Ethiopia: Head of IFRC Delegation and Permanent Representative to Africa Union & International Organisations in Africa 2020

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 187 member National Societies. . Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners.

Job purpose

The Head of Delegation and the Permanent Representative to the African Union and International Organisations (HoD)advocates for heightened Red Cross Red Crescent influence and support for our work.

Based in Addis Ababa, the HoD focus will be to :

· Strengthen relations with external and public partners including the African Union, inter-governmental organisations, governments, international organisations, and other network and institutions to help position African National Societies and the International Federation as the leading humanitarian development organisation;

· Lead in the strengthening relations with Africa Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on a permanent representation and observer status accorded to IFRC by these institutions. Engagement with these institutions provides expanded opportunities for the development and implementation of strategies for diversifying and increasing resource mobilisation for African National Societies and the International Federation.

The HoD supports the efforts to advocate and promote S2020 in Africa Region by working with the national societies and Movement Partners; specifically to ensure effective advocacy, communication and promotion of S2020. support in the , advocacy with African governments through the African Union and other inter-governmental organizations on, disaster laws legislation, external relations and public affairs,, resource mobilisation and strategic partnerships within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and externally.

The HoD reports to the Director of Africa Region and is a member of the Strategic partnerships global team.

The HoD plays a key role in assisting the Director of Africa Region in co-ordinating the organisation of Pan Africa Conference (PAC), in addition to supporting the functions of strategic partnerships, humanitarian diplomacy, external relations and Africa Union /international organisations representation in Africa.

Job duties and responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the relations and interactions between the IFRC , the African Union, inter-governmental organization and other international organizations in Africa are well managed and coordinated. to carry out the following range of activities:

Supporting National Societies to strengthen their capacity to actively engage in humanitarian diplomacy

· Develop framework for strategic engagement with the African Union and International Organizations by mapping the specific areas of interest for the IFRC and to identify key decision-makers or movers/influencers

· Support African National Societies’ efforts to deepen their relationships with their governments, inter-governmental organizations and the general public through the development of processes which support contact with academia, foundations, the private sector, media, corporate partners or others capable of supporting IFRC humanitarian objectives.

· Establish and build a humanitarian dialogue forum(HDF) that aims to help position the Red Cross and Red Crescent as a leader in addressing key humanitarian and development issues in Africa.

Produce high quality analysis of humanitarian and development issues, as well as mainstreaming a more critical and analytical mind set amongst all Federation staff

2. Africa Union & International Organisations Permanent Representation

· Permanent Representative and IFRC head of delegation to the Africa Union and International organisations leads in the strengthening of relations with Africa Union (AU), Inter-Governmental organizations and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on a permanent representation and observer status accorded to IFRC by these institutions.

· Promote partnerships between AU Member States and African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as auxiliaries to the public authorities in their countries, which accelerate work towards the solution of such challenges as diseases, natural disasters, environmental challenges including climate change, the humanitarian consequences of migration, and violence in urban settings.

· Cooperate to develop joint information tools such as publication of appropriate material, posters and audio-visuals as may be considered necessary, to increase access to information and level of public awareness of matters of mutual interest. Make recommendations for joint or coordinated advocacy on issues of mutual interest.

· Support activities which build national capacity and enable that capacity to play a full part in this cooperation.

· Engage with the AU Secretariat in the implementation of IFRC-AU Memorandum of Understanding, ensuring that regular consultations are done consistent with MoU principles.

· Engage the Federation’s membership in meaningful ways to extend the reach and impact of the humanitarian diplomacy efforts undertaken at the AU headquarters.

· Contribute to the expertise of AU Secretariat and build alliances in order to influence the decision making on substantive matters.

· Enhance the coordination of humanitarian operations by liaising with the relevant AU Commissions and other partners, including through regular and active participation in relevant working groups.

· Carry out the process of advancing IFRC profiling (visibility) and positioning (on substantive issues) throughout the Continent.

· Participate in the negotiation and networking with regional and international organisations, thereby enhancing our visibility, and mobilize support for our priorities through active lobbying and advocacy.

· Monitor the work of the Regional groupings (e.g., ECOWAS, CEMAC, SADC, EAC, etc) and their sub-committees and ECOSOC with thematic focus on humanitarian affairs (incl. humanitarian coordination, disaster risk reduction, and disaster management), health issues (incl. communicable diseases, epidemics, water/sanitation, and food security), climate change, vulnerable groups (incl. women, children, and indigenous people) and the UN.

3. External Affairs & Relations

· To coordinate the development of an external relations plan of action for the Federation’s work in the Africa Region under the supervision of the Regional Director .

· Map and analyse the current pattern of relations and partnerships that the Federation has with international and regional organisations within the Africa Region and globally.

· Based on the established plans and the needs and priorities of national societies and the Federation secretariat in Africa , develop a plan of action to build a more strategic engagement with a number of identified international organisations. Based on work that is already being carried out, these will include the Africa Development Bank, UNECA, IGAD and RECs.

· Work with the relevant Federation staff in the Regional cluster/country offices to carry out the objectives of the agreed external relations plan of action.

· Build and maintain relations with Africa national societies, Movement partners’ working in the region and relevant Geneva secretariat departments in order to advance the objectives of the external relations plan of action.

· Organize and lead diplomatic corps/donor roundtable meetings to identify priorities and opportunities and collect information on their respective strategic frameworks.

· Organize meetings and discussions with embassies and missions accredited to the AU to raise awareness on Federation resource mobilization requirements in consultation with the IFRC delegation.

· Ensure effective humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy, communications and reporting. This should ensure provision of advice on the messages, products, and processes to be used when appealing to various clients for resource mobilization.

· Create a presence at regional and international conferences & relevant global gatherings through panel and/or plenary discussions, side events, displays, etc.

4. Resource Mobilisation

· Assisting the Regional Director in managing the coverage of the Federation Annual Appeal, Emergency Appeals and special funding requests for the Africa Region.

· Facilitating partnership agreements with relevant regional and inter-governmental organizations in relation to resource mobilization for NSs and Federation supported programmes in liaison with the concerned technical departments in the zone office and Geneva.

· Develop data base for maintaining updated information on current and potential sources of partnerships and funding for the Federation in Africa, and support knowledge management activities in the context of strategic partnerships at the regional level, under overall coordination of the Regional Director.

· Facilitating partnership agreements with national and regional organizations and the development of partnership with relevant regional organizations for reaching national societies as well as secretariat’s programmes resource mobilization needs, in coordination with the technical regional and Geneva departments.

5. Advocacy & Communication

· Convey and adapt a corporate communications process in order to harmonize messaging and communications priorities within the Africa region and position the Federation in key areas around the Global Agenda with particular reference to Africa Union and external partners.

· Provide the technical support and guidance to Country Representatives, Cluster Heads and Programme Coordinators in managing relations with external stakeholders including international organizations, government representatives, private partners or potential goodwill ambassadors.

6. Disaster Laws Legislation

· Support DLL in advocating for national DRR legislation, development plans and disaster management strategies that are relevant and effective for vulnerable people.

· Negotiate and prepare in collaboration with the legal department agreements and MOUs with relevant RECs and international organizations and facilitate the establishment operational of agreements with key RECs and international institutions.

· organisation, management and implementation.

7. General Management

· Provide day to day management of all staff reporting to the position in the AU office. This includes ensuring of staff security.

· To be the IFRC Head of Mission (HoM) in Ethiopia with the overall responsibility of managing and developing good working relations with the Ethiopian government

· Ensure compliance with applicable laws and status agreements to minimise risk of harm to the Federation and its secretariat personnel, properties and resources. Special attention is to be given on the compliance of procurement procedures and standards.

· Ensure sound planning and financial management for areas under his/her responsibility.

· Contribute to upholding the Secretariats strategies, plans, regulations, procedures and management system within the Region, and support their improvement and review as necessary.

· Promote a culture of performance and continuous learning to improve the accountability and impact for vulnerable people.

· Provide leadership to the monitoring and reporting process on global performance indicators and promote a culture of performance and continuous learning to improve the accountability and impact for vulnerable people

· Deputise for the Director when requested during his / her absences.

Duties applicable to all staff

1.Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’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. **Position Requirements** Education Post-graduate (i.e., Master’s or Ph.D. degree or equivalent) in social sciences/development studies, strategic/programme management, international relations, management studies or other relevant discipline Preferred. Professional Qualification in diplomacy political science and Basic Delegates Training Course or equivalent knowledge preferred. Experience Minimum of 10 years work experience in humanitarian operations for a humanitarian aid organisation and or development cooperation organisation, 5 of which should be at in a management position. 5 years of experience in analysing, planning, report writing and managing programmes and resources and resource mobilisation. Experience of acting in a representational role and maintaining donor and partner relations. 10 years of experience in government relations at national or multilateral levels. 5 years of work experience including management in a Red Cross/Red Crescent National Society, IFRC or ICRC, or a relevant international organization. Solid experience working in low income countries and sometimes in hardship areas. Experience in leading diverse teams and engaging with governments and leaders at senior level.

Knowledge and Skills

Proven people management skills in a multi-cultural environment and strong track record of developing people. Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representational and advocacy role. Drive change and improvements and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment. Understanding of and commitment to the IFRC’s mission and values. Ability to work in a cross cultural and cross-functional environment. Demonstrated initiative and creativity, and substantial experience of strategic thinking, including identifying, analyzing, problem solving and responding to opportunities and challenges and the ability to translate these into practical plans of action. Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word processing) Knowledge of the Government, NGO, International organisations and UN system and international relations. Excellent skills in networking with other agencies and organisations, representation and diplomatic skills. Excellent interpersonal negotiation skills, including the ability to effectively communicate a vision. Professional etiquette. Languages Fluently spoken and written English. Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Arabic) Core Competencies : Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust; Managerial Competencies : Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development Functional Competencies : Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others.

Ethiopia: Head of IFRC Delegation and Permanent Representative to Africa Union & International Organisations in Africa