National Society Development Technical Lead - West & Central Africa at the British Red Cross

The British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts. Our volunteers and staff help people in crisis to live independently by providing support at home, mobility aids and transport. We also teach first aid skills. We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network. We refuse to ignore people in crisis.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Society Development Technical Lead - West & Central Africa

Location: Abuja
Contract: Fixed-term contract (24 months)
Hours: 35 per week

About the Role

• As the National Society Development (NSD) Technical Lead – West & Central Africa, you'll play a key role in shaping and advancing the British Red Cross's (BRC) work on localisation and National Society Development across the region.
• Based in Abuja, Nigeria, you'll provide technical guidance and coordination to strengthen the organisational capacity and leadership of National Societies in Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso.
• You'll champion equitable, locally led partnership models and help embed sustainable and accountable practices across all BRC collaborations in the region, working in line with the IFRC NSD Competency Framework.
• Working closely with the Africa & Overseas Branches regional team, the WCA Regional Representative, the East & Southern Africa NSD Technical Lead, the BRC Senior NSD Adviser, and the IFRC NSD Senior Officer in Abuja, you will drive BRC's agenda on National Society Development, oversee partner reassessment and review processes, and actively influence Movement-wide approaches to localisation and shifting power.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice and coaching to National Society leadership to identify and prioritise NSD opportunities where BRC can add value.
• Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of NSD Plans in close coordination with Movement partners and external technical expertise.
• Oversee BRC NSD funding contributions, ensuring sound financial management, accountability, and impact-driven reporting.
• Lead and coordinate BRC's Partner Reassessment and Annual Review processes across West & Central Africa in line with BRC's localised, equitable partnership model.
• Champion BRC's localisation agenda, actively influencing power-shifting practices across the RCM network in West & Central Africa.
• Identify and disseminate organisational learning from BRC-supported NSD initiatives to strengthen collective practice and inform global policy.

About the team:

• The West & Central Africa team sits within BRC's International Directorate, as part of the Global Partnerships & Programmes Department.
• The team coordinates bilateral and multilateral support to National Societies across the region, contributing to humanitarian response, resilience, and long-term organisational development.
• This role is based in the Abuja office and will involve regular travel across West & Central Africa, including to countries classified as high-risk, and to the UK.
• As a member of the International Directorate you will be part of a directorate responsible for BRC’s international humanitarian response and disaster management, support to resilience programmes and organisational development of our partner Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.
• The work of the International Directorate also includes humanitarian policy and advocacy activities and upholding and promoting International Humanitarian Law. British Red Cross' international work is carried out in coordination and partnership with the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement.

About the person:

• You'll bring substantial experience in organisational development, partnership management, and localisation, gained within the humanitarian or international development sectors.
• You'll be confident navigating complex, politically sensitive environments and experienced in facilitating change and capacity strengthening at both institutional and individual levels.

Requirements
To be successful, you'll have:

• Extensive experience in Organisational Development of local civil society organisations, with a demonstrable track record of supporting organisational change and impact.
• Strong programme and grant management skills, with experience overseeing complex, multi-partner portfolios.
• Proven ability to influence, convene, and collaborate across diverse stakeholders, with strong diplomacy, negotiation, and political and cultural sensitivity.
• Proven analytical skills and strategic thinking, with the ability to act as a knowledge broker across the Movement.
• Fluency in both English and French (written and spoken): this is essential.
• Demonstrated commitment to the IFRC NSD Competency Framework, including trust and relationship building, systems thinking, and fostering sustainable change
• Experience in the private sector would be an advantage.

Salary
£47,229 per annum, plus monthly allowances of £1,627.13.

Application Closing Date
12th April, 2026.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online