Programme Coordinator At International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Programme Coordinator

Date of issue:15-06-2021 Closing date (Geneva time zone):29-06-2021

Duty station: Yangon, Myanmar Country: MYANMAR

Duty station status: Family Duty Station Accompanied status: Non-Accompanied

Duration:10 months Category of Staff: International

Grade: to be confirmed

Vacancy No:S00307

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The Myanmar Country Delegation is led by a Head of Delegation (HoD) who is the line manager of the Programme Coordinator (PC). The Programme Coordinator line manages the technical Delegates in Disaster Risk Management and Health and dotted line management to field based technical delegates. S/he ensures that these positions are coordinated in supporting the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in delivering its core services to the people. The Programme Coordinator acts as the Head of Delegation in the absence of the incumbent.

Job Purpose

The Programmes Coordinator oversees and guides all programme, projects and emergency operations focusing on supporting, assisting, and advising project staffs in order to increase performance and impact. S/he mobilizes resources and raises funds including coordination of, and cooperation and collaboration with partners to strengthen and scale up service delivery through an effective coordination and follow up with the relevant colleagues at MRCS NHQ and State Branches when necessary. S/he is responsible for all non-project-specific duties, including reporting, quality assurance, compliance and risk management. The Programmes Coordinator will also support the Head of CD, Myanmar in strategic and day-to-day management of, and support to NS as needed; and to provide direct management and oversight of the relevant projects? teams. He/she will also provide support to the HoD on assigned functions and duties. The ultimate task is to help ensure that the Federation resources in Myanmar are utilised in an effective and efficient way, with tailor made approaches to each of the National Societies, aiming at RC/RC strong competencies, efficiency and responsiveness to the humanitarian needs and challenges. In addition to having overall accountability for the overall performance of the programme and projects, including emergency response and operations, the Programmes Coordinator will have more direct responsibility over specific projects and thematic portfolios.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Policy, Planning and Standards

• Promote the Federation’s policies, frameworks, standards, tools, methodologies, systems, procedures and guide the implementation of IFRC’s commitments and guidelines for DRR and resilience planning and programmatic processes.
• Support the NSs and the Secretariat to engage in the national, and in the cluster countries policy dialogues i.e. any relevant National Platforms within cluster countries.
• Provide strategic and policy guidance to NSs and the Secretariat staff on how IFRC can contribute to the implementation of Sendai Framework linking with SDGs and Paris Climate Agreement.
• Advise, support, and promote the mainstreaming of DRR, climate change, school safety, health, urban DRM, and crosscutting issues such as Protection, Gender and Diversity, CEA into the NS programmes.
• Support and advise NS management, project/team managers, analysing trends, risks and conditions for managing projects and delivering services; resource, budget and project management; risk and benefit realization management; change management and learning.
• Contribute to upholding IFRC policies, procedures and management system within the Delegation and support their improvement and review as necessary.

Programme and operations Oversight

• Support the NSs under the CD in strengthening its service delivery systems, designing, and delivering programmes aligned with its Strategy and Operational Plans. Promote integrated programming approach, linking with SERV, DRM/FBF, Climate change, Education, Community development, Health and Care, WASH, Shelter, Cash-based interventions, Migration, Food Security & Livelihoods and National Society Development and all area are continuous access to technical advice and guidance to support programme implementation, including backstopping for technical delegates.
• Provide direct management, direction, and oversight to the members of the projects’ teams and effective coordination with the relevant project’s staffs from MRCS NHQ. This includes:
  • Staff management, oversight of budgets, coordination of resource mobilisation, PMER
  • Overseeing and aligning projects team’s work-plans for technical support to CD and NS in the Country Cluster and ensuring the appropriate coverage within the existing capacities of CD, and in coordination with technical counterparts at AP Region.
• Act as a dedicated focal point for programme and strategic support to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS). This includes overseeing of budgets and ongoing programme implementation for Myanmar, coordination of emergency support to MRCS and country cluster in times of disasters, strategic dialogue with MRCS on issues of importance to the NS, representation of MRCS in inter-agency, in agreement with the NS, fund-raising on behalf of MRCS, PMER and engagement with donors on programmes, coordination of relief procurement and any other task in relation to IFRC’s support to MRCS.
• Under the overall coordination of the DCC Unit at the Asia Pacific Regional office, provide support to the HOCD and country office/NS, during emergency situations in the country.
• Represent the NS/CD in technical meetings, conferences, seminars, training programs, and forums. Ensure effective communication with donors and maintain an oversight of all programme related funding and pledges and ensure these are delivered on time and are of quality.
• Contribute to the CD operational plan, programme updates and reports (including donor-specific reports) in agreed formats as well as the development of proposals and concept notes to support NS’s in fundraising efforts.
• Ensure that the team responsible for programmes and operations prepares accurate and timely monthly operational highlights, quarterly updates on operations and annual updates.
• Assume budget holder responsibility over relevant projects and ensure appropriate control on income and expenditures versus plans as well as guarantee sound planning and financial management aligned with IFRC policies, standards and practices Capture evidence of resilience investment in the region (DRR, health, etc.) through annual mapping, cost-benefit analysis, case studies, reviews, and evaluations, etc.

Institutional Preparedness and Readiness:

• Facilitate MRCS and other NSs in the cluster process to update emergency response plan, contingency plans; SOP closely coordinated with other areas / departments.
• Ensure adequate Movement readiness plans are updated and tested in simulation exercises where possible.
• Enhance NSs in the cluster institutional preparedness to respond to and manage disasters and emergencies, caused by natural hazards as well as man-made disasters. Enable MRCS’s and country cluster growing ability to provide support to other affected NSs providing avenues to recognise and leverage on MRCS’s as well as other cluster countries capacities while ensuring adherence to the Principles and Rules for RCRC humanitarian assistance.
• Support MRCS within the areas of civil-military relations, migration, and preparedness for cash-based interventions, strengthen Rapid Response Team development and deployment.

Coordination, Cooperation and Networking:

• Facilitate regular operational and technical coordination among Movement partners and ensure that relevant policies of the Movement and pre‐agreed thematic issues are followed up.
• Lead IFRC support to national societies (especially MRCS) in operationalizing SMCC.
• Build and nurture solid relationships with key external partners – including academia and the private sector – to enhance innovative approaches in programmes and operations, and research as a base for evidence aimed at supporting advocacy on expanding investment in preparedness and community resilience.
• Establish close coordination, cooperation and working relationship with technical file holders in the APRO, through the Regional Deputy Director.
• Actively engage in inter-agency coordination and dialogue at the Country level and explore resource mobilisation opportunities for IFRC’s strategic priorities and ongoing programmes in country. Also explore opportunities for cooperation with public institutions, academia, and the private sector, in order to advance IFRC’s agenda on resilience, innovation and partnerships.

General Management:

• Accountable to the HOCD on achievement of results of the Country Operational Plan, developing risk management matrix and keep updated, and ensuring strategic coherence and alignment as well as programmatic and operational coordination – and be prepared for changing working conditions and reasonable adjustments of the job description during the mission, dialogue with the NSs in the country, includes planning and budgeting, staffing, programmatic direction and execution, interaction with the partners, cooperation, and security management. Ensure that the counterparts in country all times receive the necessary, tailor made support, guidance, and backstopping.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and agreements to minimize risk of harm to the IFRC and its personnel, properties, and resources.
• Includes compliance with procurement standards, identifying risks to the ongoing operations and programmes, raising them with regional, sub regional and country-level counterparts.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, individual, team accountability by setting individual and team objectives, monitoring team performance, and conducting timely performance reviews.
• Support NS in developing their business continuity planning process.

Education

University degree or equivalent professional experience is required.

Qualification in development studies or a related area is preferred.

Experience

Experience of managing and supporting staff is required.

Minimum 3 years’ experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent is required.

Minimum 7 years’ experience working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country context is required.

Experience in supporting the development of community‐based activities is required.

Experience of working for a National Society is preferred.

Experience of specific Region where application is being done is an advantage is preferred.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Good understanding/practice of Federation tools; VCA, CAS, OA is required.

Good understanding/practice of PMER issues is required.

Understanding of opportunities and constraints for sustainable development is required.

Skills in leading, training and developing staff is required.

Programme and project management is required.

Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations is required.

Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way is required.

Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive is required.

Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners is required.

Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation is required.

Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality is required.

High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels is required.

Ability to work within a multi‐cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment is required.

Fluently spoken and written English is required.

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred.

Competencies and values

Adhere to all IFRC’s values and core competencies according to the IFRC Competency Framework

Core Competencies – Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust.

Functional Competencies: Strategic orientation, building alliances, leadership, empowering others, solution oriented.

Managerial Competencies: Managing staff performance and development.