Manager Humanitarian Diplomacy and Strategic Partnerships – Myanmar

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191 National Societies (NSs). The overall purpose of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activity by NSs 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.

Organizational context

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 headed by the Secretary-General and has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The headquarters is organized into three main departments: (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, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations around the world. Together, the headquarters in Geneva and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) form the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has zero tolerance for conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of intimidation, abuse of power, discrimination and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict principles for the protection of children.

IFRC Myanmar Country Office is one of the IFRC Country Offices in the Asia Pacific region. It provides essential technical, financial and logistical support to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) while strengthening its participation in regional and global cooperation during emergency and non-emergency situations.

The Senior Officer, Programme Support, will be part of the IFRC Country Delegation in Myanmar, based in Yangon.

Purpose of the job

The Senior Officer, Programme Support contributes to the coordination of the IFRC Country Delegation, technical and quality assurance support provided to Myanmar Red Cross Society activities and programmes. This includes MRCS actions implemented at Headquarters and across the network of branches at state, regional and township levels.

Job duties and responsibilities

Preparedness, response and recovery

• Support the MRCS in conducting needs assessments and designing humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery programmes to meet the humanitarian needs of populations in the most vulnerable situations.
• Support MRCS in data collection and analysis.
• In partnership with MRCS, support the mobilization of communities, volunteers and staff for programmatic and emergency response activities within IFRC-supported projects and operations.
• Oversee logistics processes, including compliance with purchasing regulations and tracking the supply chain to the field.
• Support the provision of relevant technical support to MRCS for programmatic and operational actions, in coordination with other IFRC CD programmatic and operational staff.
• Provide technical support for the implementation of MRCS in the distribution of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and/or material assistance under IFRC supported activities and programmes.
• Support department development initiatives, in coordination with other IFRC team members, including training of staff (staff and volunteers) in different thematic areas and improving response preparedness capacities.
• Support the MRCS in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure the quality, consistency and sustainability of operational and programmatic interventions.

Planning, monitoring and reporting

• Support MRCS in ensuring that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
• Support MRCS in strengthening its accountability system (narrative and financial monitoring and reporting) to better meet internal, partner and external requirements and standards.
• Support the research and analysis of quantitative and qualitative information on humanitarian trends in Myanmar, aimed at informing IFRC’s strategic support to MRCS and responding to current and emerging humanitarian needs and threats.
• Contribute to the improvement and implementation of a uniform and regular monitoring system by MRCS, which reflects the programmatic and operational actions of the Institute.
• Organize and participate in field visits to monitor the progress of IFRC-supported MRCS programmatic and/or operational actions (depending on the security context).
• Contribute to the preparation of timely and accurate reports for internal and external audiences on the programmatic and/or operational actions of MRCS supported by IFRC.

Cross-cutting Humanitarian Standards

• Contribute to ensuring that all activities comply with IFRC guidelines and policies (including Atmosphere, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Humanitarian Aid, Policy for Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption, Safeguarding and PSEA).
• Contribute to supporting the implementation of a community engagement and accountability approach, where the target group (directly, indirectly and non-directly reached in the catchment area) has access to clear information, feedback mechanisms and input on MRCS programmes/activities.

Coordination and involvement

• Contribute to the efforts of the IFRC delegation in countries to maintain contact with components of the movement in Myanmar.
• Contribute to IFRC’s engagement with external actors to ensure coordination and complementary approaches, including attending relevant cluster or coordination meetings.

Education

• A university degree or equivalent experience in relevant field is required.

  Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in humanitarian, development and/or disaster response programming is required.

• Experience with project cycle management, including proposal development, budgeting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, is required.

• Field experience with program monitoring and/or emergency operations is an advantage.

• Experience implementing or supporting cash and voucher assistance programs is a plus.

• Work experience with the Red Cross and Red Crescent is an advantage.

Knowledge and skills

• Effective project management skills are required.
• Good analytical skills and a solution-oriented approach are required.
• Capacity development skills: knowledge and skills should be transferred to others (within the IFRC network, including MRCS staff and volunteers, and to target communities).
• The ability to work well in a multicultural team is required.
• Excellent stress management skills are required.
• Demonstrable accountability is required.

Language

• Fluent speaking and writing of English is required.
• Fluent speaking and writing of Burmese is required.

Competencies and values

VALUES: Respect for diversity, integrity, professionalism and accountability.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication, collaboration and teamwork, judgment and decision-making, national society and customer relations, creativity and innovation, and building trust.

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES: Managing staff performance and managing staff development.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership and Empowering Others.