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.
Job Purpose
The External Liaison Senior Officer will provide day-to-day support for key strategic partnerships and engagements that may be necessary for the effective and efficient running of the IFRC Afghanistan Delegation, including leading pledge management process and providing close follow-up with APRO SEP. The position entails building and maintaining partnerships with PNSs, including handling a wide range of contacts with key donor stakeholders (i.e., IFRC, ARCS, partnering Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies, key diplomatic embassies based in Kabul, and the international donor community). The position will also provide strategic support to IFRC Afghanistan Delegation Programmes and Operations colleagues on partnership outputs, financial analysis, and continuous follow-ups that pledge conditions are being met.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
External Relations and Internal Coordination
• Support the role of external relations, coordination, and cooperation with all components of the RCRC Movement, with national authorities, international organisations, donor governments, embassies, and other organisations.
• Liaise with internal and external contacts/stakeholders to promote a good and positive image of the IFRC through information exchange and professional feedback.
• Lead and coordinate the organisation of key meetings with the donor international community, follow ups in support of the management of relations with relevant Government entities including diplomatic embassies, UN agencies and other Non-Governmental Organisations.
• Lead the SEP, HD, Comms teams for arranging meetings, archiving minutes thereto, and maintaining a database for all external relations of the office.
• Support facilitation of external relations, both within the RC Movement and with non-RC partners, including proactively coordinating donor field visits, planning partnership meetings and partner calls.
Lead on IFRC Afghanistan Pledge Management system/process
• Lead the internal IFRC Afghanistan pledge management process to keep all staff on track of pledge utilization, expenditure rates, and ensure that reporting deadlines are met with donors, and partners.
• Ensure effective coordination between Afghanistan Delegation, regional APRO PRD and technical teams to ensure compliance with donor requirements, and that agreed earmarking criteria are understood and adhered to.
• Support the negotiation of pledges and contributions with partners, ensuring that earmarking, reporting deadlines and other requirements are in line with operational priorities.
• Provide regular reporting and analysis of partner and funding landscape including trends, gaps, income and expenditure and quality and nature of contributions, including creating IM portal to visualize our resourcing plans.
• Propose and coordinate actions to increase funding coverage by advising colleagues in Afghanistan delegation and operational and programmes leads on fundraising strategies and approaches for business development.
Education
Required:
University Degree or equivalent experience in Strategic Engagement and Partnerships
Experience
Required:
- At least 5 years of work experience within Afghanistan in an area relevant to building and maintaining strategic partnerships and liaising effective customer relationships
- In-country contextual understanding
- Previous experience with Red Cross / Red Crescent
- Experience in leading customer relationship management databases including pledge management processes
Preferred:
- Experience in data management in support of knowledge sharing
- Experience working with diplomatic missions, and external donors
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required:
- Experience working with diplomatic missions, and external donors
- Experience working with international donors and partners
- Experience in building systems to streamline internal processes
- Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
- Fluent spoken and written English.
- Fluent in spoken and written Dari and Pashtu
Preferred:
- Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic, French or Spanish).
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.