National Society Development Delegate

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.

IFRC Country Delegation in Myanmar is part of the Asia-Pacific Region and its role and mandate in Myanmar cover operational and strategic coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, national society development as support to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), including international resource mobilization, strengthening quality and accountability to donors, and ensuring effective implementation of the Unified Plan developed with the MRCS and other network members.

The MRCS’s legal basis is founded on the Myanmar Red Cross Law (2015) and its actions are aligned with its Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which is closely linked to IFRC Strategy 2030. Within its Strategic Plan 2021-2025, the MRCS prioritizes a Stronger National Society with actions in branch development and decentralization; volunteer and youth management and capacity building; resource mobilization and human resource management; and partnership frameworks. 

Job Purpose

The National Society Development Delegate (NSD delegate) will provide strategic and technical guidance to the Myanmar Red Cross Society on issues of National Society Development, with an emphasis on bringing together the diverse inputs and facilitate consultations regarding the MRCS National Society Development road map and ongoing capacity-strengthening initiatives. This NSD road map 2023-2025 reflects MRCS’s broader goals and aims, results and findings from recent initiatives (Organizational Capacity Assessment Certification- OCAC, Safer Access Framework- SAF, Preparedness for Effective Response – PER, among others) and is an integral part of MRCS One Plan. The NSD road map includes benchmarks to monitor planned outcomes and outputs.  

The IFRC NSD delegate will facilitate IFRC membership and ICRC coordination with the MRCS for the collective support to the implementation of the priority NSD actions. The NSD delegate will broker the technical resources from Movement partners to this end and to leverage increased complementary of NSD actions currently underway. These actions are aligned with the National Society Development Framework and the National Society Development Compact.

The NSD delegate will also provide direct technical support on NSD functions: fostering branch development and decentralization; enhancing people management, including volunteers and youth engagement; support financial sustainability, including resource mobilization at all levels of the National Society; systems management, including supporting PMER processes and digitalization.  The NSD delegate will also contribute to IFRC membership services and Movement coordination. The NSD delegate will continue to support the MRCS with regard to grants under the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) and Capacity-Building Funds.

The MRCS and the IFRC country delegation will confer regarding the most suitable placement of this this position to ensure the support to the National Society for the transversality of National Society Development. The placement of this role will be aligned with actions that ensure MRCS ownership and accountability of its own National Society Development.

This position is based in Yangon, Myanmar with domestic travel, as permitted. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Enhance MRCS National Society Development actions through technical support and competence development in strategic thinking and implementation strategy development.
• Ensure integration of new findings from assessments or lessons learnt (etc.) into the MRCS NSD roadmap and One Plan, revising and updating the key actions as needed.
• Assist the MRCS in the implementation of the NSD road map, which contains a multi-year integrated NSD Plan supported by bilateral and multilateral Movement partners and external partners.
• Support the MRCS with the development of appropriate structures and systems, procedures, and recruitment, retention and development of staff and volunteers.
• Support the MRCS with the development of its Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
• Contribute to operationalizing the Agenda for Renewal (Way of Working) as related to NSD particularly the creation of MRCS’ multi-year plan.
• Broker the available competencies, technical resources and support from IFRC members and the ICRC to best contribute to the MRCS NSD road map.
• Maintain good working relationships and ensure timely multi-directional and fluid communication with Movement partners supporting National Society Development initiatives in MRCS, as well with MRCS directors and heads of departments as regards NSD components of their work.
• Support the MRCS in planning, coordination and linking resources for further development within the area of foundation and legal base such as its auxiliary role.
• Assist the MRCS governance and management bodies to review its organizational structure, systems and processes in relation to NSD, which also includes support for the MRCS to identify and better organize its core human resources.
• Propel and facilitate the use of IFRC NSD policies, procedures and tools, as relevant.
• Advise the IFRC and its network members on the integration of NSD components in emergency operations or programme planning and other capacity strengthening initiatives such as Preparedness for Effective Response (PER); contribute to localisation initiatives in the humanitarian sector in Myanmar.
• Contribute to technical working groups/ spaces on specific areas of support (branch development, volunteering, staff and volunteer capacity development, financial sustainability, PMER, among others).
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchanges with other National Societies on similar NSD initiatives and support the dissemination of regional NSD approaches and tools.
• Serve as a focal person for all NSD-related issues and activities at the regional level, including coordination with relevant units in the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Delegation.
• Connect MRCS with different networks, working groups and communities of practice in Southeast Asia, regionally and beyond; support the IFRC Head of Delegation as needed regarding MRCS’ participation in statutory and regional meetings.

Education

• University degree in social sciences, management, international development or other relevant areas of study in organizational development is required.
• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in Social sciences, Management, International development or other relevant areas of study in organizational development is preferred.

Experience

• 5 years of work experience in humanitarian or development sector is required.
• 5 years of experience in the Red Cross Red Crescent is preferred.
• 5 years of experience in members- / volunteer-based organizations is required.
• 5 years of experience in managing/supporting organizational development processes is required
• 3 years of senior management experience in a non-profit organization is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Demonstrated expertise in the IFRC-network concept of National Society Development and/or in localization is required.
• Expert in organizational renewal and organizational and capacity development in complex organizations is required.
• Proficient in strategy, policy and framework development is required.
• Proficient in change management and implementation strategy development is required.
• Advanced innovative thinking and analytical ability is required.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment is required.
• Proficient in developing and coordinating networks and coalitions to accomplish goals is required.
• Proficient in gaining agreement from partners to support ideas is required.

• Proficient in English (reading, writing and speaking) is required.

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.