National Society Development Delegate

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-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.

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.

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.

As one of the five decentralized Regional Offices, the Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia covers 53 National Societies (NS), including the eight (8) NSs assigned to the Country Cluster Delegation to Central & South-Eastern Europe (CSEE). The position of NSD Delegate is based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a part of the CSEE Delegation, thus overseeing IFRC support to the 8 NSs in Albania, BiH, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. The position will provide specific engagement with the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to the complex administrative structure of the country that is mirrored in the internal structure of the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCSBiH).

Job purpose

The NSD Delegate serves as an advisor to the National Societies in Central & South-Eastern Europe with the specific aim to strengthen their institutional capacities so that they can fulfil their humanitarian mandate. This entails the provision of concrete technical support on organizational development steps, tailored to each NS’s specific needs and context and in line with IFRC’s global policies and standards. Moreover, the efforts ensure closer linkages between NS development and programming support, working closely with other regional coordinators and delegates of IFRC as well as Movement partners, in the pursuit of specific and practical organizational development steps.

The incumbent will support National Societies in strengthening their organizational capacities, risk management capabilities, image, local presence, domestically mobilized resources, and human resources in order to deliver nationwide services as auxiliary to public authorities; and in adherence with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical support: General to all NSs in the CSEE Cluster

• Support National Society (NS) strategic planning in line with the IFRC strategy for 2030 ensuring that NS organizational design including service expansion/scale-up is based on an analysis of NS institutional strengths and areas for improvement as well as needs of vulnerable communities.
• Provide technical support on organizational development issues, directly or indirectly, to NSs for assessment of needs through IFRC tools such as the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) and the Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA).
• Facilitate leadership development across the region and provide specific and contextual advice to the Secretary General on their Movement rights and obligations.
• Support NS in processes relating to the creation (or improvement) of resource mobilization strategies and plans aimed at financial independence and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and support initiatives in NS development to promote learning and knowledge sharing between National Societies in the Cluster.
• Promote NS capacity development through programming support, especially within Health and Care, Disaster Risk Reduction, Emergency Response, and Disaster Law. This includes support to IFRC project managers to ensure closer linkages between programming support and organizational development.

Support to Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Undertake and facilitate assessments of the National Society’s organizational strengths and weaknesses and assist the RCSBiH leadership to review the roles and responsibilities based on the priority needs of the National Society.
• In cooperation with the RCSBiH and Movement partners, support further the Working Group for Realization of the Development Plan as a forum for strengthened cooperation around organizational development issues and efficient use of available resources in areas where Movement partners are involved e.g. branch, volunteering, among others.
• Support the NS in the development of a plan for governance, management, and leadership development based on the assessment (OCAC and BOCA) outcomes as well as support in linking and coordinating Movement technical resources and Movement partners’ support.
• Support National Society leadership on setting up mechanisms, guidelines, and tools to enhance communication and coordination within the RCSBiH internal structure.
• Assist and advise the management of RCSBiH in developing appropriate structures and systems to implement the strategic plan, including internal procedures, full participation of the branches, as well as the recruitment, training and management of staff and volunteers.
• Support the NS to develop programme approaches that strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity, and performance; analyse and understand their current strengths and weaknesses; and facilitate the provision of necessary technical advisory and material support.

Tailored to each individual NS:

Volunteering development

• Advise on minimum requirements for volunteering management in each of the 8 NS in the CSEE Cluster, identifying their respective strengths and limitations, key gaps, and opportunities for improvement and expansion.
• Identify examples of good practices and develop case studies around them to be used for inspiring and facilitating knowledge-and-practice exchanges.
• Identify and agree on feasible and practical action plans with each NS to boost their volunteering development and deployment in their national contexts. This will include, as a priority, expanding volunteering opportunities for tackling COVID-19.
• Using IFRC policies, standards, mechanisms, and guidance on volunteering; interpret and adapt them to the specific circumstances and needs of the NSs in the Cluster.
• Facilitate and support appropriate coaching and training online sessions for volunteer supervisors and managers from NS, as well as the development of leadership skills among volunteers.
• Develop and promote innovative approaches to foster growth in RC volunteering in the region, using social media, youth camps, and other forms of outreach, competitions, etc.
• In co-operation with PMER ROE, develop and track the metrics by which volunteering progress may be assessed and sustained.

Legal base and legislative advocacy

• Assist National Societies in revising their Statutes in line with the standards of the “Guidance document” before end of 2024, as per NS responsibility to apply decisions adopted by the General Assembly and by the Governing Board of the IFRC and to act in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Council of Delegates and the International Conference.
• Provide direction and guidance to National Societies and support legislative advocacy initiatives in the region, including the development and implementation of legislative advocacy strategies.
• Conduct appropriate coaching and training on legislative advocacy and positioning of NS towards their public authorities.
• Initiate needed and prioritised research with academia and other relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the National Societies knowledge-sharing through documentation and dissemination of good practices and facilitating peer support and learning.

Project management and resource mobilization for National Society Development

• Ensure that planning, budgeting, and reporting within NSD initiatives are carried out in a timely and appropriate manner following the IFRC requirements, formats, and standards.
• Facilitate resource mobilization for organizational development and related areas.
• Ensure coherence and complementarity of support by all components of the Movement and alignment of all Movement NSD support and promote coordination at country and cluster levels to optimize resources and impact.

Education

Required:

• University degree in a Development related discipline, Social Sciences and/or Management; advanced degree preferred
• Basic Delegates Training Course or equivalent knowledge
• Background in non-profit management and consulting

Experience

Required:

• Proven experience of at least 5 years in managing/supporting organizational and capacity development processes in complex organizations
• Previous experience of at least 3 years in consulting and facilitating organizational development in a National Society or similar voluntary organization
• Proven experience in management at senior level including financial, personnel and programme management
• Experience in local capacity building, volunteer management, and/or community development in cross-cultural and diversity-sensitive environments

Preferred:

• Experience of progressive career development and growth, working in the RC/RC Movement
• Working knowledge of IFRC’s Organizational Development and Volunteering Development policies and tools including the NSD Framework, National Society Strategic Planning, and National Society Self-Assessment

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Required:

• Proven analytical skills and strategic thinking
• Strongly founded in the IFRC concept of National Society development and dynamics
• Expertise in change management and implementation as well as strategy development
• Knowledge of fundraising and resource mobilization strategies
• Sound knowledge of financial management and project design, budget, monitoring, evaluation and reporting
• Proven ability and track record working with and inter-relating to the leadership of the National Societies and supported organizations
• Able to work with due sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment and virtual or/and dispersed teams
• Skills in coaching, mentoring, and training
• Excellent negotiation, consulting, and management skills
• Teamwork and trust-building for inclusive National Society relations
• Focused on quality and standards, results, and accountability
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
• Good command of Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian language

Competencies and Values

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.