The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
In Bangladesh, the IFRC (Bangladesh Country Delegation) works with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) in accordance with its mandates and Strategy 2030 to ensure qualitative, quantitative, cost effective and timely delivery of humanitarian activities towards the service of vulnerable populations with continuous capacity enhancement of the National Society (BDRCS), its branches and volunteer networks.
The IFRC also plays a proactive role in membership services and coordination with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners. The relationship with external agencies including the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and the diplomatic community is critical to position the humanitarian and development agendas.
Currently, the IFRC together with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and IFRC’s in-country memberships is implementing the agenda for renewal in Bangladesh, supporting BDRCS in the protracted crisis of the Population Movement Operation (PMO) in Cox’s Bazar. In addition, there is a concurrent Emergency Appeal together with the Operation/Unified Plans 2022/2023 which include several resilience and development programmes.
Job Purpose
The Programme Coordinator oversees and guides all programmes, projects and emergency operations focusing on supporting, assisting, and advising programme/project staff in order to increase performance and impact. The role mobilizes resources and raises funds including coordination of, cooperation and collaboration with partners to strengthen and scale up service delivery through effective coordination and follow-up with the relevant colleagues at Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, National Head Quarter and Branches when necessary. The incumbent is responsible for all non-project-specific duties, including reporting, quality, risk and benefits management. The Programme Coordinator will also support the Head of Country Delegation (HoCD), Bangladesh in the strategic and day-to-day management of, and support to National Society as needed; and provide direct management and oversight of the relevant projects’ teams. The Programme Coordinator will also provide support to the HoCD on assigned functions and duties, including efficient and effective Membership/Movement Coordination. The ultimate task is to help ensure that the IFRC resources in Bangladesh are utilised in an effective and efficient way, with tailor-made approaches, 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 Programme Coordinator will have more direct responsibility over specific projects and thematic portfolios. The Programme Coordinator will be responsible for line management in accordance with the organograms in place and will have a proactive coordination function with team members and support operational planning and reporting.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Policy, Planning and Standards
Promote the IFRC's policies, frameworks, standards, tools, methodologies, systems, and procedures.
Support and guide the implementation of IFRC's commitments and guidelines for different thematic areas including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and resilience planning and programmatic processes.
Support the National Society (NS), the Secretariat and in-country memberships to engage in national policy dialogues such as any relevant National Platforms within Bangladesh.
Provide strategic and policy guidance to BDRCS and the IFRC country 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 Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate change, school safety, health, urban DRM, cash programming and crosscutting issues such as Protection, Gender and Inclusion, Community Engagement and Accountability into the National Society Programmes.
Support and advise National Society management, project/team managers, in analyzing trends, risks and conditions for managing projects and delivering services; resource, budget and project management; risk and benefit realization management; and change management and learning
Contribute to upholding IFRC policies, procedures and management system within the Country Delegation and integrated partners and support their improvement and review as necessary.
