Senior Officer, DREF, Panama City, Panama

Organizational Context

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.

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 Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

Job Purpose

"This is a national staff position open to nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in countries where IFRC has legal presence: Buenos Aires (Argentina), San José (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Kingston (Jamaica), Managua (Nicaragua), San Salvador (El Salvador), Panama City (Panama), Lima (Peru), or Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago). Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in those countries during application phase"

The DREF Senior Officer for America, whose job focus will be on supporting IFRC Delegations and National Societies in the region, contributes to the understanding of the DREF mechanism and processes as well as to the quality and accountability of all DREF operations in America.

The DREF Senior Officer:

Provides dedicated technical support to America´s National Societies and IFRC delegations, including to increase their knowledge of the new DREF process.

Supports timely and effective DREF requests and ensures adherence to established eligibility criteria as per the DREF Procedures and guidelines.

Supports the monitoring and evaluation of DREF operations to ensure they achieve their objectives as laid out in the emergency plans of action.

Fosters compliance to DREF Procedures and Guidelines amongst National Societies and IFRC Delegations, making sure any noncompliant requests and a rationale for proceeding with any such requests are duly documented.

Supports the collection, analysis and consolidation of lessons captured during the implementation of DREF operations.

Ensures information on DREF operations are collected and analysed in a systematic way to assist in assessing and recording key lessons, hence strengthening preparedness for future disaster responses.

Defining and monitoring the key performance indicators in terms of situations reports at GO platform, requests, revision, approval, implementation and closing

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical

• Provides guidance to National Societies and IFRC Delegations in preparing DREF allocation requests, including the support to develop and use relevant resources to strengthen the understanding and use of the new DREF process.
• Promotes timeliness and advises on the eligibility of the proposed activities and compliance with DREF Procedures, ensures initial operational calls between ARO and IFRC Delegations, attends joint task force calls and provides advice on the eligibility or not of the proposed requests, and advises on DREF grant or loan procedures according to the IFRC Emergency Response Framework (ERF).
• Supports the DREF approval process by ensuring appropriate and timely technical input from regional technical teams (HDCC, logistics, OD, PMER and validation by finance; by liaising with DCC Dept. in Geneva for quality control and sign off).
• Works with the DREF operation budget holders to maintain an overview of DREF expenditure, revision of operation plans where necessary and timely and transparent financial and narrative reporting on the use of DREF funds. This will be done in collaboration with relevant IFRC Delegations, Finance and PMER teams to ensure proper monitoring of operations.
• Ensures the quality and accountability of DREF operations by promoting and assisting with the use of management tools at country level and by leading DREF evaluation initiatives together with ARO PMER and DREF Officers in IFRC GVA.
• Facilitates quality and timely reporting on DREF operations through close cooperation with IFRC Delegations and ARO PMER and Finance counterparts.
• Disseminates and promotes understanding of the DREF Procedures, Guidelines and new DREF process.
• Monitors alignment with DREF Procedures in the Americas Region, and reports issues of non-compliance to the Manage, Continental operations
• In coordination with IM team, develop, fill and monitoring the key performance indicators in the Americas aligned with the global protocols and requirements
• Work and coordinate with the Regional Reference centers to update national trainings for Disaster Response, it also includes support delivering training and providing advice to facilitators
• Prepare proposals for donors to receive financial and technical support to enhance NS capacities working with DREF

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Representation & Relationships

The DREF Senior Officer for Americas works under the management of the Continental Operations Manager, within the ARO HDCC Unit to ensure DREF Procedures and Guidelines are respected and provides regular updates and information for informed decision making related to the DREF. The DREF officer shall work in close coordination with and seek technical guidance from the Manager as necessary.

• Work in close collaboration with the relevant IFRC Delegations, as well as Emergency Operations (primarily Operations Coordinators), Health, Logistics, WASH, Shelter, NSD and other colleagues on thematic files to promote an integrated approach in disaster response operations.
• Work in close collaboration with PMER and Finance colleagues to ensure timely and quality DREF plans and reports.

The DREF Officer has a technical reporting line to the DREF Senior officer in Geneva, who will advise the DREF Officer on DREF technical issues and parameters on overall DREF operations.

Education

Degree level (or equivalent qualification) in Disaster Management, International Development, or other relevant subject.

Experience

At least five years' relevant experience of disaster management and particularly disaster response operations in multiple country contexts

Previous experience of monitoring and evaluation

Experience of programme design, project management and reporting, preferably in relation to disaster response

Practical experience in sectors that link with disaster response (i.e. relief, food security, health, WASH, logistics)

Disaster response experience in America's context

Previous experience of using International Federation planning, reporting and finance tools, preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Excellent computer skills (including presentations, database and use of statistics

Facilitation and training skills

Networking skills

Languages

Fluently spoken and written English and Spanish

Good command of another official language (French and Portuguese), preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer

Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust.

Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Empowering Others.