Delegate, DREF

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

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.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), established in 1979, provides National Societies with start-up funds for large-scale disaster response operations and as grants to cover the costs of small-scale disasters.

Through close collaboration with its major partners, the International Federation is seeking to promote the quality of DREF operations, timely and quality reporting and transparency in the use of the funds and to further enhance the confidence of partners in the performance of the National Societies in implementing operations.

Over the years, Africa Region remains one of the highest users of the DREF. The region plays a central role in the global use of the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Within the Africa Region, DREF operations represent the biggest portion of the overall emergency operations portfolio. The region’s complex humanitarian landscape and the cyclical nature of crises continue to amplify operational demands and workload.

As a member of the Global DREF Team and in alignment with DREF Procedures, the Regional DREF Delegate will support all DREF-related processes and support in the Africa Region. The role will support timely, compliant, and well-coordinated processing, documentation, and reporting of DREF requests, while providing expert technical and compliance analysis and guidance throughout the DREF cycle.

Acting as a technical focal point on DREF to African National Societies, IFRC delegations, and regional staff, the role supports criteria-compliant submissions, contributes to the eligibility review of requests, and provides technical support on the appropriate and strategic use of DREF funds—ensuring operational relevance and alignment with procedures. In addition to compliance, the DREF Delegate support the technical review and quality assurance of DREF operations in the region, ensuring performance is aligned with IFRC KPIs, risk thresholds, and strategic frameworks. From that oversight position, the DREF Delegate provides ongoing analysis and technical support to inform operational decision-making in Delegations, the Regional Office, and National Societies across the full DREF cycle, including proactive monitoring and escalation of compliance or performance issues as needed.

The DREF Delegate supports the Africa DCC team in operations coordination, contributing to the oversight of operational quality beyond the compliance role. A key responsibility is to support the implementation of the regional DREF capacity strengthening plan, supporting African National Societies (ANSs), IFRC staff, and Partner National Societies (PNSs) through training, coaching, tools development, and knowledge sharing. Finally, the role contributes to strategic learning by generating and consolidating evidence, insights, and lessons from DREF operations, to inform continuous improvement of the mechanism globally and regionally.

1. Technical

Enable Quality, Timely and Compliant DREF Operations

• Monitor the Risk Watch and provide timely and tailored guidance to National Societies, Country Cluster Delegations, Country Delegations Offices and the Regional Office on the timeliness and appropriate use of DREF modalities; preparation of DREF allocation requests, including support to operationalise contingency planning and readiness of at-risk National Societies through access to DREF funds for anticipatory actions.
• Provide technical guidance and support on the use of DREF grants, include under Emergency Appeals (EAs), ensuring compliance with DREF procedures. Advise on the eligibility of the proposed operations and compliance with DREF Procedures to regional and country cluster delegations or through participating on joint task force calls and providing advice on the eligibility or not of the proposed requests and advising on DREF grant or loan procedures according to the Emergency Response Framework.

• Support alignment of DREF grants with Emergency appeals processes; documentation and reporting flows to avoid duplication or inconsistencies. Where applicable, advise on the management of DREF grants under the EA in accordance with revised operational circumstances.

• Support the DREF approval process by facilitating the collection and consolidation of technical inputs from regional technical and support services teams (Health, Disaster Climate and Crisis, WASH, logistics, NSD, PMER, finance, Log etc.); include liaising with DCC Dept. in Geneva for quality control and sign off.
• Support the application of review, validation, and sign off processes for DREF allocations, include to EAs, including eligibility checks, technical and quality control, regional validation.
• Closely collaborate with the DREF operation project managers for operations coordination and to maintain an overview of DREF compliance across the operation cycle, revision of operation plans where necessary and timely and transparent financial and narrative reporting on the use of DREF funds.
• Promote and support the systematic application of Result Based Management(RBM)Minimum Requirements in DREF operations, including CEA and PGI standards, by providing direct technical guidance to National Societies and IFRC teams—ensuring coordination with PMER for effective implementation of RBM tools.
• The DREF Delegate provides operational support for all DREF operations across the Africa Region and works in close coordination with operation coordinators, project managers and technical team at Country, Regional and Global levels.

Capacity strengthening of users ANSs and IFRC staff

• Provide hands-on coaching and mentoring to strengthen DREF capacities in Africa, offering proximity support for the development of DREF requests, ensuring process compliance and quality against regional performance standards and SoPs.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening activities through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing initiatives and mentoring to National Societies, Partner National Societies, IFRC delegations, and Regional units across Africa.

Reporting and learnings

• Support the review of DREF operation final reports, supporting the quality oversight of DREF Final Reports, including compliance and integration of minimum DREF requirement for RBM/CEA/Lesson Learnt Workshop (LLW)findings
• Collect and analyse data from DREF reports on performance management targets and maintain database on quality and timeliness of DREF reporting for measurement of progress and monitoring of performance in the Africa Region
• Representation

• The DREF Delegate supports engagement with DREF partners and may represent DREF in technical discussions as delegated (donors, PNSs, Movement partners, external stakeholders) in Africa.Relationships

• The DREF Delegate is part of the Global DREF team, with a focus on the Africa Region. As such, the DREF Delegate reports to the DREF coordinator who oversees daily operations, manages performance, lead the daily technical decisions and manage the HR processes while DREF Senior Officer DREF in Geneva, can continue to advise on technical issues and DREF parameters.
• The DREF Delegate also works under the management of the Regional Coordinator of Operations which unit seats under the Disasters, Climate and Crises (DCC) Unit in an advisory role to ensure that DREF Guidelines and Procedures are adhered to

Works in close collaboration with Regional, Cluster and Country Operation and Disaster Management coordinators and colleagues of the various thematic sectors to promote an integrated approach in disaster response operations and ensure coordinated regional support.

• Degree level (or equivalent qualification) in Disaster Management, International Development, or other relevant subject(Required)
• IMPACT course or equivalent training/knowledge(Preffered)

• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in disaster management, specifically disaster response operations across multiple country contexts, including rapid‑onset emergencies and complex, protracted crises(Required)
• Previous experience of monitoring and evaluation, preferably in the humanitarian/development context(Preferred)
• Previous experience of using IFRC planning, reporting and finance tools(Required)
• Experience of programme design, project management and reporting, preferably in relation to disaster response(Required)
• Practical experience and understanding in sectors that link with disaster response (i.e. relief, food security, health, WASH, logistics)(Required)
• Experience supporting emergency operations in the African context, demonstrating familiarity with regional risk patterns, operational challenges, and National Society capacities(Required)

• Expertise in emergency response systems, operational compliance, and funding mechanisms, ideally with direct experience in DREF or similar rapid funding tools.(Required)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to formulate operational recommendations based on operational trends. (Required)
• Proficiency in RBM tools and quality standards (CEA, PGI, PMER), with ability to support National Societies and IFRC teams in their application. (Required)
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with ability to deliver capacity-building activities to varied audiences (NSs, PNSs, IFRC delegations). (Required)
• Team coordination and networking skills. Able to work effectively across departments, regions, National Societies, IFRC reference centres and external partners. (Required)
• Strong cultural awareness and sensitivity, with the ability to work and communicate efficiently in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and cross-functional team setting, including remote/dispersed teams. (Required)
• Knowledge of the IFRC Emergency Response Framework (ERF), DREF Procedures 2024+, and SoPs for emergency operations. (Required)
• Understanding of financial compliance controls in humanitarian operations. (Required)
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants. (Required)
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values. (Required)
• Fluent spoken and written English(Required)
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)(Preferred)

• 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