Ethiopia: Pan African Conference (PAC) Advisor

As stated in the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies constitution, in its article 38, a Regional Conference shall be held in each statutory region once every four years. With respect to this constitutional disposition, a Pan African Conference takes place every four years, bringing together the 54 African National Societies (ANS) along with other Red Cross and Red Crescent partners as well as other international organizations, to reflect upon current humanitarian priorities on the continent and set the Movement’s African agenda for the four years to come.

Specifically, the Pan African Conference, as a statutory regional conference is mandated to:

Promote cooperation, networking and partnerships amongst the national societies of the region.

Identify common humanitarian concerns and issues.

Strive to achieve common strategies of implementation with regard to decisions of the General Assembly, the Council of Delegates and the International Conference.

Make proposals to the Governing Board on matters related to the General Assembly and the Statutory Bodies of the Movement.

The theme for the 8th PAC was which was held in October 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and hosted by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society was ‘Investing in Africa’. This theme was chosen because the African leaders recognised that Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, and this changing environment provides new opportunities for domestic and regional partnerships that will shape the future role and relevance of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa.

The changing domestic contexts and global focus on Africa provide opportunities for partnerships with our governments, the African Union, regional bodies, development banks, the private sector, academic institutions, UN and multinational donors, entrepreneurs and concerned citizens that are contributing to policies, strategies and programmes to reduce poverty, build resilience and encourage peace. In line with our fundamental principles, the ANS are unique and valuable to these endeavours, with our partnerships with local communities and our distinct advantage in humanitarian access and community reach.

The African National Societies emphasize the theme Investing in Africa in recognition of the recurring and growing risks and opportunities facing Africa – particularly in the areas of food security, climate change, health, migration, violence and growing unemployment among youth, and highlight how investing into the capacities and actions of volunteer networks can positively contribute to addressing these development and humanitarian challenges.

To this end, the National Societies propose and commit to Addis Ababa Plan of Action, with the objective to open up African National Societies to more domestic, regional and international investments that will enable a scale up of a sustainable volunteer action across Africa. The Addis Ababa Plan of Action represents a shift in emphasis in how African National Societies are resourced and aims to root our work in local, national and regional partnerships. To achieve the strategic objective of the Addis Ababa Plan of Action, the PAC identified 10 key actions to make ANS more attractive to investment, more active in its auxiliary role, more engaged in local and regional partnerships and more qualified to address the evolving humanitarian and development challenges across the continent:

Given the strategic value of the PAC for African National Societies and drawing first sight lessons from the stakes of the 8th PAC that took place in Addis Ababa, the IFRC leadership team in Africa, both at governance and management levels have commissioned an initial work on the substance of the 9th PAC due to take place in 2016. That exercise came out clearly with the need to revisit the PAC concept. These findings were further corroborated by the Addis Ababa Plan of Action review which clearly expressed that with regards to the ambitions of the African Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies as expressed during the 8th PAC, in line at global level with the Federation strategy 2020, considering the evolution of the context and the offered opportunities the concept of the PAC itself has to evolved both in its content and in its format.

Meanwhile, the IFRC Secretariat has embarked on a decentralization exercise and the Africa region has one of its main segments has been requested to align itself to the process. These two events present with no doubt opportunities for the IFRC on the continent. The next 9^th PAC should reflect both in its format and its content the new ambitions of the IFRC secretariat and its National societies members.

In line with the above, a year to the next Pan African Conference, the IFRC Senior leadership on the continent has validated the recruitment of the a Pan African Conference Advisor, dedicated to supporting the designated hosting national society to prepare and organize the event. The Pan African Conference advisor will build on the initial conceptualization undertaken and ensure a successful 9th PAC.

Job purpose

Working under the overall supervision of the Regional Director for Africa and the direct guidance of the Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy and Representative to the African Union and International Organizations, the Pan African Conference Advisor will provide advisory and strategic support, including coordination for the preparation and organization of the 9th Pan African Conference 2016. The incumbent, together with the hosting National Society, will work closely with high level relevant internal and external Red Cross and Red Crescent movement stakeholders, as well as relevant International organisations, multilateral and bilateral organisations, intergovernmental and Government institutions, donors, private sector and civil society organizations interested in the RC/RC PAC and ensure a successful PAC.

Job duties and responsibilities

The incumbent will serve as Pan African Conference Advisor and will be based at the Humanitarian Diplomacy and African Union Representation office in Addis Ababa. He/she will report directly to the Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy and Permanent Representative to the African Union and International organizations. He/she will be responsible for the formulation of the 9th PAC concept note and operationalization frameworks as well as coordination of the PAC organization.

More specifically, the incumbent will be responsible of the following duties:

1. To mobilize continental political, private sector, civil society high level and top leadership to support the RC/RC Pan African Conference;
2. To coordinate and work with the African RC/RC governance group as well as Africa RC/RC Governance Board as well as RC/RC country boards and leaderships;
3. To coordinate the contribution of Africa RC/RC national societies leaderships as well as membership to the Pan African Conference
4. To support and advise the Regional Director in finalizing the ongoing Africa region restructuration process as part of the Secretariat decentralization exercise and ensure that it is aligned with the PAC ambitions;
5. To formulate the initial 9th Pan African Conference concept note, strategic background document will serve as main reference document in structuring the 9th Pan African Conference;
6. To advise on behalf of IFRC the hosting NS, under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and in close coordination with the Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy and permanent Representative to the AU;
7. To support designated hosting National Society in developing both project document and business plan for hosting the 9th Pan Africa Conference in October 2016;
8. To undertake, in cooperation with the designated hosting National Society and the HD office in Addis Ababa, a mapping of potential partners and establish the contact with them;
9. To analyze and develop, in close cooperation with the designated hosting National Society, opportunities for fundraising and sponsorships with key continental and national identified stakeholders for the conference to cover its in-country conference budget
10. Based on the initial concept note, to support and coordinate the development of all high level strategic documentation related to the 9th PAC, thus:
11. Coordinate the Finalization of the Pan African Conference substance and content with regards to topics, sub-topics to be presented to the African Governing Board Steering Committee for final approval after consultation with the IFRC Board and Secretariat;

Duties applicable to all staff

1.Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.

1. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
2. Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Position Requirements

Education

University degree at masters level minimum in administration, social sciences or other relevant fields

Experience

Good experience in conceptualizing and coordinating high level events;

At least 5 years work experience in international organisations, NGOs or other relevant institutions in development cooperation and/or humanitarian field ;

Good experience of analysing, planning and managing programmes and resources as well as resource mobilisation.

Very good knowledge of Red Cross Red Crescent movement;

Experience in resource mobilization in both the development and private sectors is an asset.

Practical diplomacy and proven ability to work under stress with tight schedules.

Experience in working effectively at senior government, corporate, diplomatic and international community level.

Knowledge and Skills

Proven leadership & managerial skills in a large, service-driven organization that is part of the international Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Very good communication skills

Excellent knowledge on protocol procedures x Good computer literacy (for commenting on proposals, reports and managing electronic communications).

Sound understanding of IFRC standard procedures and systems

Knowledge on PAC and ANS projects and activities.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and French

Competencies

National Society relations

Results focused and accountability

Teamwork

Communications

Professional standards

Leadership

Managerial effectiveness

NOTE

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socies is an equal Opportunity emloyer.

Click on the link below to apply:-

http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/