The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC began planning to reopen an oPt country program in mid-2022 and launched an emergency response in Gaza in October 2023. The organization is currently supporting a network of local partners in both Gaza and the West Bank to sustain critical health, protection, food security, cash, education, and early childhood development interventions. The IRC is also deploying emergency medical teams to provide surge clinical capacity in hospitals and other health facilities.
The IRC is working to scale its emergency response while building a longer-term oPt country program in parallel. This effort is being jointly managed by the Emergencies and Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a view to eventually transition the country program fully under the MENA region.
Position overview
IRC seeks a dynamic leader and program strategist to fill the Economy Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator role. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) and with technical support from global and Regional Advisors, the ERD Coordinator will lead and oversee the IRC’s emergency oPt response in cash and basic needs delivered both directly and with local partners, including multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), and emergency livelihoods and market recovery programming.
The ERD Coordinator will identify specific growth opportunities for the IRC including in future market-based recovery programming for livelihoods and agriculture sectors, and develop strategic directions for the country program for cash-based programming, including cash across outcomes. The ERD Coordinator will identify specific opportunities for local partnerships with CSOs and NGOs in a partner-first approach. They will serve as the key liaison with local and international implementing partners, the Cash Working Group and other cluster coordination platforms, municipalities, and governmental partners and other stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Program Strategy
• Provide strategic direction and overall technical and management support to ERD programs in oPt focusing on emergency response with considerations for future post conflict, early recovery, and economic development work.
• Advise and assist in designing new programs, including identifying business development opportunities, supporting the conceptualization/design of program activities, drafting or providing substantial input into technical proposals, concept notes, designing M&E systems, and budgets for international donors, and responding to any requests for additional information as needed.
• Refine a comprehensive strategic approach to integrating cash and voucher (CVA) across all IRC programming (direct and with partners), in collaboration with other sector leads.
• Provide overall managerial oversight and leadership for the ERD department, including overseeing operational functions for achieving the project’s goals, and budget management.
Program Quality, Management and Implementation
• Responsible for project coordination with partners and direct program implementation in line with the response strategy and IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies.
• Provide technical leadership and direction for ERD activities; define and implement context-appropriate activities to achieve the greatest coverage and impact possible for both immediate support to people affected by conflict in oPt.
• Develop any required standard operating procedures and program guidance in line with the IRC’s internal policies and global program standards.
• Directly participate in Partner Capacity Analysis (PCAs) and the subsequent development of partner support plans for emergency cash program activities
• Ensure regular communication with other program Technical Coordinators and regional-based Technical Advisors for ERD, Protection, Education and Health to integrate appropriate technical unit priorities, the latest evidence, and best practices in program design and implementation.
• Work with IRC staff and partners to generate better contextual understanding by conducting required needs, market, and other sectoral assessments to inform quality activity design and share with other humanitarian actors.
• Adapt IRC direct implementation emergency tools and systems for partner use in line with identified needs and requests.
• Collaborate with key staff of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, with target goals and budget management, using effective monitoring and evaluation systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.
• Ensure program activities adhere to standard operating procedures and exhibit strong quality controls while being responsive to client feedback.
Equitable Partnerships
• Champion a culture of effective and respective partnerships across emergency responses. Promote partner-led programming in line with IRC’s “why not partner?” approach.
• Identify and develop partnerships with local and international implementing partners as appropriate for program design and service to clients based on IRC’s PEERS standards of equal and effective partnership.
• Working closely with the Partnership team, ensure adequate support to partners to facilitate quality program implementation and provide capacity development, where needed.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development
• Lead the recruitment of new ERD program staff and ensure they have the knowledge and resources to succeed in their work.
• Oversee project implementation team and ensure that all staff are following work plans and ERD project activities and outcomes are completed as planned.
• Oversee the development and implementation of staff technical capacity building and professional development plans that promotes a culture of learning and continuous training.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Provide continuous performance feedback to staff; identify performance issues and work with staff and Human Resources to document and address issues in a timely manner.
• Provide trainings to ERD and other IRC staff and partners on CVA and other relevant knowledge.
Coordination & Representation
• Represent the IRC’s ERD programming at technical working group, cluster, and other inter-agency forums, as well as with donors.
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key collaborators including government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Regularly attend relevant cluster and working group meetings at appropriate levels.
• Seek out donor opportunities in line with cash and livelihoods strategy and priorities.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate program analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Review partner technical tools, reports, and data; recommend adaptations or process improvements as required.
• Coordinate with the MEAL team to maintain an effective monitoring, evaluation, and planning system.
• Coordinate program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development, analyzing and sharing relevant information with the MEAL Coordinator, DDP and other colleagues as relevant.
• Support the MEAL Coordinator to develop any needed client responsive mechanisms.
Business Development and Grants Management
• In collaboration with grants teams, seek funding for emergency cash and basic needs, livelihoods and economic recovery programming.
• Ensure that partnership considerations are incorporated in program design and proposal development and that cash partners are proactively engaged in program development efforts. Ensure appropriate budget resourcing for partner projects.
• Identify gaps and needs in programming areas and proactively source funding.
• Facilitate co-design sessions that involve potential partners and are responsive to client needs.
• Develop concept notes and proposals related to ERD programming expansion and continuation, including budgets, logical frameworks, theory of changes, and written narratives.
• Collect, compile and revise quality ERD program reports and ensure timely submission in collaboration with the Grants team Provide up-to-date information on success stories to Comms and Advocacy team.
Professional Standards
• Ensure that gender, protection, and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to senior management, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
• Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies as a requirement of the IRC.
• Foster IRC’s Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiative for effective and quality program delivery.
Qualifications
• Minimum of six years of experience in cash and voucher assistance, food security and livelihoods, economic recovery, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience leading a team and building partnerships to achieve results.
• Knowledge and experience of CVA and basic needs programming, market and value chain analysis, livelihoods and agricultural programming in complex emergency and post-conflict contexts.
• Previous experience leading programming in complex emergency contexts as well as ability to supervise, coach and mentor staff.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to collaborating with local and national NGOs in emergency programs.
• Proven leadership and strategic planning capabilities, including budget management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality topics and proficiency in managing projects that mainstream gender
• Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion
• Fluency in English and Arabic required
Female candidates are highly encouraged
Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.