Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the worldโs largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is โto 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.โ The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
The 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.
The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The 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 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.
The 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.
Climate change is a central element of IFRCโs Strategy 2030 and Plan & Budget 2021-2025, which stresses the urgency to massively scale-up climate action in view of increasing disasters and climate-related impacts on vulnerable people. Early warning and early/anticipatory action are acknowledged as a critical component of this work.
The EW4All initiative is built on the four Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) pillars: (1) Disaster risk knowledge and management, which aims to ensure all countries have access to reliable, understandable and relevant risk information, science and expertise (led globally by UNDRR); (2) Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of hazards, which aims to ensure all countries have robust forecast and monitoring systems (both soft and hardware infrastructure) and enable policies to support optimization and sustainability of hazard monitoring and early warning systems (led globally by WMO); (3) Warning dissemination and communication, which aims to use a people-centered approach to ensure that early warnings are effectively and timely disseminated to reach everyone, especially those most at risk (led globally by ITU); and (4) Preparedness to respond to warnings, which aims to ensure local governments, communities and individuals at risk have the knowledge and means to take pre-emptive early action to prepare for and respond to incoming disasters upon receiving warnings (led globally by IFRC).
Job Purpose
The Early Warning Officer will act as IFRC EW4All Pillar 4 Focal Point for the Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles. The incumbent will provide overall coordination for Pillar 4 activities in the different countries and at the regional level, in support of the national/government Pillar 4 lead, ensuring effective engagement with all relevant Pillar 4 stakeholders in country and in close cooperation with other Pillar leads in country. Moreover, he/she will coordinate the contribution of IFRC and the National Societies to the other Pillars of the EW4All initiative. The Officer will be responsible and accountable for ensuring high quality grant management, implementation and coordination of the CREWS funding, as well as supporting NS in their resource mobilization for the in-country advancement of the EW4All initiative. In addition, the incumbent will act as the focal point within the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for the Early Warnings for All initiative. The Officer will work in collaboration with the National Society, IFRC personnel, other Movement Partners, National and International Organizations, and local authorities. In particular, the Officer will work closely with other IFRC and NS staff involved in Anticipatory Action and related topics.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Act as the IFRC Early Warnings for All Focal Point for the Indian Ocean Islands
Facilitate the roll-out of the Early Warnings for All initiative in Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles, in close collaboration with the National Society Ensure, together with the national/government Pillar 4 lead (if in place) and the National Society, effective Pillar 4 coordination. Act as the secretariat if needed. Support the national/government Pillar 4 lead, together with the National Society, in joint development of key documents, including the stakeholder mapping, gap analysis, national roadmap and funding proposals, with Pillar 4 partners, including FAO, OCHA, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF and IOM. Together with the National Society focal point, co-lead Pillar 4 aspects of relevant workshops and ensure all Pillar 4 partners are invited. Represent IFRC and Pillar 4 in inter-pillar coordination efforts and coordinate/contribute Pillar 4 inputs to cross-pillar coordination efforts and products. Influence the shaping of the EW4All initiative in country with a focus on the full value-chain and ensuring a multistakeholder/whole-of-society, people-centered, locally led approach and community voice/perspectives. Alongside the National Societies, build alliances and partnerships with other Early Warning Early Action actors to enhance the implementation of the Early Warnings for All national roadmap. Support the National Societies at all levels to enhance their position vis-a-vis the national authorities and national coordination mechanisms, as well as in resource mobilization. Contribute to the liaison with partners across the four pillars of the Early Warnings for All initiative.
Be responsible and accountable for the overall planning and implementation of CREWS project funding
Provide financial management, monitoring and coordination of project activities, and the delivery to time, budget and agreed quality standards of project outputs with related reporting and representation. Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative procedures and the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures related to project activities. Contribute to the overall planning, budgeting and reporting of the IFRC team and the department. Manage budgets related to the Early Warnings for All initiative to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported programmes is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor requirements. Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the National Society, that budgets are monitored, and problems identifies, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner. Contribute to supervision, monitoring and evaluation of Early Warnings for All-related programs and ensure all related reporting requirements are submitted in highly efficient and timely manner.Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Ensure quality technical advice and support to National Societies in countries covered by the Country Cluster Delegation related to EW4All and notably Pillar 4
Support National Societiesโ representation and positioning on the EW4All initiative Provide information and advice to National Societies related to the EW4All initiative, Pillar 4 and the role and opportunities for National Societies related to the initiative overall (i.e. activities the National Society does across the different pillars) and Pillar 4. Support National Societies to take stock of their ongoing activities related to early warning and early/anticipatory action (EWEA) and the existing or potential synergies with the EW4All initiative. Support National Societies to come up with a clear pitch for what they can โofferโ and what they need to make this happen (in terms of resources and support) Help define gaps and needs of the National Society related to EWEA.
Ensure effective coordination within IFRC network
Coordinate closely with the National Societies and other Movement partners in country. Share information, ensure good internal coordination and request support as needed with/from IFRC Regional Office and Geneva technical focal points. Proactively coordinate with technical counterparts for topics covered under the Early Warnings for All initiative including, but not limited to, anticipatory action, disaster law and National Society preparedness.
Duties applicable to all staff.
Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariatโs 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.