Crisis Response Officer

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

In February 2022, a new phase in the armed conflict in Ukraine started. The intensification and spread of hostilities have affected all of Ukraine, causing massive humanitarian needs across all sectors and destroying essential civilian infrastructure. Millions of people are displaced in Ukraine, more than 7 million people have fled to other countries. IFRC and DRC have launched a major Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and Impacted Countries that is coordinated on European regional level – with numerous country level operations ongoing. ICRC, IFRC, DRC and numerous Partner National Societies are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response in Ukraine and impacted countries. The operational structure will be fully integrated into existing structures at Country / Country Cluster and Regional Office level to ensure full synergies with the overall regional work.

This position is based in the current location of the DRC Ukraine country delegation in Kropyvnytskyi or one of the DRC offices in Ukraine.  The Officer integrates into the Operations team of the country delegation and will work with the Ukraine country team to effectively delivery humanitarian operations supported by DRC.

Job Purpose

The overall purpose of the position is to support the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS)  in strengthening National Committee and Branches’ capacities and to support the URCS to develop and implement Preparedness, Response and Resilience Programmes.

The Officer will support DRC and URCS with the implementation of projects, including monitoring and evaluation, timely reporting, and review. The officer will work closely with DRC response coordinater and URCS relief coordinators/officers to enhance efficiency and quality of programming in accordance with the URCS One plan and DRC country strategy. The officer will liaise and work in close coordination with the DRC operations team and URCS National Committee and branches.

In addition, the officer will support coordination and ad-hoc emergency operations (if any) and project formulations in Ukraine.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Needs Assessment: Support and collaborate with Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) branches and National Committee (NC) for conducting needs assessments and providing situation updates.
• Program Monitoring: Carry out monitoring field visits to operation sites with URCS counterparts. Provide structured feedback to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and impact.
• Coordination and Synergy: Facilitate coordination among URCS branches and operations team and ensure synergy with other DRC-funded projects in Ukraine by sharing experiences, tools, methodologies, approaches, and lessons learned.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Foster collaborative working relationships with URCS, local community, state agencies other stakeholders.
• Learning and Development: Assist URCS in capturing learning from the projects to adjust and harmonize their various related components, processes, and structures at NC and branch levels.
• Participate in meetings, seminars, workshops and other relevant events as requested by the Head of Operations/Operations Delegate
• Actively contribute to the risk management plan and mitigations that identify the major financial and operational risks and develop and implement mitigation strategies
• Any other tasks specific to this position to be identified and agreed upon by the job holder and line-manager

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Duties applicable to all staff

- Actively work towards the achievement of the DRC’s goals 

- Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles

- Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

- Diploma

Preferred:

- Successfully completed the Stay Safe e-learning courses (basic)

Experience

Required:

- 1 years experience in a similar role preferably with an INGO/NGO/UN/Government Institutions

- Experience in humanitarian response work

Preferred:

- Experience working with a RC/RC Movement or another organisation with similar field of operations.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

- Sharing the RC/RC principles and values

- Good communication skills

- Strong analytical skills in political, socioeconomics and security areas

- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

- Good stress management skills

- Self supporting in computers [Windows, Microsoft Office, database, e-mail (Outlook) etc.]

- Fluently spoken and written English and Ukrainian

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