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 (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

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 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.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

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 MENA regional office based in Beirut; Lebanon supports 17 national societies in the region. The MENA Health, Disasters, Climate & Crises (HDCC) unit within the MENA regional office and works with one regional plan as well as provides technical support & quality assurance to country cluster delegations and country delegations. The Health, Disaster, Climate and Crises Unit (HDCC Unit) in the MENA Regional Office brings an integrated and complimentary approach to its thematic areas of responsibility including WASH as part of the health thematic team. The principal objective of the HDCC Unit being to support MENA National Societies and other Movement partners in all aspects of disaster preparedness and response; technical and programming support; capacity building; resilience building; localization and coordination of collective efforts in both short term and longer-term interventions and initiatives. All operations and programming should reflect the objectives of the IFRC Secretariat contextualized to the MENA context with embedded cross cutting elements in climate change, Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI); relationship building and advocacy with external partners and stakeholders.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the regional WASH coordinator, the H2O PEACE Programme Manager will lead and support on planning, implementation, reporting and compliance of the KOICA funded Programme “Addressing water-induced community-level conflicts, and strengthening water systems, community adaptation and resilience building” in alignment with the ongoing IFRC progressive plans in the field of Water safety and security. The Programme Manager will be based in Amman, Jordan but overseeing the implementation of Programme activities in multi-countries, Jordan, Yemen and Iran. The Programme Manager will support National societies in the 3 identified countries to ensure efficient, effective, coordinated and timely implementation. This includes support and supervision of IFRC local staff, close collaboration and coordination with NSs focal points, external and Movement partners, and networking at the programmatic level within the wider group of stakeholders, other Programmes and initiatives to establish linkages and synergies.

The Programme Manager will take a lead role in ensuring Programme ongoing activities, address the most urgent needs and challenges as necessary, and oversee annual and medium-term planning, reporting and monitoring of activities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provide technical support to national societies and IFRC country delegations on Programme implementation.

Integrated Water resources and management and system governance

• Support conducting comprehensive assessments of water resources in target areas to identify current and potential sources of conflict.
• Provide technical support to analyse water-sector data and water utilization and consumption patterns to understand the root causes of water scarcity and related conflicts.
• Design and implement integrated water resource management (IWRM) plans that promote equitable water distribution and sustainable utilization.
• Develop and apply technical solutions to improve water efficiency and reduce competition over dwindling water resources.
• Strengthen sector governance and institutional accountability of service provider.
• Develop, implement and integrate early warning systems and tools to detect signs of emerging water conflicts.

Conflict assessment and analysis including identification of risks, causes and triggers:

• Map conflict-prone areas and identify key stakeholders involved in water disputes highlighting the institutional accountability.
• Ability to differentiate between vertical and horizontal conflicts in conflict-prone water systems and apply the knowledge in managing project activities.
• Analyse stakeholders, conflict dynamics and peacebuilding capacities to promote social cohesion and thus community engagement.
• Develop conflict analysis reports to inform intervention strategies and prioritize areas for action.
• Establish protocols for rapid response and mediation to prevent escalation of water-related disputes utilizing water conflict early warning systems and institutional accountability.

Water systems Infrastructure Development and Rehabilitation for mainstreaming peacebuilding and promoting community engagement:

• Oversee the development, rehabilitation, and maintenance of water infrastructure, such as wells, pipelines, water reservoirs, water treatment systems, etc.
• Ensure that water infrastructural projects are designed to mitigate conflict risks and support long-term water security thus leading towards conflict resolution and risks mitigation/adaptation.
• Ensure engagement with targeted community throughout projects identification and implementation phases.

Community Engagement, Capacity Building and social cohesion:

• Facilitate community-based water management committees to foster local ownership and conflict resolution mechanisms or other possible water management practices specific per context, i.e., through existing service providers/water utilities.
• Oversee and technically support training sessions conducted on sustainable water practices and conflict resolution for local communities and stakeholders lead by national societies.
• Ensure availability and/or promote grievance and feedback mechanisms to channel complaints and resolve by service provider (community or water utility) within reasonable response time.

Oversee the Programme management, quality assurance, and data management tasks.

• Provide and coordinate information for accurate, regular and timely narrative and financial reports.
• Ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of Programme activities through developing monitoring tools and dashboards for proper data representation and close monitoring of activities implementation.
• Develop and disseminate research and case studies and draft Programme related outputs and messages to a broader audience, including for social media and external stakeholders.
• Interpret Programme data to craft a compelling new narrative that highlights the Programme’s significance and impact.
• Identify the relevant regional and global conferences, meetings, workshops, and events where we can profile the work of NSs and share the experiences in this field.
• Share up to date information, guidelines, and relevant resources with NSs teams that could enhance their work efficiency and quality.
• Nurture innovations and new approaches throughout the implementation of Programme activities, innovative methods can be fostered throughout the whole Programme cycles navigating through capacity building methodologies, dissemination of information, implementation of Programme activities and overall leadership style.
• Ensure the integration of best practices and innovative approaches to water management and conflict resolution.
• Ensure all NSs expenditures and financial procedures are fully adherent to IFRC and Programme related eligible criteria and standard procedures and the financial reports are submitted in quality and timely manner.
• Be available and when required backstop and deploy to conduct field visits to targeted countries to ensure implementation of Programme activities are aligned and consolidated with the overall Programme objectives.

Lead the effort of coordination and collaboration with pertinent stakeholders and subject matter actors

• Play an active role in coordinating the NSs work with local authorities, local communities, and other national stakeholders.
• Coordinating all activities within the three implementing countries, ensuring seamless Programme management and timely execution Coordinate with active partners who share interest in the same topic and try to synch all efforts to enhance collaboration and better resources utilization.
• Ensure effective and efficient liaison between the National societies, IFRC Delegations & Regional offices, KOICA Offices and HQ, and relevant counterparts. Liaise with potential partners with flagships at Water Diplomacy, water conflict resolution and peace building initiatives to ensure alignment of activities and collaborative support.
• Work closely with Disaster Risk Management and climate and resilience teams to develop a good understanding of the water related security risks reflecting on mitigation measures or adaptations capacities in response to identified risks.
• Collaborate at IFRC regional and global offices to ensure all Programme s implementation tasks are following the best practices of the RCM. Represent the IFRC at regional and global forums and in front of potential donors and partners to speak about the Programme progress and added value to targeted communities.
• Provide day to day management of all staff reporting to the position whether in-country or working remotely.
• Assume responsibility of the financial aspects of the programmes, ensure appropriate control on income and expenditures versus plans, and guarantee sound planning and financial management.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and donors’ agreements to minimize risk of harm to the IFRC and its Secretariat personnel, properties and resources.
• Contribute to upholding the Secretariat’s policies, procedures and management system within the Country Delegations and support their improvement and review as necessary.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively 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.

Education

• Degree and/or post graduate qualification in Integrated water resources management, Water, sanitation and hygiene, public health engineering, water diplomacy, Engineering, social studies, Disaster risk management – Required.
• Technical training or work experience in Water diplomacy, water in conflicted areas, transboundary water, water for peace, etc – Required.

Experience

• 5-8 years’ relevant experience in disaster risk management programming and complex humanitarian operations in similar to the requirements of the position – Required.
• Good understanding of the common global humanitarian environment and the MENA region context – Required.
• Red Cross Red Crescent knowledge and experience – Preferred.
• Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT training or equivalent knowledge – Preferred.
• Experience in Program management, strategy development, developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance and in establishing and maintaining networks – Required.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Able to represent the organisation at international level; advocacy, representation and negotiation skills – Required.
• Strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into action – Required.
• Team leadership and team building skills – Required.
• Experience in Multi-country program implementation – Required.
• Experience in managing and coaching people including distance management – Required.
• Ability to work in a cross cultural and cross functional environment – Required.
• Drive for change and ability to deliver strategies in challenging environments – Required.
• Computer knowledge as a user self-supporting in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint – Required.
• Fluent spoken and written English – Required.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) – Preferred.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• 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

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities.