Country Support Officer: Yemen, Libya, Iraq - British Red Cross

Organizational Context

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.”  The 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 British Red Cross (BRC) has been working in the MENA region since 2004 with partner national societies and opened a satellite office in Beirut in 2013. The MENA & Mediterranean (MENA Med) region team in BRC work through and in close cooperation with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners in the region, including the IFRC and ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Lebanese Red Cross, Iraq Red Crescent, Yemen Red Crescent, Libyan Red Crescent, and others. BRC are currently engaged with programming in, among others, disaster preparedness, capacity building, relief through cash and voucher assistance, and logistics-related programmes both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Job Purpose

The Country Support Officer will support the successful implementation of BRC supported programmes in Yemen, Iraq and Libya implemented through partnerships with national society and Red Cross Movement partners. The role will assist the Programme Manager Yemen, Iraq and Libya in effective programme administration with the provision and maintenance of programme management tools.

The position requires consistent monitoring, reporting and risk mitigation for programmes, along with following up on financial budgets and grant agreements. Additionally, it involves managing internal and external relationships, attending donor meetings, and coordinating country visits.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Support to Programme Manager and programmes
• Support the Programme Manager in ensuring effective programme administration and uphold BRC’s commitment to cost-effectiveness, community engagement, and accountability.
• Support the Programme Manager in managing both internal and external information, tasks include preparing informational packages, coordinating contributions to corporate reports, providing briefings, serving as a central contact for the team and external networks, and liaising with other teams.
• Support the Programme Manager with the management of restricted funding applications and reports, while also providing assistance in facilitating necessary meetings and presentations.
• Support to monitoring and reporting:
• Assist the Programme Manager in ensuring regular monitoring of programme risks and integration of follow-up mitigation activities into programmes.
• Support the Programme Manager in creating, maintaining, and monitoring accurate financial budgets and narrative/financial reports for programmes.
• Handle grant agreements and pledges timely and effectively, ensuring proper sign-off processes are followed.
• Support the Programme Manager in British Red Cross's response activities, which include tracking disaster trends, developing country strategies, and aligning with regional strategies.
• Support with internal and external relationship management:
• Facilitate relationship and communication management through effective liaison, promoting engagement between the British Red Cross, the UK Office, and field-based personnel, and managing diverse information formats.
• Attend donor meetings in the UK when required and act as a representative of BRC's work.
• Support the Programme Manager in ensuring that the country's minimum-security requirements are met.
• Assist in organising and facilitating country visits, deployment of delegates, and visits to the UK office.

Team Member:

• Actively participates in all team meetings.
• Supports other team members
• Works and behaves in accordance with all BRC policies, procedures and in line with our Values in Action.
• Upholds the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamics)
• Any other reasonable duties as delegated by the Line Manager.
• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Development, International relations, Project Management, or a related field. - Required 
• Trainings in areas like data management, financial analysis, or MEAL. - Preferred 

Experience

• At least 3-5 years of prior experience in project/programme management. - Required 
• Previous experience within a non-profit or humanitarian context. - Preferred    
• Experience of, and competency in financial administration including budget preparation and financial reporting. - Required 
• Experience of working in a partnership setting.  - Required 
• Experience of working across teams both internally and externally. - Required 
• Experience of working with institutional donors such as DFID and other donors. - Preferred
• Experience of working in international disaster response or international development settings. - Preferred 
• Experience of working in international contexts. - Preferred 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent administration and organisational skills, including attention to detail and maintaining up-to-date and accurate records. - Required 
• Proven ability to prioritise and manage work effectively in a fast-paced environment, to deliver on time and in full against specific objectives. - Required 
• Excellent IT skills, including proficiency with all basic Microsoft Office packages and information management systems. - Required 
• Ability to write reports and proposals for a variety of audiences. - Required 
• An understanding of the international humanitarian system or international development context. - Preferred 
• Specific knowledge of Yemen, Libya, Iraq or the broader MENA region or disaster management. - Preferred 
• Ability to maintain accurate financial programme budgets and financial reports. - Preferred 
• Knowledge of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. - Preferred 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. - Required 
• Fluently spoken and written Arabic. - Required 
• Fluently spoken and written English. - Required 
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Spanish). - 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 

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities.