SPRM Delegate

Organizational Context

Delegate, Strategic Partnerships

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.

On 7 October 2023 a major escalation of hostilities occurred across the Gaza Strip resulting in a major humanitarian crisis. Significant damage to critical infrastructure and essential services, continued bombing and military operations have led to the ongoing crisis to catastrophic levels. Since the very start, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) was designated as the coordination agency in Gaza for the humanitarian response in Gaza and launched its own emergency appeal.

Both Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) and Jordan National Red Crescent Society (JNRCS) are supporting logistic corridors to ship humanitarian good into Gaza, in addition to assistance to medical evacuees where relevant, while Lebanese Red Cross Society (LRCS) increasingly responds to escalating conflict in recent months, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARC) have been responding to the spillover of population movement into the country.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the ME crisis operations manager, with technical line management to the Regional Head, SPRM, the SPRM Delegate will work to enable a close and cooperative working relationship between the Country Delegation (CD)/Country Cluster Delegation (CCD), Regional SPRM Unit and the respective technical departments in Geneva. The job holder will raise awareness and funding for the emergency operation, as well as support the fundraising capacity of the host National Society(ies) if required and where relevant, ensuring collective accountability and donor stewardship by the IFRC and the host National Society(ies). The SPRM Delegate will ensure relevant support, tracking and analysis in the development and implementation of funding plans in close cooperation with relevant Regional and Country/Country cluster teams; support research and development efforts in building new partnerships and contribute to the effective maintenance of strong and growing relations with existing donors, including through efficient reporting, pledge management, and timely information sharing.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Pledge and Grant Management:

• Undertake effective negotiation with partners to secure pledges and grants, ensuring that these are properly and timely processed; that relevant updates in the IFRC system are logged; and pledges and grants reflecting agreed criteria are shared with donors and understood by relevant budget holders.
• Ensure that Budget Holders and Finance team are aware of and receive agreements concerning donor requirements in due course.
• In close cooperation with Budget Holders, ensure that renegotiation of pledge requirements takes place on time as and when required.
• Ensure timely follow up on the pledge payment arrangements.
• Ensure that all prospect funding and hard pledges are duly registered in the internal tracking tools.
• Ensure regular follow up between SPRM, Finance team and Budget Holders on pledge implementation rates and donor requirements to meet quality standards and conditions of specific grants.
• Undertake occasional monitoring visits to implementation areas of grants as and when required.
• Ensure conformity with proposal documents and contract requirements and to strengthen the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization (SPRM) Team representation and positioning vis-á-vis donors.
• Review and ensure quality and compliance of grant applications, funding proposals and reports submitted to governments, EU, DG ECHO, USAID, UN agencies and others, as appropriate.
• Ensure consistency and compliance to grant management procedures in view of achieving quality reporting and accountability.

Supporting Planning and Budgeting for the emergency appeal:

• Maintain an overview of the funding situation of the emergency appeal, continuously identifying gaps in funding and funding priorities.
• Provide regular analysis of funding coverage of the emergency operation.
• Support the CD/CCD by contributing to the revision of the emergency appeal and operational strategy, ensuring that donor concerns and interests are addressed.
• Take the lead in the coordinating and/or writing funding proposals and no-cost extension requests, including acting as a close liaison with NS, technical teams, and delegations to ensure quality and adherence to IFRC and donor requirements.
• Work closely with finance and PMER at multi-country and country levels to monitor progress and, in coordination with relevant operations managers, communicate with donors/ partners in a timely manner of operational changes/ need for extensions/ submission of reports.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

External Engagement, Fundraising and Business Development

• Support the Head of CD/ country operations manager /ME crisis operations manager to develop strategic partnerships with the main donors, to ensure establishment of new and strengthening existing partnership with key partners stakeholders: arranging meetings of the CD/CCD with partners, preparing necessary background documents, profiling IFRC as appropriate, ensuring alignment with the Movement principles of cooperation in resource mobilization.
• Take an active role in researching funding opportunities, conduct regular mapping of existing and potential donors and partners and provide regular analysis of the main strategic priorities of donors.
• Support the CD/CCD and regional teams in proposal development and funding applications to governments, foundations, and corporate sector, including undertaking travels as required to the project implementation areas to ensure strong proposals (when IFRC is an applicant).
• Provide ad-hoc support to the Head of CD/CCD and Regional SPRM team on donor stewardship and related administrative tasks.
• Ensure close coordination and alignment with the relevant Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications colleagues to facilitate regular, timely and relevant key messages.
• Support the Head of CD/CCD and Regional SPRM Team in information sharing, including through partners’ calls, meetings with donors, and written updates.
• Contribute to the development of communication materials from Resource Mobilization perspective.

Duties applicable to all staff

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

Education

• University degree in relevant discipline (ex. g. International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Marketing). Required
• IMPACT or equivalent knowledge. Preferred

Experience

• At least 3-5 years working experience with relevant experience in managing relations with donors and partners. Required
• Relevant work experience with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and knowledge of IFRC systems and processes in pledge management, planning, project proposals development, reporting systems and financial management. Preferred
• Experience of working with institutional donors: establishing new and enhancing existing relationships with institutional donors and governmental agencies. Preferred
• Experience in organizing partnership calls, events, conferences, or meetings. Required
• Experience of developing proposals and ensuring strong communication from start to end of relationship. Required
• Work experience with other international organizations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies. Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced knowledge of institutional partnership landscape (including multilaterals and IFIs), priorities, policies, and financing instruments supporting humanitarian action. Preferred
• Knowledge and skills of diplomatic protocol, and specific aspects of relationships with the embassies and offices of diplomatic representations in the country. Required
• Knowledge of and skills in tracking open calls for proposals from key donor institutions. Required
• Strong knowledge of information sharing tools. Required
• Strong knowledge of reporting systems and guidelines. Required
• Highly organised, with ability to work a strong team player. Required
• Excellent communication skills. Required
• Excellent networking and relationship building skills. Required
• Strong budgeting and finance management skills. Required
• Demonstrated skills in analytical and strategic thinking. Required
• Strong writing and editing skills. Required

Languages

• Fluent spoken and written English. Required
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic). Preferred

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.
• Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others
• Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities!