Head of Country Cluster, West Coast at The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Vacancy No: REST_HR00037
Duration: 2 years
Category of Staff: Delegate
Grade: F1

Job Purpose

• The Head of Country Cluster (West Coast) is the senior secretariat representative and business manager for the countries covered by the office, with clear management authority and responsibility.
• Under the guidance and leadership of the Regional Director, s/he is accountable for developing the secretariat’s support strategy for the NSs in those countries covering the key tasks set out below and as updated from time to time.
• The Head of Cluster will represent the IFRC and its members in relevant countries and lead Federation support to the corresponding National Societies. This requires an active diplomatic presence, a focus on National Society (NS) internal development and leadership to ensure coordination among Movement and non-Movement partners to support programs and grow the secretariat and NS resource base.
• Partnership development includes support to NS in optimising its auxiliary role to the government, identifying and cultivating new domestic and international relationships and being an assertive and active advocate for each NS and the Movement in general.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Strengthening National Societies (NS) to deliver services and to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people:

• Lead the Federation Secretariat team to organise and manage the support to the National Societies, maintain good relations with all NSs and participating NS involved in these countries;
• Understand the needs and concerns of all NS working in these countries (including participating NS);
• Ensure that Secretariat programming in support of NS core programmes is properly planned, managed and monitored and that capacity building opportunities are fully exploited;
• Ensure that evaluations of Federation supported programmes are carried out according to project/programme plans and that lessons are effectively shared;
• Lead resource mobilisation for the Federation Secretariat and National Society programmes in these countries for the sub-region and for global activities of the Federation and the National Societies;
• Support the NSs in their plans to strengthen their international cooperation capacities.

Coordinate, cooperate, and form strategic partnerships:

• Ensure that Federation policies, procedures, guidelines and quality standards are known and complied with;
• Ensure alignment with IFRC plans, strategies, structures and key initiatives of IFRC in Africa.
• Facilitate cooperation and coordination in all programmes and operations between the host NSs, participating NSs and ICRC to ensure the most effective mobilisation and utilisation of resources across the region;
• Build effective cooperation and partnerships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders in government, civil society, academia, Regional and continental bodies e.g. ECOWAS and the private sector.
• Represent effectively and appropriately the IFRC in the sub regional arena as well as at country level. In Coordination with Regional Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) and Partnerships team, support the NS to develop concrete HD and Partnerships initiatives.

Support global IFRC initiatives:

• Working with NSs and Governments, particularly in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast to build global alliances and envelop interest in and support to the global work of the IFRC
• Support the conclusion and implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for international humanitarian and development cooperation with these Governments and NSs.
• Support and lead global partnerships with Governments and institutions in these countries, in close consultation with the concerned National Societies.
• Support NS efforts to develop innovative solutions to empowering and attracting youth members and developing tools for effective volunteer management.

Develop effective humanitarian diplomacy in the sub-region:

• Monitor and analyse political, economic and social trends in these countries as they affect the work of the IFRC for planning purposes and for keeping the Federation Secretariat and partners informed.
• Support and represent the Director of Africa Region as delegated and keep him/her informed of relevant developments related to changing humanitarian or operating context, building partnerships, relationship management and humanitarian diplomacy initiatives.
• Take the lead in the planning and implementation of policy objectives for advocacy, communications and external relations activities for these countries in line with Federation global policies and priorities;
• If required, represent the IFRC at events taking place at national level;
• Provide assistance to NS to develop effective humanitarian diplomacy, communications and external relations, ensure that these build on and promote Federation priorities ;
• Ensure effective cooperation with ICRC in representation and advocacy work.
• Assist NS to develop effective advocacy, communications and external relations and support the implementation of policy objectives for advocacy in line with Federation`s global priorities, based on good relations with the national authorities, international organizations, donor governments and other organizations represented in the country as well as national and international media with the approval of the Somali Red Crescent Society.
• Raise funds in support of Federation Appeals and activities and for NS programmes in close coordination with the Africa Regional Office.

Respond appropriately to disasters:

• Provide effective support, including technical advice, to ensure that appropriate disaster preparedness and response mechanisms are established in each NS, both to facilitate effective disaster response and to build on and strengthen NS capacities in this area;
• Ensure that national resources from these countries are made available rapidly and efficiently to support Federation disaster response;
• Work with the Regional Disaster Management Unit on the management of international appeals and international response coordination where and when appropriate.

Finance and Risk Management:

• Ensure sound financial management of the Secretariat`s programming in these countries, that effective budget planning is in place, and that programmes operate within approved budgets.
• Ensure that secretariat programming in support of NS core programmes is properly planned, managed and monitored and that capacity building opportunities are fully exploited;
• Ensure that evaluations of Federation supported programmes are carried out according to project/programme plans and that lessons are effectively shared;
• Ensure grant compliance, reporting, procurement and implementation is consistent with partner expectations and agreements, Federation and NS rules and regulations and generally accepted accounting standards.

Security:

• Ensure that risk of harm to staff and Secretariat property are minimised at all times;
• Ensure the preparation, dissemination and enforcement of specific security rules and regulations;
• Ensure specific plans for emergency evacuations of staff including medical evacuation. (Where appropriate consult and include ICRC).

Requirements
Education:

• Post graduate (i.e. Master’s or PhD degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences/Development Studies, Strategic/Programme Management, Management Studies or other relevant discipline
• IMPACT course or equivalent knowledge

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years work experience in humanitarian operations for a humanitarian aid organisation and or development cooperation organisation, 5 of which should be at senior management level
• 5 years of work experience including management in a red Cross/Red Crescent National Society, IFRC or ICRC, or a relevant international organization
• 5 years’ experience of analysing, planning and managing programmes and resources and resource mobilisation
• 5 years’ experience with diplomatic engagement and representative to donors and partners.
• Proven record of security regulations implementation and updates
• Proven experience of working in the region

Knowledge, Skills and Languages:

• Strong management and organizational skills, including ability to delegate authority and responsibility
• Good intercultural communication skills
• Proficiency in policy landscape of the humanitarian and development sector in general and the RCRC Movement in particular; able to articulate positions and defend interests of the organization.
• Strong project management experience, including budget, reporting and compliance matters.
• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office
• Proven people management skills in a multi-cultural environment and strong track record of developing people
• Drive change and improvements and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment
• Fluently spoken and written English
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and values:

• Core Competencies Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust;
• Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development
• Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances,; Leadership; Empowering others