Senior Officer, Nature - Based Solutions at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian network and is guided by seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, universality and unity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Officer, Nature - Based Solutions

Job Number: S03085
Location: West Africa Country Cluster, Abuja
Duration: 12 Months
Contract Type: Employee
Grade: To be determined

Job Purpose

• The Senior Officer, Nature-Based Solutions is the Abuja delegation focal point on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) within the cluster, with a focus on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).
• The Senior Officer, Nature-Based Solutions would provide support to enable the effective engagement of the cluster’s National Societies (Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo) on NbS, and promote a scale-up of this work.
• S/he will provide technical support on issues related to NbS and provide coordination and partnerships with relevant stakeholders within and outside the RC/RC Movement in the delegation.
• S/he will provide technical support to integrate nature-based solutions into disaster risk reduction approaches, support the development of tools and the translation of global policy and standards into practice at the national and local level, and contribute to the capacity building of IFRC staff and National Societies.
• S/he will work closely with various units of the Cluster Delegation, Africa Regional Office, IFRC Secretariat, relevant networks, and IFRC Reference Centres, as well as relevant partners.
• The Senior Officer, Nature-Based Solutions, will be based in Abuja, Nigeria, and support Nature-Based Solutions, Climate change, and disaster management activities in the Cluster.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Continuously map the needs and practices of the cluster’s national societies in NbS programming and Disaster Management.
• Support the scaling-up of ‘Preparedness for Effective Response’ approach and improve coordination and harmonization of DRM and Nbs capacity building approaches
• Evaluate technical and/or policy-related issues concerning nature-based solutions in countries within the cluster.
• Work closely with the regional Tree Planting and Care Coordinator for advancing the agenda of the pan-African Tree Planting and Care Initiative in all the countries supported by the Abuja Country Cluster Delegation
• Provide technical advice on how to mainstream NbS in-country operational plans and emergency appeals.
• Identify necessary tools and information needed by IFRC and National Societies related to NbS, with a focus on eco-DRR and EbA, and contribute to the improvement of existing IFRC tools/methodologies and development of new operational guidance, tools, methodologies, or other material, as needed.
• Contribute to the development of communications, key messages, and campaigns on NbS, with a focus on eco-DRR and EbA for information dissemination
• Carry out research on climate change, DRR to inform policy and guidance on NbS among stakeholders including government stakeholders
• Support capacity-building activities for Abuja cluster National Societies technical staff and volunteers in various areas of disaster risk management and nature-based solution.
• Oversee implementation of nature-based solution project activities within the cluster and support mentoring of National societies on NbS policies
• Support national societies in the development of disaster risk management and nature-based solution proposals.   
• Provide support for effective programming including proposal development, project design, project implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of project activities.
• Provide technical support to the cluster National Societies with the design, implementation, and evaluation of emergency operations (DREF and Emergency Appeals).
• Support the National Societies with the process of hazard mapping, development, and review of Contingency Plans, SOPs at national and branch levels.
• Provision of technical guidance and oversight to the National Societies in establishing preparedness systems, development of standard operating procedures for Forecast Based Financing (FbF), and establishing and managing of FbF partnerships.
• Provide financial management, monitoring, and coordination of relevant project activities, and the delivery of project outputs within the agreed time, budget, and quality standards.
• Organize project learning workshops and Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at meetings and conferences that influence partners in stakeholder consultations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued):

• Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative procedures and the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures related to project activities.
• Contribute to the overall planning, budgeting, and reporting of the team and the department.
• Broker and strengthen partnerships and maintain communication with the relevant stakeholders including donors and partners on NbS.
• Ensure effective working relationships with the DM departments of four national societies within the Abuja cluster and the regional office, and work to create synergies and links between Operations, Disaster Risk Management and nature-based solutions.
• Participate in relevant meetings with Red Cross Movement partners, Governments, donors, NGOs, and UN Agencies co-financing and implementing initiatives for nature-based solutions and disaster risk management.

Educational Qualification
Required:

• Master's Degree in Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Science, Environmental/Climate Change Policy, Ecosystem Management, International Development or any related field.

Experience:
Required:

• 5-7 years of work experience in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, and/or related work.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders across many disciplines, to achieve societal impact, institutional and policy change.
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector of ecosystem-based DRR or ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Experience in project or program management.
• Experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a humanitarian environment and awareness of humanitarian architecture.
• Experience working in a Red Cross/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages:
Required:

• Knowledge of organizational and management methodologies, and techniques for program management.
• Advanced skills in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, accounting packages, and word processing).
• Good networking, representational, communication, and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Excellent training and facilitation skills.
• Energetic and enthusiastic individual, engaging, brokering, and facilitating learning and dialogue among diverse groups.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organization.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (preferably French)

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.

Application Closing Date
12th March, 2023.