Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies, of which the SARC is a member. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven Fundamental Principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters and crises and health emergencies. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country Delegations throughout the world. In Syria, the IFRC is represented by a country Delegation in Damascus, led by a Head of Delegation, working with national and international staff, who provide support to SARC in coordination, administration, finance management, organizational and capacity development, technical expertise, donor relations and stakeholder accountability in the implementation of programmes and projects conducted with IFRC multilateral funding.

Job Purpose

The overall purpose of this position is to contribute to the strengthening and improvement of the quality, accountability, performance and impact of programmes and operations supported by IFRC in Syria. This includes working directly with SARC, providing technical assistance and guidance for PMER-related matters, and conducting reliable planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the Syria EQ Emergency Appeal, donor reporting, establishing an M&E framework and providing capacity building for SARC programmes and operations including technical advice to IFRC country teams. The role involves improving and strengthening project quality, performance, and impact, by providing technical assistance and guidance in PMER.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Planning

• Support the Head of Emergency Operations in coordinating with operations and programme teams from SARC, PNSs and IFRC to ensure that the SARC response plan and Emergency Appeal plans are updated and revised when needed including the MEAL plan.
• Support the revision of the Federation-wide Appeal and the transition to country operational plans.
• Review and provide feedback during the design of project proposals and logical frameworks to ensure logical coherence, SMART indicators, and the inclusion of means of verifications, targets and baselines.
• Initiate the process of streamlining project proposals and logical frameworks to promote seamlessness across projects.

Monitoring

• Provide technical advice to the Country Delegation and SARC staff in the regular monitoring of their projects, programmes and plans to facilitate results-based management with the aim of strengthening accountability and producing evidence-based results.
• In coordination with the MENA RO IM team, support the collection and analyses of data to improve and strengthen programme quality, performance and impact. Conduct field monitoring visits with SARC programme staff, based on the set M&E framework.
• Ensure that staff are aware of and use tools such as the MEAL plans, Gantt charts, indicator tracking tables (ITTs), baseline–endline studies, and matrixes to monitor objectives, indicators, and activities, as per IFRC guidelines; and provide the necessary technical assistance and/or training in furtherance of this objective.
• In coordination with the Regional Office, develop and disseminate key tools to monitor activities on CEA, protection, gender and social inclusion, and as well other key cross-cutting themes
• Support the SARC PPSD unit in developing innovative and accountable monitoring systems of the programmes in the earthquake response operation.

Evaluation

• In coordination with the Regional Office, serve as the Evaluation focal point for all internal and externally implemented evaluations for the Emergency Appeal, including the Real-Time Evaluation, Midterm and or Final evaluations.
• Support the use of evaluation results both within the project and in a way that contributes to IFRC learning processes at Country, Regional, and Global levels; ensure the development and usage of management response plans for IFRC Secretariat evaluations.
• Update the PMER manager in the MENA Regional Delegation regarding planned evaluations, their progress, and reports related to the Emergency Appeal

Reporting

• Facilitate the initiation and finalization of all mandatory operation updates for the Emergency Appeal and pledge-based reports (donor reports).
• Ensure narrative reporting adheres to IFRC reporting formats and different donor requirements during preparation, in coordination with the relevant financial information.
• Undertake quality control of the reports in coordination with the finance team, in the crosschecking of the narrative information so that it is in line with financial data.
• Share finalized reports with the Partnerships and Resource Department for their submission to the donors.
• Keep the Partnerships and Resource Department team and other stakeholders informed about the state of the draft reports for donors.
• Send reminders to the operation’s sector leads/ budget holders on reports due and overdue in liaison with Finance and Partnerships and Resource Department Team.
• Ensure timeliness and compliance with standard IFRC and donor reporting requirements.

Capacity building and general support:

• Provide technical assistance and guidance for assessments, planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of related programmes and operations.
• In coordination with the Regional Office, support SARC’s PPSD department in the development, use and institutionalization of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting guidelines, templates and tools.
• In coordination with the Regional Office, support and assist SARC in improving their MEAL processes, procedures and systems.
• In coordination with the Regional Office, Contribute to strengthening the development of MEAL technical capacity of SARC and IFRC staff through training, workshops and/or capacity building initiatives.

In coordination with the Regional Office, foster synergies and best practices to between the IM and MEAL units at SARC.

Additional Institutional Responsibilities

• Participate and facilitate regional working groups and trainings, as required, with special focus on PMER.

Other responsibilities delegated by her Immediate supervisor and technical manager.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the direct line manager and technical line manager

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, international development or related field, experience over education will be considered. -Required
• Further trainings related to Project Cycle Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Data management. -Required

Experience

• Strong background in report-writing and product delivery to tight deadlines. Ability to write, edit and analyse complex reports in English. The same in Arabic is preferred but not required. -Required
• Sound background of social research methodologies, including a highly developed analytical and communication skills and ability to assimilate and process information for wide-ranging audiences -Required
• Experience in implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for projects, programmes and emergencies. -Required
• Experience in the project planning and implementation and results-based project management -Required
• Experience in the implementation and facilitation of training sessions -Required
• Familiarity with financial management systems, (e.g. ability to explain variance between budgeted and actual expenditure) -Preferred
• Knowledge and commitment to Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles, and ability to model those Principles in relationships with colleagues and partners and translate them to development practice -Preferred
• Experience in working in a non-profit organization or humanitarian organization -Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• -Knowledge of log-frame-based project design, monitoring and evaluation -Required
• Analytical and communication skills and ability to assimilate and process information for wide-ranging audiences -Required
• Advanced skills in data collection, analysis, and ability to transform data into narrative and quantitative reports (Windows package; data collection, management, and analysis) -Required
  Knowledge of statistical analysis software (R, STATA, etc.) -Preferred
• Ability to work with infographics and spatial analysis systems such as global information system (GIS) -Preferred
• Skills in training, coaching and developing staff -Required
• Basic understanding of legal framework of humanitarian operations, as well as gender, protection, social or human vulnerability issues, protection, and community engagement and accountability -Required
• Inter-personal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Able to work independently and as part of a team -Required
• Exceptional organizational ability with an eye for detail -Required
• Ability to work well under pressure and a willingness to work on weekends and during holidays if required -Required

LANGUAGES

Fluently spoken and written English, including the ability to develop high-quality written reports in English – Required
Fluently spoken and written Arabic -Referred

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Focus on results and accountability
• Professional command
• Teamwork
• Effective communication
• Flexibility and adaptation
• Initiative and direction
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership