Senior Officer, Programs and Operations.
Organizational Context
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 the 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.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
The 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.
The 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.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The 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 a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
This position is part of the Dakar Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) and is a member of Africa Regional Office team. It has the mandate of providing operational and programmatic support to the members of the Federation, including the National Societies of Cabo Verde, Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia, and the Participating National Societies (PNS) working in this sub-region.
The CCD provides coordination in disaster management, high level representation of the IFRC, advocacy and communications, National Society capacity building, and resource mobilization and partnership development. These are some of the essential elements to ensure effective membership coordination and management of strategic partnerships and resources that support the work and increase the influence of IFRC and National Societies in the region.


Job Purpose
The position ensures the implementation of high-quality programs and operations across the four countries covered by the CCD as well as the identification and pursuit of program development opportunities based on the priorities of the National Societies. He/she is responsible to oversee the development and implementation of the IFRC Network Country Plans (INP), ensuring assessments and updates as needed in fluid contexts.
The position holder is accountable, under the direction and guidance of the Head of CCD, for supporting and assisting the National Societies to utilize Movement resources in the most effective and efficient way so that humanitarian intervention is coherent within a common framework. The key programmatic and functional areas prioritized by the National Societies in the sub-region include migration; food security and livelihoods (FSL); climate action; health, protection, gender, and inclusion; and disaster risk management, including preparedness and anticipatory action.


Job Duties and Responsibilities
Programs & Operations
• Support the National Societies to assess the hazards and humanitarian needs in their contexts, establish programmatic priorities by focus area, and develop IFRC Network Country Plans (INPs) that incorporate the contributions of all IFRC members. Serve as focal point for monitoring the implementation of the programmatic components (focus areas) of the INPs.
• Support the National Societies to develop preparedness plans for the principal hazards that have been identified and coordinate with Movement and external partners to identify resources to support NS disaster preparedness actions.
• Monitor emergent situations in Cabo Verde, Mauritania, The Gambia, and Senegal which could have a humanitarian impact, in close coordination with the respective National Societies.
In the event of an emergency or disaster impacting one of the countries supported by the Cluster, provide immediate support to the National Society to develop its response plan and access IFRC global tools as required (i.e., DREF, Emergency Appeal, Surge). Support the NS with initial implementation of the response (until Surge is in place) and ensure that PNS contributions to the response are well-coordinated and integrated into sit reps and IFRC-wide appeals.
• Ensure effective implementation and management (including finance and implementation oversight – Budget Holder) of ongoing IFRC response operations and projects/programs in the countries supported by the Cluster.
• Ensure effective management in planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (PMER) of IFRC operations, projects, programs, and INPs to ensure that standards and timelines are met, in coordination with the Manager, Planning and Reporting.

Strategic Relationships & Program Development
• Coordinate closely with all IFRC members to identify priorities for program development and work to ensure good coordination and the creation of synergies between initiatives implemented by different members (i.e., National Societies, Secretariat, and PNS).
• Lead program development initiatives, including proposal development, in Climate Action, Food Security & Livelihoods, Migration, and other themes, in line with the priorities of the National Societies supported by the Cluster and the Sahel+ Resilience Platform.
• Identify opportunities for joint proposal development and coordinate the inputs/contributions of different IFRC members.
• Ensure the sound and effective implementation of strategic inter-agency projects and/or initiatives with governments, international agencies, non-governmental organisations, and civil society.
• Lead the development of technical partnerships with the NS, technical government agencies, technical inter-agency cluster working groups, Movement partners, and the international and local private sector.
• Develop new opportunities for resource development with multilateral and bilateral donors and the private sector, including overseeing proposal writing.
• Represent the IFRC in technical forums in Dakar to increase the visibility and profile of the IFRC among external partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Technical Membership Coordination and Movement Cooperation
• Contribute to good coordination between the IFRC Secretariat, National Societies, PNS, and ICRC on technical matters.
• With the support of IFRC CCD focal points (e.g., Livelihoods Delegate, Migration Officer, Sr. FSL Officer, Health Manager, PMER Manager, etc.), convene technical exchanges for IFRC partners in the sub-region with the aim of sharing documentation, best practices, and learnings and harmonizing the programmatic and technical contributions of members.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence in programming among IFRC membership through supporting the development and sharing of key deliverables within the membership (e.g., guidelines, best practices, case studies, evaluations, etc.)

Education
Required
• Relevant university degree or equivalent qualification
• Relevant advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) or equivalent qualification

Experience
Required:
• 7+ years of experience in international coordination and cooperation in disaster response, recovery, and development settings
• Experience in program development and program management, particularly with references to experience with regional and multi country programs in the West Africa/Sahel region
• Experience managing programs and projects in complex settings
• Experience in needs assessment, strategic planning, and evaluation
• Experience of working in the Sahel/West Africa region, especially in the countries of interest of the Dakar CCD.
• Previous experience in disaster management

Preferred:
• Familiarity with Movement and International Federation policies and guidelines – the Seville Agreement and Supplementary Measures and the Code for Good Partnership
• Previous experience in the areas of Food Security & Livelihoods, Migration, Climate Action, and/or Protection, Gender & Inclusion

Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required:
• Highly organized and results oriented
• A high degree of competence in leadership, planning, and coordination of initiatives
• Superior networking, communication (both written and verbal), and interpersonal skills
• Ability to coordinate and negotiate effectively with a broad range of actors
• Good analytical skills and solution-focused person
• Excellent stress management skills
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills
• Proven ability to motivate and manage a team
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluent spoken and written French

Preferred:
• Fluent spoken and written Portuguese
• Competencies, Values and Comments
• 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;