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 four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) People and Strategy, and (iv) Legal, Governance Support and Accountability.
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.
Job Purpose
The Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) Advisor supports the Syria Delegation and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in advancing the humanitarian diplomacy collective objectives in line with the IFRC HD Strategy. The role focuses on building influence, positioning the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement for access and impact, and strengthening engagement with key stakeholders across national, regional, and global levels. The advisor provides evidence-based analysis, crafts strategic messaging, and leads the development of a targeted engagement plan that reflects the Syria context and SARC’s auxiliary role. This position ensures alignment with the IFRC’s global humanitarian diplomacy priorities, fosters coordinated Movement messaging, and builds internal HD capacity through close collaboration with SARC, Movement partners, and IFRC HD teams.
The position will report directly to the IFRC Head of Delegation – Syria, with a technical reporting line to the MENA Regional Head, Humanitarian Diplomacy. The HD Advisor will coordinate closely with SARC’s HD senior advisor, movement partners and relevant IFRC staff at country and regional levels. The advisor will also closely lease with IFRC HD teams regionally and globally (including multilateral diplomacy offices).
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Stakeholder Engagement and Representation
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with relevant authorities, donors, UN agencies, INGOs and other stakeholders as needed.
- Ensure SARC and IFRC presence and messaging in interagency and sectoral coordination mechanisms to reflect the most urgent and priority needs.
- Engage embassies as agreed with Partner NS representative in country, and diplomatic missions to support Movement positioning and access.
Analysis and Contextual Intelligence
- Lead on context analysis to support evidence-based advocacy and to inform HD efforts in line with IFRC Syria unified plan (including response to emergencies) and SARC role as auxiliary to public authorities across Syria.
- Maintain regular reporting to MENA and global HD teams with key developments and risks.
- Liaise closely with the Communications and Programmes and Operations teams to identify key developments, and reactions to messaging, combat misinformation, and manage risks that could impede life-saving humanitarian aid.
Strategic Messaging and Advocacy
- Design and implement an HD engagement plan linked to SARC’s auxiliary role and IFRC Syria priorities including the Identification of interlocutors, decision-makers, opinion leaders, and influencers, relevant to the context for HD efforts.
- Develop clear, actionable key messages, issue briefs, and talking points while ensuring coordination of messaging with ICRC and Participating National Societies to maintain a unified Movement voice.
Capacity Building and Technical Support
- Collaborate with the SARC’s HD Senior Advisor to strengthen SARC’s institutional HD capacity.
- Provide on-the-job technical guidance and peer-to-peer support to the SARC HD Advisor on context analysis, message development, and stakeholder engagement.
- Co-design and facilitate tailored trainings, workshops, and scenario exercises for SARC leadership and technical departments on HD tools, positioning, and influence.
- Support the development and implementation of SARC’s HD engagement plan and related tools, ensuring alignment with Movement-wide frameworks.
- Share good practices and lessons learned from other National Societies and the wider IFRC network to inform SARC HD approaches.
- Promote structured HD coordination between SARC and Movement partners by contributing to joint planning, harmonized messaging, and coordinated external engagement.
- Support documentation of case studies and best practices in Syria for regional and global learning.
- Train IFRC staff on HD tools and approaches.
Coordination and Movement cooperation
- Support and/or establish a Humanitarian Diplomacy coordination mechanism adapted to the context in Syria in line with the movement coordination mechanism.
- Share regular HD updates with Movement partners and IFRC delegations.
- Proactively support IFRC and National Society Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communication colleagues across the globe to scale up humanitarian diplomacy efforts and ensure effectiveness with timely interventions as requested.
- Coordinate with ICRC and the membership at country level to ensure coherent coordinated messaging and outreach.
Education
- University degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (international relations, development studies, political science, law, public administration, etc.)
Experience
- 7+ years of work experience in the field of humanitarian diplomacy, advocacy, communications or in a similar role.
- Solid track record in partnerships, advocacy or humanitarian diplomacy
- At least 5-7 years of relevant work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, or another organisation working internationally, including in advocacy, partnerships or strategic planning, migration and displacement
- Minimum 5 years’ experience of working for the RC/RC or for another humanitarian organisation in complex setting and protracted crises
- Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching
- Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organisations (Preferred)
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- Proven skills in analytical and strategic thinking and strong track record in building contextual analysis development and dissemination
- Ability to harmonise interactions and activities between and among Movement members and external partners
- Ability to identify and make use of information for evidence-based decision making
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions
- Results-oriented, demand driven, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
- Ability to develop and deliver HD strategies under political sensitivity and access constraints
- Experience producing short, high-impact written materials (briefs, messages, memos)
- High degree of discretion, tact, and sensitivity in dealing with stakeholders at all levels.
- Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge, and promoting new approaches to engaging partners.
- Good understanding of context in Syria – humanitarian landscape, needs and opportunities.
- Fluent spoken and written English
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (Preferred)
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
