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. The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement) and the work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC – Africa Regional Anticipatory Action Operations Coordinator
Anticipatory action approaches, such as Forecast-based Financing (FbF), seek to reduce human suffering, losses and damage by enabling relevant actors, especially communities at risk, to act ahead of a potentially harmful event. National Societies, like the German Red Cross, and IFRC have been working on FbF since 2014. Anticipatory action is increasingly recognized as a key solution to reduce the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.
The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) is the International Federation’s pooled Fund for National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to access reliable international funding for anticipatory action and emergency response to small and medium scale disasters. The DREF 2020-2025 strategic ambition outlines its intention to grow the fund allocations to CHF 100 million out of which 25% will support anticipatory action. To operationalize this ambition and in line with the Operational Framework for scaling up Anticipatory Action, the IFRC aims to support more National Societies and IFRC Delegations to plan and implement anticipatory action approaches.
The Anticipation Hub, a joint initiative of the IFRC, GRC and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, aims to support practitioners, scientists and policymakers, to do more anticipatory action, do it better and do it together, to jointly embed a culture of anticipatory action inside and beyond the humanitarian sector.
The position of a Regional Anticipatory Action Operational Coordinator (Africa) is part of the and German Red Cross’ strategic engagement in advancing anticipatory action in Africa. The position will support the work of the IFRC, GRC, the Anticipation Hub and will contribute to an improved knowledge on anticipatory action in the Membership and across relevant networks. The position is contracted by the German Red Cross, seconded to the IFRC and will be based in the IFRC Cluster Office in Pretoria, South Africa.
The Regional Anticipatory Action Operational Coordinator will support the scale up of anticipatory action in the Africa region, by increasing the number of National Societies and IFRC Delegations involved in the AA approach, by increasing the number of anticipatory action plans developed in the region and by working with National Societies and IFRC Delegations to ensure everything is in place so that these plans can be implemented, once extreme events are forecast. This support will also include providing technical assistance on the anticipatory action approach, methodologies and tools, incorporating the latest technical developments and lessons learnt.
Starting date: February 2025
Duration: until 31.12.2025
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Main duties & responsibilities:
- Provide technical support and guidance on anticipatory action to National Societies (NS) and IFRC Delegations in the region and further the use of the anticipatory pillar of the DREF in the region. This includes working with National Societies not active in anticipatory action and FbF so far, to enable them to develop plans for anticipatory action, making use of the more recently introduced tools such as the simplified EAP,
- Promote increased understanding of anticipatory action and FbF terminologies, tools, quality criteria and approaches, among National Societies, IFRC Delegations, operational teams and partners;
- Support the Regional Office Operations Team in the review process of the anticipatory action plans making sure the anticipatory approach is properly understood and integrated.
- Upon approval of anticipatory action plans, support the Regional Office Operations Team in ensuring the plans are operational
- In coordination with IFRC country delegation AA project managers develop and advise country delegation specific workplan and budget, support the unified planning process and strategic country planning for AA, input to mid-term, bi-annual, and annual reports, contribute to (simplified) EAP validation procedures, reporting, and activation procedures of active (simplified) EAPs
- Support to IFRC delegations, PNS, and NSs to implement strong, strategic and comprehensive AA programmes, such as designing project proposals, support to workshops and communications, in-country support, hiring technical experts, and supporting opportunities for integrating the AA approach into existing DRM tools, finances and approaches in each region
- Foster peer-to-peer learning between country delegations / clusters and between regions; document and disseminate best practices and lessons learned from operational AA and develop and implement learning activities on anticipatory action with NS
- Contribute to regional knowledge exchange (Climate/DRR/AA) and host relevant working groups.
Required Competencies & Skills:
- Relevant university degree
- At least 5 years’ experience in the humanitarian sector, including work at a technical level related to DRR and preparedness programming, anticipatory action experience is a strong asset
- 5 years’ experience in project management in the humanitarian or development sectors including budget management, reporting and M&E.
- Good understanding of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Good understanding of the global humanitarian environment
- Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian actors
- Experience in the Africa region is an advantage
- Strategic thinking, hands-on mentality and in-depth understanding of the humanitarian system.
- Excellent communication, leadership skills and problem-solving skills as well as intercultural sensitivity, diplomacy and facilitation skills.
- Ability to work independently, highly solution-oriented and as a team member.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Skills in developing and training staff
- Valid international driving licence (Manual gears)
- Ability and agreement to adhere to the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles
- Ability to complete a thorough medical screening process 'working abroad under specific climate and health conditions'.
What we offer you:
You will be part of a highly motivated professional and multicultural team. We offer you a compensation package according to the collective employment agreement of the GRC, an expatriation allowance during your mission as well as a personal allowance to cover your accommodation. In addition to a full insurance package GRC is covering a home flight within a 12-months period of assignment. You will benefit from a comprehensive training package and receive briefings and coaching prior as well as during and after your mission. Medical check-ups and Psychosocial Support Service are included in your assignment.
Kindly apply by submitting your application by using the GRC online application system until January 19th 2025.
Please note that due to the travel and visa regulations and the guidelines of our partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement certain vaccinations are required for this delegate position. Candidates on the short-list for this position will be asked to disclose their vaccination status.
We point out that the selection and nomination processes for this international delegate position may demand that information concerning your person be shared with involved Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners (IFRC, ICRC, National Society). This may include transmission into countries that do not apply data protection standards comparable to those of the European Union.
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