Consultant – Community Engagement and Accountability; Knowledge Management

Organizational Context

‘Community Engagement and Accountability’ is a programmatic approach which ensures that communities we serve receive lifesaving and useful information, can provide feedback to responders (and that this feedback is acted upon) and can participate in decisions affecting them. Effective community engagement helps to ensure that humanitarian organizations are more accountable to the people they serve. In December 2019, the Council of Delegates adopted the Movement Commitments on Community Engagement and Accountability. Over the years, IFRC has considerably increased its capacity in all regions and at global level to better support National Societies, humanitarian operations and health emergencies in integrating community engagement approaches.

Through the pilot Programme Partnership (PPP) with ECHO, IFRC, in close partnership with National Red Cross Societies in the EU and through National Societies in the countries of humanitarian action, provided effective and adapted local response to communities in need, while increasing the reach, quality and impact of the unique network of local actors constituted by IFRC’s network of National Societies. The programme will drive strategic leadership, be a catalyst for driving change and demonstrate IFRC network’s interoperability while contributing to DG ECHO’s objectives as well as IFRC’s Strategy 2030 and Agenda for Renewal. In order to holistically address increasing humanitarian needs, the programme will espouse a multi-hazard, multi-sectoral and integrated systems approach focusing on disaster risk management and epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response, as well as focus on humanitarian assistance and protection to people on the move, focalizing on their specific vulnerabilities. In order to enhance quality, impact and cost-efficiency and to ensure a people-centred approach, there will be an acute focus on seamlessly integrating cash and voucher assistance as a key modality for humanitarian assistance and integrating risk communication, community engagement and accountability to ensure that communities are active partners at all stages of the programming cycle.

The consultant will be support key deliverables as part of the CEA Technical Working Group as part of ECHO PPP, but also beyond the duration of the PPP in areas of knowledge management for the CEA portfolio globally.

Job Purpose

Project objectives

The consultant will work closely with IFRC’s Community Engagement unit in achieving the following:

• Increase knowledge among National Societies of CEA fundamentals, and how to apply these to the ECHO PPP results in Year 3, and beyond.
• Ensure readily available tools to better integrate CEA within ECHO PPP activities and IFRC’s programmes and operations.
• Provide technical support to countries with trainings, plans, policies, guidelines and operating procedures to ensure that communities actively participate in RCRC programming according to the Movement minimum actions and commitments,

Work will be conducted remotely, with travel as needed.,

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Desired outcome

National Societies have the tools and capacity to integrate CEA in ECHO PPP activities, and in other IFRC programmatic activities as required.

Consultancy outputs

• Scale up and roll out the Community Engagement and Accountability Ambassador’s Network, which provides coordinated, structured, multi-year, support to National Societies to institutionalize community engagement. Support includes mentoring, training, peer learning and advocacy and guides National Societies through the steps to meet the new community engagement standard in the National Society Certification.
• Strengthen guidance, tools and training on how to systematically collect, analyse and use community data, feedback and insights to inform decision-making and foster community trust.
• Monitor and gather evidence on the impact of community engagement on trust, quality and effectiveness through the global monitoring framework, the Community Trust Index, and impact measurement framework – and sharing findings widely.
• Develop and adapt community engagement and accountability guidance, tools and training to respond to emerging needs, for use in the Movement and beyond.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Integrate community engagement and accountability requirements and guidance in IFRC policy and processes and within technical sectors’ tools, training and guidance, which are used across the Movement and the humanitarian sector.

Education

• University degree in relevant fields such as : International Development, Humanitarian Studies, Social Sciences, Public Health,
• Advanced degree or relevant experience in Community Engagement, Humanitarian Assistance, or Program Management.

Experience

• Work experience in community engagement, accountability, or related fields within humanitarian or development organizations.
• Proven track record of integrating CEA approaches in humanitarian operations and health emergencies.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and implementing multi-year, multi-sectoral projects, preferably within the context of international humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in working with or managing partnerships with international donors, such as ECHO.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong knowledge of tools, guidelines, and best practices for community engagement and accountability.
• Experience in developing and delivering training, mentoring, and capacity-building initiatives for diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in systematically collecting, analyzing, and using community data, feedback, and insights to inform decision-making.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including impact measurement and reporting.
• Experience in developing and adapting policies, guidelines, and operating procedures to enhance community engagement and accountability.
• Proven ability to advocate for and institutionalize community engagement standards within organizations.
• Experience in knowledge management, including the development and dissemination of guidance, tools, and training materials.
• Ability to support global portfolios and contribute to organizational learning and improvement.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote setting and willingness to travel as needed to support project objectives.
• Fluently spoken and written English is compulsory; a good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
Competencies: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgment and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust