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.

At headquarter level, the National Societies Development and Operations Coordination Division is in turn organized in three Departments, each of them led by a Director. The department of Disasters Climate and Crisis (Prevention Response and Recovery) consists of five teams, of which Operations Coordination is a central one.

The Climate-smart livelihoods Officer will work closely with the IFRC Country Delegation and the Venezuelan Red Cross to ensure a collaborative approach to promoting climate -smart livelihoods programming in the country.

Job Purpose

Provide technical assistance on livelihoods and basic needs, with emphasis on improving community resilience and develop the climate-smart programming approach within the activities carried out by the Venezuelan Red Cross during Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery phases. A key element of this position is to support the implementation of actions in response to the floods in the states of Aragua and Anzoátegui, specifically in the Livelihoods Recovery component.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

•  Provide technical support to the IFRC country office in Venezuela and the Venezuelan Red Cross for and coordinate the implementation/adaptation of food security and livelihoods programs, with a special focus on strengthening and integrating the climate-smart programming approach.
•  Identify livelihood needs, environmental concerns and potential impacts of climate change on livelihoods in at least four priority communities.
•  Define and implement at least four climate-smart livelihood projects in the prioritized communities.
•  Generate evidence, through a case study, of the immediate results and impacts of the projects implemented in the States of Aragua and Anzoátegui.
•  Facilitate training sessions (at least one), face-to-face or remote, for SN employees or volunteers on food security, livelihoods, climate-smart programming, and cash-based interventions and how to adapt methodologies, approaches and tools, to be prioritized accordingly.
•  Support the preparation and review of DREF and emergency appeals in the livelihoods sector, ensuring quality and efficient proposals.
•  Write or participate in communications (public and media), including interviews and press reports; provide photographic and/or audiovisual material to support communications work, as appropriate.

Education

University degree in relevant area; or equivalent experience (required)

Technical training, or equivalent experience in livelihoods (required)

Experience

•  Minimum of 5 years’ experience in humanitarian response/recovery and/or community resilience programming, focused in FSL (food security & livelihoods) (required)
•  Direct experience in climate-smart or sustainable livelihoods (required)
•  Direct experience promoting the theme of environmental sustainability in the humanitarian sector (required)
•  Experience working within the RC/RC Movement (preferred)
•  Experience of the IFRC humanitarian operations system, surge, assessment process, funding tools etc (preferred)
•  Experience in strategy, tools and guidance development, and providing technical assistance (required)
•  Experience in external coordination, in establishing and maintaining networks, and in leading and administrating a coordination forum (required)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions (preferred)

Knowledge of emerging standards and best practices in green humanitarian response (environment in humanitarian action) (preferred)

Knowledge of cross-cutting environmental topics for the humanitarian sector, such as waste management, household energy, nature-based solutions etc (preferred)

Knowledge of technical aspects of disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and of key donor and partner organisations (required)

Knowledge of minimum standards for disaster response, and performance and accountability frameworks (preferred)

Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment and ability to travel at short notice (required)

Computer knowledge as a user: self-supporting in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint (required)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Languages

Fluent spoken and written in Spanish and English (preferred)