Senior Officer, Youth Mobilization and Leadership

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.

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 National Society Development and Coordination Division consists of three departments: the National Society Development Department; the Disasters, Climate and Crises Department; the Health and Care Department and DREF, Information Management and Quality. It also includes the Operational Movement and Membership Coordination Team, and hosted projects of the IFRC, namely: the Global Road Safety Partnership, the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership, and the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response.

The position is located in the NS Development Department in Geneva that provides technical guidance and assistance to National Societies.

Provide technical leadership and quality standards in IFRC Secretariat assistance provided to National Societies’ youth work.

The post-holder is responsible for:

• Promoting and supporting NS initiatives on humanitarian education. This includes coordination of IFRC flagship initiatives such as Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) and development of new global programming in support of NS dissemination of Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundamental Principles and International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
• Designing and promoting various initiatives to encourage youth mobilization for National Society local services as part of Secretariat’s broader agenda and strategy on volunteering and NS development.
• Overseeing IFRC youth advocacy initiatives and coordinating with youth organizations and other external partners with the common goal to tackle global issues such as climate change, migration, social inclusion, promotion of peace and culture of non-violence, and protection of humanitarian personnel;
• Developing and facilitating global resource-sharing in priority areas and ensuring high quality technical support to NS across regions as well as to the IFRC Youth Commission.

1. Humanitarian education

• Oversee IFRC’s work on humanitarian education for young people in support of National Societies and develop global plans, coordination mechanisms and tools with special focus on value-based education in formal education settings;
• Support National Societies’ initiatives in non-formal education settings including through the IFRC’s flagship initiative, YABC, and facilitate resource sharing across regions;
• Design new programming on promotion of peace and non-violence as well as dissemination of Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundamental Principles and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) through National Society youth work;
• Strengthen IFRC capacity and technical expertise on humanitarian education for young people and engage National Societies to lead on various aspects through existing and new facilities and centres as relevant;
• Contribute to IFRC public communications and positioning on value-based education for young people.

2. National Society development

• Assist National Societies in developing and strengthening local services led by youth to address humanitarian needs in their communities. This includes development of partnerships with sports-based organizations, local authorities and private sector for resource mobilization and self-sustainability;
• Maintain an IFRC global database on National Society youth members and volunteers and provide regular feedback and analyses for follow-up;
• Promote and assist National Societies to measure and track progress on youth volunteers’ contribution; This includes systematic data collection on volunteer service hours in collaboration with relevant teams responsible for volunteering development;
• Facilitate learning and exchange of experience among National Societies on school-based work including youth clubs and other set-ups;
• Design and manage IFRC’s global youth leadership development programme.

3. Advocacy

• Design and lead IFRC youth advocacy initiatives, including global campaigns and special events in priority areas;
• Coordinate with youth organizations and other external partners with the common goal to tackle global issues such as climate change, migration, social inclusion, promotion of peace and culture of non-violence, and protection of humanitarian personnel;
• Represent the IFRC Secretariat in areas of responsibility as requested.

4. Accountability and global alignment

• Provide global direction, technical leadership and quality standards in support of National Societies’ youth work;
• Assist IFRC regional offices, country and country cluster delegations in ensuring that youth perspectives are included in all programming initiated by the IFRC Secretariat;
• Prepare global plans, budgets and reports as per IFRC Secretariat requirements and provide feedback on the plans and reports of the regional offices, country and country cluster delegations in areas of responsibility for continuous improvement;
• Provide technical support to the IFRC Youth Commission at the request of the secretary to the Commission; This includes the organization of meetings, preparation of various reports and analytical pieces.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’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.
   

Required

• Post graduate degree in social work, international law and related areas; Extensive practical experience can be considered in lieu of academic qualification.

Preferred

• Training in non-profit management and/ or international humanitarian law (IHL).

Required

• 8-10 years of experience in youth mobilization, volunteer management or humanitarian education.
• Proven experience in designing and running humanitarian education activities in formal education settings.
• Proven experience in developing and facilitating leadership development initiatives including training.
• Experience in social mobilisation for grass root services/initiatives (eg for sport-based work for youth) including fundraising.
• Proven experience in designing and fundraising for youth programmes including on advocacy.
• Work in multidisciplinary teams and collaboration with colleagues responsible for a wide range of activities such as health, social services, climate, migration, disaster response and National Society development.
• Significant experience in designing and conducting various researches and learning tools.

Preferred

• Experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement including work at a NS.

Required

• Understanding of Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian education, including dissemination of International Humanitarian Law and RC/RC Fundamental Principles.
• Ability to analyse complex issues and produce evidence-based analytical reports, opinion pieces and other papers.
• Proven skills in facilitating various trainings.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in managing and interpreting data.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills to influence and inspire others including the IFRC membership, governments, donors, UN and other international organisations.
• Ability to provide technical guidance on the implementation of the IFRC Youth Policy.
• Basic knowledge and skills for coaching and mentoring.
• Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Financial management and reporting.
• 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).
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.

LANGUAGES

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language is an asset (Arabic, French and Spanish).

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.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.

The closing date and time for this vacancy are based on Geneva time. Applications must be submitted by 23:59 (11:59 PM) Geneva time on the advertised closing date.