Resource Mobilisation and Relationship Management Coordinator

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 189 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is organized into four Business groups in Geneva and five Business Groups in the field, namely the Zone Offices for Africa, Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The Africa Zone Business Group is organized through regional representations covering the National Societies in Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, West Coast, Sahel and Central Africa as well as country representations in Ethiopia, Sudan, Republic of South Sudan, Chad, Niger, Somalia and Zimbabwe, Central Africa Republic, Liberia.

Job Purpose

The Resource Mobilisation and Relationship Coordinator, as a member of the global RM and Relationship team and reporting to the Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy and Representative to the African Union and International Organisations, works to support the implementation of the Federation Wide Resource Mobilisation Strategy, maximising RM opportunities for all National Societies in Africa zone, and supporting National Societies’ RM efforts by leveraging the international status of the IFRC and supporting NS’s capacity building needs in RM. The RM Coordinator is also a member of the Africa zone management team, working within agreed strategic priorities, fully involved in the zone’s long term and annual planning/budgeting process, and, in the case of disasters, is a member of any task forces convened by the zone office.

As part of the implementation of the Federation Wide Resource Mobilisation Strategy, to develop and implement an RM strategy for Africa zone, identifying, developing and coordinating resource mobilization opportunities for National Societies and IFRC secretariat programmes, ensuring a Federation-wide RM approach in mobilising funds for long term programmes of National Societies, as well as for disasters.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

A. Relationship management

By working with other units in the Africa zone office, IFRC regional and country offices, and with National Societies and the Geneva Secretariat resource mobilisation department, to strengthen existing relationships and develop new relationships with partners including:

Partner National Societies (multilateral and bilateral)

Governments (always in cooperation with respective partner National Societies).

European Union, including DG ECHO.

Multilateral organizations, including Global Fund and GAVI.

Development Banks, including the African Development Bank and World Bank

African Institutions including African Union and its REC’s and IGAD

Corporate Sector.

Foundations – locally oriented and internationally oriented.

B. Capacity building of National Societies in resource mobilisation:

To provide support, expertise and tools to African National Societies in developing their capacities in RM, so that each National Society is able to maximise its funding opportunities, through different funding streams, including government, multilateral and private funding (individual giving, including high net worth individuals, corporate and foundations).

To facilitate knowledge sharing of RM expertise amongst National Societies in the zone, including experience of good practice in partnership and relationship management, to link with National Society communities of practise once established in specific income streams, possibly to establish an Africa zone fundraising network and to facilitate links with other zone fundraising networks and initiatives such as the global fundraising Skillshare forum.

C. Knowledge management:

To collect information, data, market research and undertake analysis of donor trends in sub-Saharan Africa, including current and potential new sources of funding.

To provide this input into a centrally coordinated RM knowledge management system coordinated by the RM Department in the Geneva Secretariat, contributing to the global RM analysis, the information being available to all National Societies and IFRC offices globally.

D. Fund management:

Funding plans: To work with units in the Africa zone office and regional and country offices to develop funding plans for all IFRC emergency appeals and long term plans, establish tracking sheets to track all incoming funding, and aim to ensure good coverage of all appeals.

To maintain an overview of the funding situation of all current annual plans and emergency appeals in Africa zone, continuously identifying gaps in funding and funding priorities.

Emergency appeals: In the case of all emergency appeals in Africa zone, to take the lead in coordination of RM, working with the respective regional/country offices, maintaining a tracking system for all pledges of funding, and taking part in zone task forces when convened.

To technically supervise all Africa RM officers, to ensure that various donor stewardship activities are undertaken in a timely way :

• pledge management: working with regional/country offices, to ensure efficient processing of all pledges for Africa appeals/plans; according to established guidelines;


• grant management: working with zone, regional and country offices to ensure that all grants of funding received through the IFRC secretariat are managed well, ensuring good quality proposals, and that monitoring mechanisms are in place for management of grants;


• donor reporting: working with zone PMER and regional and country offices to ensure that all donor reports (standard reports and pledge based reports) are prepared to quality standards, that there is compliance with agreed donor conditions and requirements, and that all reporting deadlines are met.

Education

University degree in a relevant discipline

Relevant post-graduate degree or MBA preferred

Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management).

Experience

Five years relevant experience in Africa.

5 years relevant work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including time in the field and/or with a National Society, and knowledge of Federation systems and processes in communications, resource mobilisation, planning and reporting is preferred.

Management of a team with a minimum of 3 staff members.

Experience in coaching program staff, in facilitating training, and in selecting and managing consultants

Knowledge, skills and languages

Familiarity with Government aid systems in Africa

Familiarity with philanthropic foundations operating in Africa

Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context

Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them

Highly organised, with ability to create a team approach

Excellent communication skills

Excellent relationship building skills; ability to build and strengthen internal and external networks, and establish effective partnerships, with National Societies

Budget and finance management skills

Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking

Fluently spoken and written English. Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and values

National Society relations

Results focus and accountability

Professional standards

Teamwork

Integrity

Communications

Managerial effectiveness Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.