Programme Officer – Lebanon Delegation

Organizational Context

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 (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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 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 delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

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. 

The IFRC Country Delegation in Lebanon is located at the Lebanese Red Cross HQ and currently consists of the Head of Country Delegation together with IFRC support staff. The mission of the IFRC Country Delegation in Lebanon is to support the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) with a capacity to deliver services with the required level of effectiveness, efficiency, quality and accountability in areas identified as high priorities and based on needs in strong coordination with Movement Partners. The Delegation provides similar strategic and technical support to the Palestine Red Crescent Society – Lebanon branch (PRCS-L).

Job Purpose

The role of the Programme Officer is to provide support on planning, implementation, reporting and compliance for the Lebanon country delegation, in support of the ongoing IFRC annual plan and ongoing emergency operations. The position will support Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society – Lebanon branch (PRCS-L) to ensure efficient, effective, coordinated and timely delivery of programme activities. This will include participation in coordination mechanism such as technical working groups, movement coordination meetings and other ad hoc meetings. The Programme Officer is also the focal point for NS counterparts and Partner National Societies and partners on day-to-day programmatic issues. 
 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Context analysis

• Maintain oversight of ongoing disasters and provide weekly feedback on emerging trends and ongoing operations.
• Provide continuous analysis of the political, social, economic and humanitarian context in the areas of intervention.
• Help prepare regular reports and presentations related to contextual trends and programme updates ahead of working groups and other internal and external meetings.
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Programme support

• Support LRC and PRCS-L in the implementation and monitoring of quality programme activities, with attention to achievement of results within set timelines.
• Help ensure that rigorous monitoring and evaluation is being applied to measure the progress of implementation against set objectives.
• Build and maintain effective linkages to IFRC’s technical units in the MENA Regional Office to provide technical advice and support to LRC and PRCS-L on issues across the programming continuum.
• Advise the Head of Country Delegation in the identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks, recommend appropriate actions to address them and help ensure sufficient follow up.
• Promote uptake of innovative approaches in all programmes and operations.
• Work closely with PMER focal points to ensure effective, timely and comprehensive planning and reporting on programmes and operations to partners and back donors.
• Ensure full compliance of operations with Red Cross Red Crescent principles, IFRC rules and regulations, and policies.

Partnerships and resource mobilization

• Participate in different LRC and PRCS-L coordination mechanisms, such as technical working groups and ad hoc meetings.
• Help ensure an effective and strong operational coordination is maintained with Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement partners, with the LRC and PRCS-L in the lead.
• Arrange and prepare regular Membership Coordination / Movement Coordination meetings to ensure strategic alignment and complementarity in RC/RC support to LRC and to PRCS-L.
• Act as a focal point for NS counterparts and Partner National Societies and partners on day-to-day operational and programmatic issues.
• Offer relevant secretariat services to Partner National Societies with a presence in Lebanon.
• Support the design and development of new project proposals for IFRC Lebanon in close collaboration with relevant Partner National Societies and technical units in the IFRC Regional Office.
• Represent IFRC externally in inter-agency fora when required.
• Support other tasks as assigned by the line manager.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

• University degree in relevant area or equivalent experience required - Required.
• Technical training in disaster preparedness, management, and recovery - Required.
• Master’s degree or equivalent - Required.
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• Experience
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• Field experience within the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement - Required.
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation - Required.
• Experience in establishing and following monitoring systems to track progress of implementation - Required.
• Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing - Required.
• 3-5 years’ experience in disaster response - Preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and independent decision-making capacity - Required.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations - Required.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions - Required.
• Knowledge of technical aspects of disaster preparedness, relief and recovery and of key donor and partner organisations - Required.
• Knowledge of minimum standards for disaster relief and performance and accountability frameworks - Required.
• Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment and ability to travel at short notice - Required.
• Computer knowledge as a user – self-supporting in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint - Required.
• Fluent spoken and written English - Required.
• Fluent spoken and written Arabic - Required.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French) - 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