Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” 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 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.
IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
Context and Rationale
The climate crisis is a priority global challenge for the IFRC, as outlined in its Strategy 2030 (S2030) and Plan and Budget 2021-2025*.* Addressing the climate and environmental crises is the first Strategic Priority of IFRC’s S2030, which stresses the urgency to massively scale-up climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in view of increasing disasters and climate-related impacts on vulnerable people and the need to ‘integrate climate risk management across all of our programmes, operations and advocacy’.
In the face of the climate crisis, IFRC launched in 2022 the Global Climate Resilience Platform (GCRP), a multi-year initiative to significantly improve and expand the community-based climate action work of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (National Societies) around the world. It aims to generate one billion Swiss francs in global funding by 2027, which will be channelled into locally led climate action and adaptation efforts.
Targets of the GCRP include supporting 500 million people in increasing their resilience to climate change and enhancing their adaptive capacities in the most climate vulnerable countries by 2027, as well as supporting at least 100 National Societies in developing, testing and implementing climate resilient strategies, plans and programmes – ensuring resources, knowledge, and skills are available to “last mile” communities. The GCRP portfolio aims to help people adapt their lives and livelihoods to a changing climate, protect themselves from the increasing risks of disasters caused by climate change, and become more aware of, and resilient to, current and future climate shocks.
The portfolio brings together the expertise, experience and reach of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies already working in DRR and climate change adaptation, both nationally and internationally, as well as IFRC reference centres and hubs.
The ECHO Pilot Programmatic Partnership (PPP)
With support from European Commission’ Directorate-General For European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), IFRC is in the last year of implementing a 3.5-year Pilot Programmatic Partnership (2021-2024) titled “Accelerating local action in humanitarian and health crises” (ECHO PPP). The ECHO PPP is implemented in close partnership with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from the EU and target countries, to provide effective and adapted local response to communities in need while increasing the reach, quality and impact of IFRC’s unique network of local actors. The action focuses on disaster risk management and epidemic/pandemic preparedness and response, as well as humanitarian assistance and protection to people on the move.
Climate-smart programming is one of the key global cross-cutting issues under the global component and key drivers for success within the ECHO PPP. The focus of National Societies and their partners has been on climate-smart livelihoods (CSL), primarily agricultural livelihoods. The implementation of this component by the Movement Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre (RCRC CC) and the IFRC Livelihoods Resource Centre (LRC) has involved the development and rolling out of a Guide to Climate Smart Programmes and Humanitarian Operations, global awareness-raising webinars, and training modules and workshops in the Americas and Africa. The LRC is currently mapping the CSL experience and best practices of National Societies involved in the ECHO PPP as well as carrying out a light analysis of the national CSL policy environment and stakeholders.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy assignment is to produce an end-of-programme case study publication that showcases the work and results of the climate-smart livelihoods programming component of the ECHO PPP as well as the unique role of National Societies in addressing climate related humanitarian challenges impacting on the livelihoods of last-mile communities and marginalised and under-represented groups. The specific objectives of the consultancy are the following:
- To document lessons learned and success stories from the CSL component of the project
- To develop high-quality case studies showcasing CSL programming impacts and outcomes
- To produce a publication that captures key CSL programming achievements and best practices
The publication will provide valuable insights for the IFRC network stakeholders and future initiatives on climate-smart programmes and operations.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The assignment will build on the ongoing mapping and analyses carried out by the IFRC LRC. The work of the consultant will involve the following activities that are expected to be carried out remotely and through one or two country visits to develop the case study and stories:
- Review ECHO PPP documentation from the IFRC Secretariat and partners.
- Develop data collection tools, including interview guides and questionnaires.
- Conduct remote interviews and a field visit to one country to collect insights and qualitative data.
- Write 2 to 3 case studies and stories from communities, National Society branch office and volunteers.
- Analyse data and insights and synthesise findings into a cohesive and succinct publication.
Deliverables
The consultant will produce the following:
- Workplan
- Data collection tools in relevant languages
- Draft publication with case studies and stories and incorporating visual elements such as photos and infographics for review and feedback
- Final publication (print-ready and electronic versions)
Timeframe
The consultancy is expected to last approximately 40 to 50 days, from November 2024 to February 2025.
Publication audience
DG ECHO, other resource partners, and the IFRC network’s leadership.
Management and coordination
The consultant will be managed by the IFRC ECHO PPP Climate-Smart Livelihoods Senior Officer, with oversight from the Food Security and Resilient Livelihoods Senior Officer and the Climate and Resilience Team within the Disasters, Climate, and Crises (DCC) Department. Close collaboration and coordination will be required with Partner and Host National Societies and IFRC livelihood and climate focal points in the regions covered.
In-country logistics and community entry will be managed by the National Society.
Job Requirements
Education
Required
- University degree in social sciences, the humanitarian field or other domains relevant to the assignment.
Experience
Required
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in consulting, research, evaluation, or reporting roles in humanitarian and development contexts.
- Previous experience delivering similar high-quality publications within budget.
Preferred
- Experience with Red Cross Red Crescent-National Societies is an advantage.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
- Fluent spoken and written English and proficiency in spoken and written French.
- Good knowledge of climate action and livelihoods concepts, terminology, and programming.
- Solid understanding of best practices in intervention design, implementation, and evaluation.
- Effective communications and interviewing skills to coordinate and elicit key information from programme participants and stakeholders.
- Excellent writing skills – capable of producing clear, concise, and compelling narratives and case studies.
- Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
- Ability to work and coordinate with various stakeholders.
- Proactive, self-starter that can work with minimal oversight.
Preferred
- Proficiency in Spanish is an advantage.
How to apply
- Please submit your application via IFRC website in English only.
- Please submit your motivation letter, including
- your availability,
- your experience relevant to the key tasks above and candidate profile required,
- a budget inclusive of all costs (including fees, health insurance, travel, visa, accommodation, materials, etc.)
- Please submit your updated CV.
- Please submit similar publication work samples.