International Federation of Red Cross Community Engagement and Accountability Senior Officer Jobs in SA
International Federation of Red Cross Community Engagement and Accountability Senior Officer Jobs in SA
BackgroundThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 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
Global overview The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the World’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network.
The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
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.”
It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
Job Purpose
The CEA Senior Officer will be responsible for driving the development of CEA across the 10 countries in the southern Africa cluster and ensuring CEA is built into National Society (NS) and IFRC ways of working, emergency operations and long-term programmes at both country and regional level.
The position will provide strategic and technical advice and training to build the capacity of NS and the IFRC to integrate a more systematic approach to CEA throughout the programme and disaster cycle.
This will include supporting and promoting the use of innovative approaches to information sharing, community participation and feedback, behaviour and social change communication and evidence-based advocacy.
The position holder will be responsible for all aspects of project and budget management and will act as the IFRC CEA representative for the cluster, coordinating on CEA approaches internally within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and externally, through inter-agency networks.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
CEA development and capacity building
Responsible for driving the roll out of a more systematic and integrated approach to CEA within the IFRC and across the 10 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the cluster through mainstreaming CEA in NS and IFRC plans, processes and procedures.
Work closely with National Societies and IFRC sectoral colleagues to help them identify gaps in their approach to CEA and then supporting them to address these by integrating and/or scaling up an appropriate mix of approaches and activities to communicating and engaging with affected people and communities within their programmes and operations.
Drive the inclusion of CEA in emergency operations and plans within the cluster, including providing and organising CEA surge capacity support to NS when possible and appropriate.
Lead technical advisor for CEA within the cluster, responsible for providing advice, support and training to NS and IFRC staff on how they can:
Ensure assessments are transparent and participatory, and capture people’s information needs and trusted and preferred communication channels.
Build community participation into operational planning, design and implementation.
Strengthen and/or help set up feedback mechanisms, including processes to make sure feedback is analysed and acted upon by operational teams.
Strengthen and/or help set up systems for sharing life-saving, useful and actionable information with affected people about Red Cross and Red Crescent services, from selection criteria to health advice, as part of information-as-aid activities.
To increase their reach and impact by helping teams, such as health, water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction, to set up methods to gain a deeper understanding of local perceptions, beliefs, culture, practices and values and to implement innovative behaviour and social change communication activities.
To find ways to involve affected people in assessing the impact of the operational response.
To ensure women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable
groups have equal access to information channels and feedback mechanisms particular to their needs, and taking into account any specific protection issues.
Plan and deliver CEA trainings to IFRC and NS staff and volunteers and for the various networks and working groups they support, providing people with the skills and knowledge to launch and manage CEA tools and approaches within their programmes and operations
Project and budget management
Project and budget manager for CEA within the cluster including development of annual CEA log frames and activity plans, integrating CEA in emergency plans of action and ensuring the inclusion of CEA in cluster level plans and strategies.
Donor management, including identifying opportunities, preparation of funding proposals, donor relationship management and providing high quality, timely and accurate reports to donors.
Supporting NS/IFRC EA to develop their own CEA log frames, activity plans, budgets and to put in place robust monitoring and reporting processes.
In collaboration with the Planning and Programming Coordinator, monitor expenditure on CEA pledges.
Ensure expenditure on CEA pledges are in line with the budgets.
Coordination, representation, relationships and reporting
CEA representative for the cluster, leading on the coordination of CEA efforts across National Societies, Partner National Societies and the IFRC within southern Africa, including playing a lead role in the CEA Africa Working Group and cluster PMER working group.
Working closely with the IFRC CEA Regional Advisor for Africa to ensure there is consistency and coordination between CEA efforts at the cluster, regional and global level.
This includes ensuring the roll out of global CEA frameworks and standards at cluster level and that global frameworks and standards benefit from learning and experience at the cluster level.
Attend and represent the IFRC at external coordination networks and mechanisms, such as the Communicating with Communities Working Group and Quality and Accountability Working Group and ensure a coordinated approach to CEA with other NGOs, humanitarian agencies, UN and private sector.
Identify opportunities for partnership with external organisations, including the use of technology and innovative approaches to enhance CEA within NS and IFRC programmes and operations.
Position IFRC as a leader in CEA through attending and speaking at internal and external events, conferences, meetings and workshops that allow us to highlight achievements and lessons learned.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master's degree) in Communication or Social/Behavioural Sciences (i.e. Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology or Health Education) or relevant experience is required.
Experience
Five years’ experience planning and delivering community engagement approaches, beneficiary communication, communication for development or accountability to communities at a national level
Experience working for humanitarian or development organisations, within the context of developing countries
Experience working internationally or across multiple countries
Experience setting up and managing tools for communicating with communities. For example, radio programmes, TV shows, SMS systems, community committees, social mobilisation or mobile cinemas and community dramas etc
Proven experience in planning targeted and appropriate behaviour change communication strategies.
Experience setting up and managing accountability to community systems. For example, feedback and complaints mechanisms, rumour tracking systems, or participatory planning processes
Experience of coaching, training and developing local staff and volunteers in order to build long-term capacity and create ownership.
Experience of planning and delivering community engagement interventions in emergency situations.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Good planning skills, with the ability to identify areas for improvements in programmes, operations and NS/IFRC ways of working through the integration of CEA approaches and activities.
Excellent project management skills, able to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously, to a high standard and to deadline.
Advanced analytical skills, able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming and operations.
Highly motivated, self-starter able to take initiative and lead a team or process.
Competencies and values
Professionalism
Communications
Collaboration and teamwork
National Society and customer relations
Building alliances
Accountability
Creativity and innovation
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by 26th May 2019
For more information and job application details, see; International Federation of Red Cross Community Engagement and Accountability Senior Officer Jobs in SA
