Programme Manager

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Budapest, Hungary

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 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.”  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 the 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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Safe Homes Programme has been designed to be implemented in the duration of one year to support the hosting of families displaced from Ukraine  to the EU. The programme is carried out as part of the implementation of the European Commission's (EC) guidance on Safe Homes.

The programme includes the continuation of the implementation of hosting activities already running in certain EU Member States aligning them with the guidance, the support for transition strategies towards sustainable housing alternatives and the development of a good practice model with the collection of lessons learned that can be replicated for future needs.

Job Purpose

The position will play a key role in technical and operational support to the National Societies to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the project: Safe Home Programme, while overseeing and also provide technical support to the shelter and settlement component of the Ukrainian and impacted countries EA operation.

The overarching goal of the Safer Home Project is to operationalize the European Commission’s (EC) Safe Homes guidance and capture the learning from the initiatives taken by host families to provide accommodation to people fleeing from Ukrainian in the receiving countries and develop a modal to guide national governments that facilitate access to safe and suitable accommodation in private homes for future replicability in EU countries.

This role will support the high-quality and evidenced-based implementation of the Project by providing technical and operational guidance, to the national societies and IFRC teams based on the Project requirements and managing the development of high-quality case studies, publications, handbook for practitioners, lesson learnt workshops etc. The incumbent will ensure development, roll-out, monitoring, knowledge management, operational and financial reporting according to the donor’s requirements as well as the effective coordination and collaboration between relevant stakeholders, especially Red Cross EU office in Brussels, DG Home and the European Agency on Asylum (EUAA) that contribute to effective and timely project implementation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Plan, direct, manage and coordinate activities of the Safe Home Programme with collaborating National Societies and IFRC team, ensuring that the progarmme objectives are accomplished within a prescribed time frame, funding parameters/AIMF, project aims and components (two modules: Operational module and stakeholder engagement, lessons learned and collection of good practices) of Safe Home Programme and IFRC rules and standards. At the same time, oversee the shelter and settlement component of the Ukrainian and impacted countries EA operation.

Coordination and Partnership Development

  • Coordinate strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring of IFRC Safe Home Programme to ensure a coherent approach in the design and delivery of projects across all contributing National societies and ensure the effective relationship with partners.
  • Establish programme coordination structure, form Safe Home Programme Steering committee, organize and facilitate regular meetings, issue meeting minutes and follow the recommendations and decisions made during steering committee meetings.
  • In collaboration with the NS, ensure NS program activities are well coordinated within the movement and external partners.
  • Works closely with all departments of the ROE specifically with Strategic Engagement and Partnerships, Shelter, Migration, PGI, CEA, the regional Operation Manger and liaise with the Red Cross EU office in Brussels DG Home and the European Agency on Asylum (EUAA).

Technical

  • Provide technical and operational support and guidance to National Societies Project staff, IFRC teams and Safe Home programme’ Focal persons nominated by National Societies, on smooth implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
  • Provide technical support to the operational teams at country level involved with the implementation of the shelter and settlement component of the Ukrainian and impacted countries EA operation.

Reporting

  • With the support of PMER team Regional Office for Europe (ROE) lead the process of effective, timely, and comprehensive reporting to partners and back donors.
  • With the support ROE PMER team and Safe Home Programme’ Focal persons from collaborating National societies, lead planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for programmes and actively monitor the Project to support quality implementation.
  • Work closely with the regional IFRC Regional Shelter Coordinator, Shelter reference person in Geneva, as well as with relevant technical advisors to carry forward recommendations on implementation.
  • Contribute into the situation reports, monthly, updates, semestrial, annual, end-of project and other type of reporting for IFRC ROE, donors and other partners to keep them informed on program progress.
  • Ensure program accountability, financial due diligence, integrity.
  • Contribute technically to quality oversight of programmes and appropriate indicators, based on NS submitted data.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Risk Management:

  • In collaboration with the ROE Risk Manager Identify and anticipate in a timely manner potential risks and issues and advise on mitigation measures and ensure implementation thereof, escalate critical issues/risks to the higher management.   

Knowledge Management:

  • Keep abreast of and identify best practices, approaches private sectors, civil society and homeowners adopted for housing support for Ukrainian refugees in receiving countries, and the technology used to facilitate matching between hosting and refugees’ families.

Budget Management:

  • Assume budget holder responsibility of the relevant budgets and ensure appropriate control on income and expenditures versus plans and guarantee sound planning and financial management in accordance with IFRC policy, standards, and practices

Contribute to an effective, high-quality IFRC team:

  • Provide progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis according to IFRC and donor’s requirements.
  • Improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
  • Foster a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost-effectiveness.

Education

  • Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in structural/civil engineering, architecture, construction management, project management or related field is required
  • Advanced university degree, in business or public administration, Programme management developmental, social sciences, or other related fields is preferred
  • Basic delegate training course, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge is preferred
  • IFRC Technical coordination training is preferred

Experience

  • 5+ years of working experience in the humanitarian or development context, preferably in project/program management in the disaster or conflict setting in urban areas with displacement situations that includes the implementation of shelter/housing or rehabilitation programs is required
  • Experience in humanitarian coordination is required
  • Experience in the overall management of EU funded programs and projects is required
  • Experience in implementation of programmatic plans of action is required
  • Experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and working with National Societies is required
  • Knowledge, Skills and Languages
  • Effective team and project management skills is required
  • Good mentoring and capacity development skills is required
  • Ability to work well in a multicultural team is required
  • Excellent stress management skills is required
  • Demonstrated accountability is required
  • Good skills in training, facilitation and presentations is required
  • Exceptional organizational ability with an eye for detail is required
  • Good communication and report writing skills is required
  • Knowledge of humanitarian affairs and migration is required
  • Able to work independently and as part of the team is required
  • Valid international driving license (manual gears) is preferred
  • Self-supporting in IT is required
  • Fluent spoken and written English is required
  • Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred

Source: https://www.ifrc.org/jobs/details.html?jobId=112151&jobTitle=Manager%2C%20Programme%20-%20%20Safe%20Home