Senior Officer, Disaster Law and Advocacy

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. 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.

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.

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 delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Disaster Law and Advocacy Senior Officer, forms an integral part of the Asia Pacific Disaster Law team and wider Regional Health, Disasters, Climate and Crisis Unit (HDCC). The position will support effective implementation of the IFRC strategic goals related to disaster law, auxiliary role and legislative advocacy as well as contribute to overall programme design and strategy across selected Asia Pacific countries and at a sub-regional level.

IFRC Disaster Law aims to reduce vulnerability and improve humanitarian outcomes by strengthening legal and policy frameworks for disaster and crisis management. The programme supports National Societies in enhancing their auxiliary role and advocacy capacity for legal and policy change. It promotes strong disaster risk governance across all components of disaster risk management, including prevention, preparedness, anticipatory action, response, and recovery. Over the past two decades, IFRC Disaster Law has produced extensive research and guidance on domestic legal frameworks, including in areas such as climate change adaptation, gender equality, child protection, and displacement in disaster contexts.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Disaster Law Coordinator for Asia Pacific, based in Kuala Lumpur, the Disaster Law and Advocacy Senior Officer will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the Disaster Law activities in selected Asian countries in coordination with the relevant IFRC Country Cluster Delegations and/or Country Delegations and National Societies.

The position will also work with relevant IFRC teams to ensure National Societies auxiliary role is well utilized and understood, as well as promote National Societies as a partner of choice in relevant national law and policy making processes. The auxiliary role of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies refers to their officially recognized status as independent and neutral partners to public authorities in the humanitarian field. This unique role enables National Societies to support and complement government efforts in disaster response, health services, and other humanitarian activities, while maintaining their autonomy in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement.

The key areas of programming and support are summarised as below:

• Influence and support implementation of national and sectoral laws and policies that reduce human vulnerability to disasters, climate change and other emergencies and improve humanitarian assistance.
• Support National Societies to strengthen their auxiliary role and enhance their capacity to undertake legislative advocacy.
• Contribute to strengthening partnerships with sub regional organisations, academic fora and key partners on legislative advocacy and other disaster law areas.
• Support the preparation of documents and research pieces that contribute to Disaster Law program.
• Contribute to the development of Disaster Law regional action plan.

Support Programme Implementation and Coordination

• Support the design and implementation of the Disaster Law Programme activities.
• Act as focal point for key national legislative reviews ensuring agreed activities, milestones and deadlines are met.
• Liaise with project staff, consultants and National Society focal points.
• Assist in the preparation of papers, newsletter other IEC (information, education and communication) materials on disaster law and relevant legislative advocacy issues for internal and external communications.

Technical Support to National Societies and Stakeholders

• Work with the Asia Pacific Disaster Law Programme Coordinator to provide technical assistance to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Governments in the strengthening of disaster risk governance.
• Support the integration of relevant legal information and perspectives into relevant IFRC and National Societies programs.
• Support the capacity building of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in disaster law and legislative advocacy using the IFRC Disaster Law tools and templates.
• Support the National Societies and relevant CCD and CD to engage strategically and effectively in relevant national and regional policy dialogues.
• Support technical legal drafting for relevant disaster law provisions and other key sectorial areas as necessary.
• Support the preparation of global and regional research as required, including collating information on national society, government and UN agencies policies pertaining to relevant issues under research.

Stakeholder engagement and advocacy

• Support the Regional Disaster Law Coordinator in the organizational efforts to strengthening disaster laws and other key IFRC legislative advocacy issues and the dissemination of legal and policy instruments.
• Support the Regional Disaster Law Coordinator in the implementation of Disaster Law and wider IFRC advocacy strategies and engagement with relevant sub regional organisations in particular with ASEAN.

Required

• Bachelor of Laws, LL.B.

Preffered

• Advanced degree (Masters or equivalent professional certification) Law, International Relations, International Development, International Affairs, Political Science or related fields

Required

• At least 5-7 years of legal work experience in a related area
• Proven experience in advocacy and influence efforts with decision makers
• Demonstrated research, writing and/or reporting experience in English (sample to be provided)

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience in the international humanitarian and/or development sector
• Demonstrated experience in project management
• Experience with networking and communication with different stakeholders such as government, Red Cross/Red Crescent, UN, NGOs and other organisations

Required

• Sound knowledge and understanding of international and national law and policy-making processes
• Excellent professional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Strong organisational skills, methodical and logical approach to tasks and problem solving
• Consistently produces accurate and thorough work with minimal errors.
• Effectively meets deadlines and manages competing priorities under pressure.
• Proactively engages in cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve shared goals.
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred

• Highly developed communication skills and ability to analyse and process information for wide-ranging audiences
• Good knowledge of Disaster Law concepts
• Good knowledge and understanding of international humanitarian system
• Ability to coordinate multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams
• Good command of a Southeast Asian language

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

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager