Partnerships & Resource Development Senior Officer (Readvertised)

Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. It is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent 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 Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The MENA Region is organized through cluster offices covering the National Societies in North Africa, and the Gulf Region, as well as country offices in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

The situation in Syria remains the largest population displacement in decades. Results from inter-agency assessments estimate that more than 1.7 million Syrians were displaced from their homes or place of residence over the course of 2017, which means some 6,200 newly displaced persons every day. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2018, some 13.1 million children, women and men require humanitarian assistance, 5.6 million of which are in acute need of support due to the consequences of the protracted crisis.

With an unparalleled presence in Syria through its network of 14 branches and 64 sub-branches, SARC is the main humanitarian actor in Syria, working closely with local communities providing humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people, affected host communities and returnees every month.

The IFRC ‘Syria: Complex Emergency’ appeal was launched in 2012 and has consistently reached more than 1 million people each year through the provision of emergency relief, health services and livelihoods, as well as supporting SARC core structural needs, capacity building initiatives and institutional processes.

Based in Beirut with periodic visits to Syria, the incumbent will be part of the IFRC Syria team, while maintaining close connection with the MENA Partnerships & Resource Development team.

Job purpose

Working closely with the Head of Country Office the Senior Officer Partnerships and Resource Development (PRD), Syria will ensure resources are available to support Syrian Arab Red Crescent as outlined in the Emergency Appeal for Syria (MDRSY003 Syria: Complex emergency); will support research and development efforts including identification and cultivation of funding opportunities, building new partnerships, and contribute to the effective maintenance of strong and growing relations with existing donors, including through research and analysis, efficient reporting, pledge management, and relevant and timely information sharing.

Job duties and responsibilities

Partnerships and Relations Management

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships across different income streams, including the following:

Partner National Societies – with a Federation-wide approach, including multilateral and bilateral partners, and including those within the region.

Government partnerships – in cooperation with respective partner National Societies; European Union including DG ECHO other EU institutions; private sector partnerships including global corporate partnerships and foundations in the region.

Establish and maintain strong relations with key donors which include analysing key trends in individual donor policies and priorities and support the match between IFRC Syria priorities and donor priorities.

Represent the Head of Country Office when delegated to do so in donors’ meetings and other relevant meetings with partners in Beirut.

Pledge and data management

Ensure the management of all information/data related to partnerships/funding in Syria is kept fully up to date in accordance with MENA PRD practise.

Ensure that all pledges are properly and timely registered and the same shared with the partners, pledge managers and relevant colleagues.

Ensure that relevant updates in the Apple system are included, and pledges and grants reflecting agreed criteria are shared with donors and understood by relevant budget holders.

Ensure that budget holders and Finance team are aware and receive information on MoUs and donor requirements in due course.

In close cooperation with budget holders ensure that renegotiation of pledge requirements takes place on time as and when required.

Ensure timely follow up on the pledge payment arrangements and follow up on any overdue pledge payments.

Ensure that all prospect funding and hard pledges are duly registered on CRM.

Support country office for amendments of grants and grants related contracts.

Resource Mobilisation

Resource mobilisation for the IFRC Syria Complex Emergency Appeal, including:

Draft concept notes as needed to secure and cultivate opportunities with donors; work closely with technical and office leads to develop full proposals.

Pledge management: ensure efficient processing of all pledges for the Appeal according to established guidelines/procedures.

Grants management: working in cooperation with the MENA PRD team to ensure that all grants received through the IFRC secretariat for Syria are well managed.

Donor reporting: working with PMER and Finance to ensure that all donor reports are prepared to quality standards, compliance and agreed donor conditions.

Risk management: working closely with Finance to follow up on the grant implementation, identify risks and mitigation actions, and resolve any procedural or financial issues regarding grants.

Capacity Building

Provide advice and guidance as required to Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) officers to support SARC resource mobilisation and management efforts.

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

- University degree in relevant discipline (international relations, humanitarian affairs, business administration, economics, finance) - Required 

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

Experience

- At least 5 years working experience out of which 3 years relevant experience in managing relations with donors and partners - Required 

- Experience of development and implementation of funding plans - Required 

- Experience managing or using donor-related data to develop a fundraising strategy - Required 

- Experience advocating/asking for funds for humanitarian and development programs - Required 

- Experience of developing funding proposals for international donors, monitoring and reporting - Required 

- 3 years relevant experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and knowledge of IFRC systems and processes in pledge management, planning, project proposals development, reporting systems and financial management - Preferred

Knowledge and Skills

- Knowledge of and skills in tracking open calls for proposals from key donor institutions - Required 

- Expertise in proposal writing - Required 

- Highly organised, with ability to work as a strong team player - Required 

- Excellent communications skills - Required 

- Excellent networking and relationship building skills - Required 

- Strong budgeting and finance management skills - Preferred

- Demonstrated skills in analytical and strategic thinking - Required 

Languages

- Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic - Required 

- Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Arabic) - Preferred

Competencies

• Meticulous attention to details; Accountability, Integrity, Professionalism
• Communication
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Judgement and decision-making
• National Society and customer relations
• Creativity and innovation
• Building trust