Regional Advisor, National Society Governance, Leadership and Integrity

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. 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.

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 Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

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 National Society Development and Coordination Division is in turn organized in three Departments, each of them led by a Director, National Society Development Department (NSD) is one of the departments comprising the unit on Organizational Development (OD) with responsibility for the support provided by the Secretariat to its members in building their foundational institutional capacities, so they become strong, trusted and sustainable organizations delivering local humanitarian action, with strong governance, leadership and integrity mechanisms as core.

This position is based in the Americas and provides strategic and technical support to National Societies, in coordination with country and cluster delegations and in close collaboration with the global NSD team, including Geneva-based colleagues.

Strong, accountable and ethical National Societies with effective governance and leadership are essential to trust, accountability and the delivery of principled, sustainable humanitarian services. In line with IFRC Strategy 2030 and the Agenda for Renewal, the IFRC Secretariat plays an enabling role in supporting National Societies to strengthen their governance, leadership and integrity, while respecting National Society ownership.

The Regional Advisor, National Society Governance, Leadership and Integrity contributes to IFRC Renewal by providing strategic, policy and technical guidance to support National Societies in strengthening their governance, leadership and integrity systems and capacities. The role supports the development, adaptation and scaling of coherent, evidence-informed and locally owned approaches that address priority governance and leadership challenges across the Americas.

Working closely with country and cluster delegations and as part of the global NSD team, the position supports National Societies to identify gaps, co-create solutions, manage integrity risks and foster peer learning, contributing to strong, trusted and sustainable National Societies across the region.

The position reports to the Regional Head of NSD, with a matrix reporting line to the Manager, Organizational Development Unit, Geneva.

Work closely with the country delegations to provide technical guidance and quality support that strengthens National Societies’ governance, leadership, and integrity in line with IFRC behavioral expectations, Fundamental Principles, and NSD standards.

Build an enabling environment for leadership, governance and integrity strengthening in the Region

• • Promote a shared understanding across the Region of the leadership, governance, and integrity capabilities (skills, behaviours and mindsets) required to deliver Strategy 2030, the Agenda for Renewal, and IFRC Renewal priorities.
  • Contribute to the positioning of governance, leadership, and integrity strengthening as core enablers of National Society Development, trust, accountability, and sustainable service delivery.
  • Promote the strengthening of ethical leadership, accountability, and continuous learning as foundations of enhancing localization and locally led action.

Facilitate the adaptation and co-creation of NS-led governance and leadership development service aligned to NS priorities and context

• • Work closely with country teams to identify leadership, governance, and integrity needs and support co-designing of context-specific solutions to support NS transformations in their governance and leadership mechanisms aligned with NS priorities, Strategy 2030, and Agenda for Renewal.
  • Facilitate adoption and contextualization of the NS Governance support package and other practical, adaptable leadership development approaches that NS can own and apply within their national contexts.
  • Support National Societies to put in place and/or strengthen governance systems and practices in line with their statutes and good governance standards, including governance elections, board onboarding and induction, effective board functioning, and mechanisms to monitor board performance, accountability and integrity.
  • Coordinate with the country delegations and Movement partners to increase engagement and ensure alignment and complementarity of support initiatives to NS.
  • Coordinate with other Movement leadership development initiatives to support in building a culture of continuous learning and experimentation.
  • Promote the alignment of IFRC governance development tools with sector best practices and contribute to strengthening governance standards across the network.
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Enable peer-to-peer support, learning and Movement-wide collaboration

• • Facilitate peer-to-peer support, learning, mentoring, and exchange for National Society executive leaders and boards, including support for leadership transition and board succession.
  • Strengthen Communities of Practice and other collaboration mechanisms to enable shared learning and collective problem-solving across the network.
  • Capture and diffuse evidence, insights, and promising practices from National Societies and regions to inform IFRC-wide approaches.

Strengthen governance and integrity risk management systems and risk response

• • Provide strategic advice and coordinate technical support on integrity risk management strengthening aligned with Movement Statutes, IFRC policies, and NSD frameworks with emphasis on enhancing preventative mechanisms (NS policies development, capacity strengthening, systems, etc).
  • Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of integrity risk management, accountability, and ethical governance systems within National Societies.
  • Contribute to IFRC support to National Societies facing governance or integrity risks or crises, including institutional stabilization, recovery, and restoration of trust, applying IFRC integrity SoPs.
  • Support in monitoring, analysing and documenting governance and integrity risks and trends in the Region to inform evidence-based learning and policy development across the IFRC network.

Build partnerships, evidence, and resources for scale

• • Coordinate the development of data, evidence and lessons documentation to inform and scale effective governance and leadership development approaches that strengthen NS performance in the Region.
  • Identify, build, broker and maintain partnerships with training institutions, academic institutions, leadership development providers, and external experts to mobilize expertise, learning opportunities, and resources.
  • Contribute to resource mobilization for National Society governance, leadership development, and integrity strengthening in support of IFRC Renewal (including embedding in Programmes and Operations as necessary).

Any other duties as requested by line management.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant professional certification in organizational development, management, leadership, human resources, or related field

Preferred:

• Advanced university degree or relevant professional certification

Required:

• A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience working on governance and leadership development processes preferably in complex, non-profit or humanitarian organizations in international environment
• Experience in designing and implementing organizational leadership initiatives
• Proven experience and ability in supporting organizational capacity enhancement and change management

Preferred:

• Experience working within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is a strong advantage, other international organizations, large NGOs, development agencies.
• Senior leadership experience in a National Society
• Practical experience supporting governance processes

Required:

• Proven interpersonal, intercultural, facilitation and collaboration skills to work and interact with a diverse group of stakeholders, while applying a participatory and inclusive approach
• Excellent organisation skills. A combination of being detail oriented and a strategic thinker
• Strong analytical skills to assess leadership needs and adapt strategies accordingly
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Self-drive and ability to work on their own initiative, with a pro-active approach to solving problems, is flexible, has the energy, confidence, and creativity to drive initiatives forward
• Strong experience in governance support
• Strong experience in navigating change management processes and adaptability to navigate dynamic organizational environments and respond to evolving contexts
• Good judgement and ability to consider issues from multiple perspectives

Preferred:

• Ability to express new or innovative ideas

Languages

Required:

• Fluently spoken and written English and Spanish

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French)

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