Coordinator, Information Management Capacity Strengthening

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

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 IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

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.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations 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.

The IFRC Geneva Information Management (IM) team is located in NSDOC, within the DREF, Information Management and Quality unit. The role of the Information Management Team at IFRC headquarters is to provide high-quality technical support for IM capacity strengthening and coordination across the IFRC network, development and adaptation of systems to ensure decision-makers’ information needs are met, and building evidence and applying analysis – with a goal to ensure that the IFRC secretariat and National Societies systematically use and share quality information and analysis in programmes and operations before, during and after crises.

IFRC has established a multi-year Accelerating Information Management (AIM) programme, with the primary objective to strengthen the humanitarian data ecosystem within and beyond the IFRC network, linking local action to global systems. The main focus of this programme is to support National Societies in developing stronger Information Management capacities, systems and processes. In line with the IFRC’s Digital Strategy and Strategic Direction for IM, the programme is organised into three pillars of work: ‘People’, which focusses on capacity strengthening and development of learning and development materials implemented through a cohort-based training curricula; ‘systems’ which support improved collection, discovery, and analysis of emergency data, and ‘process’ which focusses on the application of evidence and analysis for improved transparency and consistency of decision-making.

Please note that the duty station is to be determined following the recruitment process. This position requires an estimation of 50% travel.

Job Purpose

As part of the IFRC’s Strategy 2030 and the Secretariat’s Agenda for Renewal, the AIM programme focusses IM efforts on accessing and channelling resources to National Societies. The People pillar of the AIM programme therefore includes workforce investments in National Societies to help them hire and train new IM staff.

The Coordinator, IM Capacity Strengthening will be responsible for leading and coordinating the development and implementation of IM Capacity Strengthening initiatives across the IFRC.

The role holder guides the development, delivery and maintenance of the selection and implementation mechanisms to channel financial resources to National Societies for IM capacity strengthening.

The Coordinator, IM Capacity Strengthening collaborates with National Societies, funders, partners and other key stakeholders to build partnerships and deliver activities which effectively strengthen IM capacities across the IFRC network.

The role requires frequent travel from Duty Station to Geneva and to the Regional Offices. The job holder could be deployed in a surge/rapid response role when needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Capacity Strengthening Leadership and Coordination

• Support for the Accelerating IM focal points in the IFRC Regional Offices to reinforce IM networks, connect to capacity strengthening opportunities and resources, and disseminate data standards and tools.
• Provide technical guidance and strategic direction around IM Capacity Strengthening initiatives, building on existing initiatives and resources and ensuring a localized NS-first focus.
• Coordinate the development, quality assurance, curation, publishing, dissemination, adoption and adaptation of IM learning resources, job aids and tools for IFRC staff and National Societies.
• Coordinate and oversee delivery of the ‘People’ pillar of the USAID funded Accelerating IM grant, ensuring targets and deliverables are on track, in collaboration with American Red Cross and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate with delivery partners and internal stakeholders to implement the AIM Learning and Development curriculum for selected individuals.

National Society IM Capacity Strengthening Resource Allocation Implementation

• Develop and oversee the process of selecting and channeling funding and associated support for IM capacity strengthening in National Societies, in collaboration with stakeholders, including delegations, National Societies and IFRC support teams.
• Implement contracting, reporting and assurance processes and workflows for the financial support to NSs, together with regional AIM focal points and BHA grant manager.
• Anticipate and plan for potential expansion, designing scalable processes and roles, and managing related risks.
• Ensure data analytics and reporting on activities and capacities to help monitor the IM needs of National Societies.

Budget and Resource Oversight

• Collaborate with colleagues to support design, oversight and implementation of the capacity strengthening initiatives USAID AIM grant as well as other relevant budgets, ensuring optimal allocation and utilization of resources, and budget projections.
• Manage project for a designated budget for IM capacity strengthening initiatives ensuring optimal allocation and implementation rates as well as regular budget projections.
• Lead on engagement of consultants and contractors where required to deliver programme objectives.

Coordination

• Collaborate with Red Cross Red Crescent colleagues within and outside the secretariat to ensure AIM initiatives are coherent and aligned with related work in other departments such as Digital Transformation, National Society Development and Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER).
• Initiate and co-chair an IFRC IMWG sub-group on IM Learning and Development.
• Build collaboration and advocate with partnerships and key external stakeholders, including international organizations, and external partners, to leverage external relationships and expand the reach of IFRC IM initiatives.

Support IM Systems Development and Adoption

• Provide analysis and advice to support requirements definition and data flows with respect to IFRC system and platform functionality that affects National Society IM systems/processes and interoperability.
• Support the development and dissemination of guidance in an integrated manner with other job aids and tooling.

Contribute to an Effective, High Quality IFRC Information Management Team

• Be accountable to the Lead, Information Management by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Be flexible in work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiency and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer-service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the secretariat HQ, regions and the National Societies and ensure an open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.
• Share and promote good practice, continuous learning and knowledge sharing between the IFRC and NSs and between colleagues.
• Help identify and maintain solutions that support effective data collection, validation, exchange and use of data for responsive decision making, such as project management tools that minimize duplication of efforts.

Duties Applicable to All Staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of the IFRC Secretariat’s goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

Required

• University degree in relevant area (disaster management, information management or related subject), or demonstrated equivalent experience.

Preferred

• Training in the RC/RC global disaster response tools.
• Technical training in information and data management.

Experience

Required

• 7 years of experience with humanitarian Information Management implementation and coordination.
• Experience developing, delivering and appraising learning and development materials and curricula.
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation – including liaising with multiple stakeholders.

Preferred

• Field experience in working with a humanitarian organisation in an information management, information systems capacity, reporting or communications function.
• Experience in working within the RC/RC Movement.
• Experience in developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance and in establishing and maintaining networks.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Analytical skills and ability to think strategically.
• Able to influence, communicate, co-operate and negotiate with a wide range of people and organizations.
• Knowledge of RC/RC and UN global disaster response tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with independent decision-making capacity.
• Ability to formulate IM related technical requirements and operating procedures.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions.
• Strong partnership building skills, demonstrated capacity to build functional networks.
• Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment, and ability to travel at short notice.

Preferred

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

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.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.