The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is globally recognized as the world’s largest humanitarian organization. With a network comprising 192 National Societies, the IFRC plays a vital role in alleviating human suffering and promoting dignity and peace before, during, and after emergencies. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating through five regional offices including the Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya, the IFRC’s mission is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
As part of its broader strategic framework to build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities, the IFRC Africa Region has established a transformative initiative: the Women as Humanitarian Leaders Initiative. This bold and forward-thinking effort aims to empower women across African National Societies and within the IFRC Secretariat by promoting female leadership, expanding mentorship networks, and enhancing access to professional development opportunities.
To support the successful implementation of this initiative, IFRC is seeking a passionate and highly capable individual to join its team in Nairobi, Kenya, as Officer, Women as Humanitarian Leaders. This full-time, national staff position offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to gender equity and humanitarian leadership advancement in Africa.
Position Details
- Position Title: Officer, Women as Humanitarian Leaders
- Vacancy Number: S15038
- Category of Contract: National
- Type of Position: National Staff
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
- Duration: 12 months
- Application Deadline: 04 August 2025
- Job Posted On: 20 July 2025
Organizational Context
The Officer, Women as Humanitarian Leaders, will operate under the overall supervision of the Head of Corporate Services at the IFRC Africa Regional Office. Functionally, the position reports to the Chair of the Women as Humanitarian Leaders in Africa Steering Committee and receives technical guidance from the Regional Lead for Protection, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI). The officer will play a critical role in facilitating the design, coordination, and implementation of gender-inclusive leadership programs that aim to increase the representation and influence of African women in humanitarian governance and operational management.
As a bilingual (English/French) role, the position requires effective communication across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts in the region and entails collaboration with National Societies, internal IFRC teams, and external partners.
Detailed Job Description
1. Coordination and Secretariat Support
The Officer will be the linchpin for all coordination and support activities of the Women in Leadership Initiative. Key responsibilities include:
- Providing comprehensive secretariat support to the Women in Leadership Africa Steering Committee and its working groups.
- Managing and updating an online collaboration platform that houses essential documents, tools, and resources to support women’s leadership efforts.
- Coordinating and facilitating virtual learning events, including leadership webinars, technical skills sessions, and regional networking meetings tailored for women in leadership roles.
- Engaging with external organizations to develop and sustain effective mentoring and coaching partnerships that align with IFRC’s leadership development goals.
- Drafting concept notes, official reports, policy recommendations, and proposals that advocate for increased gender inclusion and leadership equity across the IFRC network in Africa.
- Supporting the development and implementation of Humanitarian Leadership Operations for the Corporate Services division.
2. Capacity Building and Mentorship
A core pillar of the initiative is capacity building, where the Officer will lead and oversee the following activities:
- Planning and organizing bi-annual leadership development workshops targeting women staff and volunteers across IFRC Africa and National Societies.
- Supporting the nomination, selection, and enrollment of women into skill development and certification programmes that promote excellence in leadership, strategic thinking, and program delivery.
- Facilitating and maintaining mentorship and coaching programs by linking emerging female leaders with experienced professionals who can offer career guidance and professional growth insights.
- Identifying and addressing gaps in leadership development resources and advocating for program adaptations to meet the unique needs of women in humanitarian contexts.
3. Networking and Advocacy
This role will be instrumental in building robust regional and global connections for women in humanitarian roles. Responsibilities in this area include:
- Promoting active engagement in the GlowRed Network and other international forums that support women’s leadership.
- Facilitating access to platforms where African women leaders can collaborate, share experiences, and engage in cross-national knowledge exchange.
- Leading advocacy efforts to improve gender representation in governance, management, and policy-level decision-making within the IFRC and affiliated National Societies.
- Working closely with communication teams to showcase success stories, leadership milestones, and best practices related to women’s advancement.
4. Monitoring and Reporting
To ensure accountability and measure the impact of the initiative, the Officer will handle the following tasks:
- Monitoring and tracking women’s participation in various leadership programs and organizational structures and producing regular progress reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Conducting surveys and assessments to evaluate participant feedback, capture lessons learned, and inform program improvement.
- Contributing data and insights to strategic planning discussions around gender equality, inclusion, and leadership development in IFRC Africa.
- Maintaining records of participation, training outcomes, and mentorship engagements for evaluation and strategic planning purposes.
5. Other Responsibilities
As a member of the IFRC Secretariat, the Officer will also be expected to:
- Actively contribute to the overarching goals and gender equity objectives of the IFRC and its Movement partners.
- Demonstrate full adherence to the principles and code of conduct of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Perform additional responsibilities or tasks as assigned by the line manager or steering committee in alignment with the evolving priorities of the initiative.
6. General Duties Applicable to All Staff
- Strive toward achieving the strategic objectives of the Federation Secretariat.
- Uphold and promote the principles and values of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in every aspect of the role.
- Execute any additional responsibilities that contribute to the goals of the IFRC as assigned by supervisors.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Languages
- Proven ability to work independently and manage projects with minimal supervision, while collaborating effectively in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams.
- Advanced proficiency in both written and spoken English and French is a mandatory requirement due to the bilingual scope of the region.
- Strong organizational, coordination, and multitasking capabilities with a demonstrated ability to manage virtual events and digital collaboration platforms.
- High-level analytical thinking and strategic planning skills necessary for leadership program development and impact analysis.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to build and sustain trust-based relationships across multiple stakeholders, including National Societies and external partners.
- Knowledge of IFRC gender and inclusion policies and understanding of regional challenges and opportunities related to women’s leadership in humanitarian settings.
- Technologically self-sufficient, with the ability to manage digital platforms, video conferencing tools, and cloud-based collaboration resources.
Core Values and Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Communication
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Judgement and decision-making
- National Society and customer relations
- Creativity and innovation
- Building trust
Values:
- Respect for diversity
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Accountability
Functional Competencies:
- Strategic orientation
- Building alliances
- Leadership
- Empowering others
Managerial Competencies:
- Managing staff performance
- Managing staff development
Ideal Background and Experience
- A university degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Development, or a closely related field is required.
- Experience working or volunteering with a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in Africa is preferred.
- Familiarity with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and its global humanitarian operations is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in leading or supporting gender and inclusion programming, particularly in leadership development contexts.
- Prior involvement in organizing capacity-building initiatives, mentoring programs, and networking forums is highly desirable.
Conclusion
This is an exciting and impactful opportunity for a committed professional who is passionate about advancing gender equity and promoting women’s leadership in the humanitarian sector. The successful candidate will not only play a critical role in shaping future female leaders within the IFRC and its member National Societies but will also contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and representative humanitarian system.
If you meet the requirements and share our vision for empowering women as humanitarian leaders, we encourage you to submit your application before the deadline on 04 August 2025.
