operations

• Provide direct management, technical direction and oversight to the Field Coordination team.
• As part of the senior ESSN programme team, ensure coordination between IFRC technical team leaders (M&E, Field Coordination, Community Engagement & Accountability, Referral & Outreach and other relevant workstreams) as well as other units within the IFRC Turkiye delegation such as the Earthquake Response Team.
• Coordinate all field activities under the guidance of the ESSN Operations Manager and in close coordination with the M&E and Referral & Outreach workstreams.
• Manage, coach, advise and support a team of 15 national staff (Regional Coordinators, Field Officers, Field Assistant, Programme Officer).
• In coordination with the Operations Manager, and in close collaboration with Regional Coordinators and relevant Team Leaders, actively contribute to the transition process.
• Ensure that all observations and suggestions from the Field Coordination team are used to feed into technical discussions, in particular for Monitoring & Evaluation, Referral & Outreach, Registration & Application and Community Engagement & Accountability (CEA), and to inform the remaining period in ESSN III and formulate recommendations for ESSN IV.
• Support the Registration & Application workstream of the ESSN. Guide the Senior Officer, Registration & Application to monitor ESSN registration & application trends, to support effective operations of the 9 ESSN Service Centres, and to support TRC in provision of appropriate capacity support to local authorities.
• Support the Referral & Outreach workstream of the ESSN. Guide the IFRC Team Leader (O&R) to work closely with TRC on effective advocacy and sensitization with local stakeholders to remove access barriers to the ESSN, strengthening protection referrals and establishing livelihoods referrals.

Programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting  

• Ensure the timely production of operational situation reports and updates.
• Contribute to the IFRC reporting processes (standard and donor reporting) in coordination with the PMER unit.
• Assure field level organizational accountability.
• Provide oversight of field level activities to assure compliance with IFRC procedures, regulations and policies.
• Produce consolidated weekly and monthly field reports presenting all relevant observations and recommendations of the IFRC Field Coordination unit to ensure that field-level information is used to inform and improve the ESSN programme as well as the earthquake response.
• Provide regular feedback to IFRC management to assure the Delegation SMT is fully informed on any material developments which could affect the project and/or IFRC and ensure timely follow up to issues identified in the field.
• Contribute to evidence-based learning by assessing and studying protection and livelihood referral related actions, for example through case studies

Ukraine Crisis Programme Implementation

• Provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the Project Management Cycle; assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of the Ukraine Appeal – Response Plan for Turkiye and the GoJ-funded project.
• Work closely with Turkish Red Crescent to ensure programme delivery.
• Ensure a positive working relationship with the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) and other local and international partners.
• Maintain coordination with the regional office and its programme teams (such as  Health, Protection, CEA, PMER, CVA and IM) in relation to the programme’s interventions.
• Conduct field visits to monitor activities implemented with IFRC support.
• Assume budget holder responsibility for the assigned programmes and operations in line with IFRC financial procedures and lead on budget and Project Plan revisions as necessary.
• Ensure that accurate financial and narrative reports are produced as per donor requirements in coordination with the finance and reporting focal points at TRCS.

Coordination, cooperation, networking and partnerships

• Foster and maintain a good working relationship with TRCS and existing IFRC support functions for the delivery of operational objectives.
• Harmonize inter-regional coordination and strategically support field level coordination for planning, monitoring, and oversight activities.
• Ensure strong relationships between IFRC and local government institutions such as SASF, PDMM and DGPC offices, through supporting the IFRC Regional Coordinators to foster trust and identify capacity support needs.
• Support the IFRC delegation on the operational coordination with the UN lead Regional Refugee and Resilience plan (3RP) and other coordination structures. Participate in and represent the IFRC in relevant coordination meetings as well as liaise with local public authorities, UN agencies, and international and non-governmental operating agencies. 
• Provide strategic guidance to the ESSN Task Force to ensure effective inter-agency coordination and transition. Support the Regional Coordinators to co-chair all ESSN Task Force meetings jointly with the TRC Coordination unit.
• Be responsible for coordinating the field missions of ECHO, VPO and other high-level missions. This includes working closely with Regional Coordinators and TRC teams to prepare, plan and deliver in a timely manner

Duration and location

The contract duration will be 6 months (estimated 132 days) and the consultant will have to work out of the IFRC Turkiye Delegation in Ankara. The IFRC will cover the accommodation costs while in Ankara.

Schedule for payment of fees

The consultant will be paid monthly, upon reception of their monthly activity report.

Management of consultancy

The consultancy will be managed by the IFRC Deputy Head of Delegation in Türkiye.

Desired experience and qualifications

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or equivalent qualification
• Knowledge of Monitoring, evaluation and community engagement

Preferred:

• Basic RCRCM Training Courses or humanitarian response training or equivalent knowledge
• Knowledge of protection referrals 

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in international relief operations
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a management role with an International Organisation, international non-governmental organization, NGO and/or government development agency
• Experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Field experience in coordinating/managing disaster and crisis management operations
• Proved experience managing large teams.
• Good knowledge and relevant work experience in cash transfer programming and/or social safety nets
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• Strong background in writing strategic documents and product delivery to tight deadlines, experience (ECHO grant reporting preferred)

Application procedure

Interested consultants should submit their application by June 10^th

The application should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Brief letter of motivation summarising relevant experience and qualifications for the consultancy
• Statement of availability for continuous work from July to December 2023
• Financial offer indicating the (net) sum for 132 days (estimate).