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.
Job purpose
Operations Manager provides technical support to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation ongoing of IFRC-supported emergency preparedness and response activities including Afghanistan Emergency Appeal EA and programmes in the country.
Job duties and responsibilities
- Ensure sound project and financial management is applied to the emergency operations and programmes.
- Work closely with the IFRC Central Asia team as well as counterparts in the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) headquarters, branches and field teams in operational sites, raid response delegates, Red Cross and Red Crescent movement partners, Regional Office, teams in Geneva and external stakeholders to facilitate required technical guidance and support to RCST and in the implementation of the emergency response operations.
- Ensure regular and effective communication lines with the RCST and foster fruitful institutional and working relationships on the emergency response.
- Work closely with the IFRC Central Asia NSD Coordinator and Head of Delegation (HoD) in supporting the implementation of the emergency preparedness component of the NS Development and Cooperation and Coordination with movement partners in country.
- Provide guidance, advice and support to all IFRC teams based in the field and to the relevant RCST staff in respect to the emergency operations.
- Provide relevant support to other NS in the Central Asia region that may also be affected and responding to the population movement, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
- Together with the RCST, network and coordinate with relevant public authorities and local actors and ensure that there is sufficient level of information sharing among relevant stakeholders
- Conduct a robust and coherent monitoring of context and operations, ensuring that humanitarian interventions within the emergency response are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
- Ensure compliance with the IFRC Code of Conduct and Fraud and Corruption Prevention and Control Policy.
- Alongside the NS, build alliances and partnerships with other key actors to bolster positioning of the RCST among key players and stakeholders. Support, the RCST to enhance their position vis a vis the national and international coordination mechanism within the context of emergencies.
- Support RCST to develop program approaches in the frame of emergency response which strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and ensure provision of necessary support.
- Ensure that the emergency response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures, and tools.
- Work closely with the IFRC Central Asia Program Coordinator to review, update and implement contingency planning for identified threats in Tajikistan, as well as the development of capacities within the NS for emergency response.
- Support RCST in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response actions.
- Ensure the appropriate and proper use of IFRC disaster response tools such as Emergency Appeal, DREF, rapid response and GO platform.
- Together with the RCST, represent the IFRC in coordination meetings, technical working groups and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors, and other partners in the country.
- Work with PMER officer and the RCST, to ensure that planning and reporting requirements related to the emergency operations are met in a timely and efficient manner.
- Lead processes related to conducting internal and external reviews and evaluations as well as other learning or evidence-gathering initiatives under emergency operations.
- Advise on the need for additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country Cluster Office.
- Ensure regular management reporting and updates are provided to line and technical manager on the implementation of the emergency operations.
- Monitor the progress and coordinate analysis of implementation rates of operations and ensure that the deliverables are on track and in line with IFRC project management procedures and pledge
- Facilitate a close cooperation between IFRC thematic leads for Central Asia and the RCST departments in all related
Education:
Required:
- University degree, or equivalent qualifying experience, in relevant area
Preferred:
- Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT, FACT, ERU, RDRT, CAP training
Experience:
Required:
- At least 5 years of disaster preparedness and response experience
- Field experience in coordinating disaster and crisis management projects and activities
- Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
- Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context within Central Asia
Preferred:
- Work experience with Red Cross or Red Crescent
Knowledge, Skills and Language:
Required:
- Effective team and project management skills
- Good analytical skills and solution-oriented
- Good mentoring and capacity development skills
- Ability to work well in a multicultural team
- Excellent stress management skills
- Demonstrated accountability
- Fluently spoken and written English
- Fluently spoken and written Russian and Tajik
Preferred:
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)