Coordinator, Programs and Partnerships

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Pretoria, South Africa, seeks a Programmes and Partnerships Coordinator to strengthen Southern Africa operations. You will coordinate a multi-country portfolio, support partnership engagement, resource mobilisation and programme development, and ensure high-quality planning, delivery and reporting.

Reporting to the Head of Delegation, you will lead cross-functional teams, manage risks, and promote safeguarding and

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian, development, resilience or emergency operations.
• Experience coordinating complex multi-country or multi-stakeholder programmes and portfolios.
• Experience in programme management, grant management, budgeting, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience in working in an international environment, preferably with IFRC/UN/large NGOs.
• Experience working with institutional, bilateral and/or multilateral donors.
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and staff development.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and monitor the Delegation's priorities and commitments across programmes and countries.
• Identify risks and support corrective action and escalation using IFRC processes.
• Develop programme concepts, proposals and budgets aligned with Strategy 2030 and national plans.
• Support resource mobilisation and donor engagement through joint programming opportunities.
• Represent IFRC in coordination forums and build partnerships with National Societies and Movement partners.
• Ensure sound programme management, financial oversight and timely reporting of results.

Skills

Programme management

Partnership development

Resource mobilisation

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

Monitoring & reporting

English (Fluent)

Education

Advanced degree in International Relations/Development

Delegates Training (IMPACT)

Job description

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

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.

Southern Africa has been exposed to various humanitarian and disaster shocks caused by adverse weather conditions and climate change, drought, wildfires and epidemics. Over the years, the IFRC Delegation in Pretoria has established a robust structure of preparedness Early Warning, Anticipatory Action and effective disaster response. The IFRC Delegation in Pretoria while consolidating its footprint in disaster preparedness and response in now focusing further on strengthening recovery efforts and community resilience for greater impact across the five National Societies it supports including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.

This role will be based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Country Cluster Delegation (HoCCD), the Programmes and Partnerships Coordinator supports the achievement of IFRC Strategy 2030 and Renewal 3.0 priorities across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia. The role contributes to strengthening IFRC’s operations in Southern Africa by supporting and enabling National Societies, their branches and volunteers to deliver effective, sustainable and locally led humanitarian action, resilience-building and organisational development initiatives.

The Programmes and Partnerships Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Delegation’s programme portfolio, ensuring effective programme design, implementation, monitoring, reporting and preparation of future response and recovery phases. The role supports the HoCCD in partnership engagement, programme development, resource mobilisation efforts and the management of operational priorities, while helping to identify and address emerging risks and opportunities.

The position is responsible for ensuring sound programme management, financial oversight, compliance with IFRC standards, and the timely delivery of quality results. It serves as a key coordination focal point between National Societies, IFRC country, regional and global teams, Movement partners and external stakeholders, building and maintaining productive partnerships that support the achievement of IFRC's humanitarian objectives and strengthen collective impact across the Cluster.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Planning and Coordination

• Coordinate and monitor implementation of the Delegation's agreed priorities and commitments, facilitating cross-functional collaboration and follow-up across programmes and countries.
• Identify emerging operational, programmatic, financial and compliance risks and support timely corrective action and escalation through appropriate IFRC mechanisms.
• Collaborate with National Societies and IFRC colleagues at country, regional and global levels to identify humanitarian, resilience and organisational development priorities and programme opportunities aligned with Strategy 2030, Renewal 3.0 and National Society strategic plans.
• Support the design of programmes, projects, implementation plans and budgets in line with IFRC standards, policies and best practices.
• Promote effective coordination and complementarity across Movement partners to ensure coherent programme planning and delivery.
• Oversee programme implementation to ensure timely delivery, effective resource utilisation, quality assurance, compliance with donor and IFRC requirements, and achievement of agreed results.
• Ensure programmes appropriately contribute to National Society development and capacity strengthening objectives.
• Monitor programme and financial performance and ensure the timely submission of high-quality narrative and financial reports.
• Promote continuous learning, evidence-based decision-making, innovation and the application of lessons learned across the programme portfolio.

Partnerships, Resource Mobilisation and Programme Development

• Support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with National Societies, Movement partners, governments, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders.
• Lead and coordinate programme development initiatives, including concept notes, proposals and budgets, in line with National Society and Delegation priorities.
• Identify opportunities for joint programming and resource mobilisation and coordinate inputs from relevant IFRC and Movement
• Contribute to the development and implementation of resource mobilisation strategies and donor engagement approaches.
• Support the negotiation, development and management of partnerships that enhance programme quality, sustainability and impact.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities with bilateral, multilateral and private-sector partners.

Movement Coordination and External Representation

• Foster effective coordination and collaboration between the IFRC Secretariat, National Societies, Partner National Societies and the ICRC on programmatic and technical matters.
• Convene and facilitate technical exchanges, knowledge-sharing initiatives and collaborative platforms to promote good practice, learning and harmonised approaches across the sub-region.
• Promote technical excellence through the dissemination of guidance, tools, lessons learned, evaluations and other knowledge products.
• Represent the IFRC, as delegated, in relevant coordination, technical and partnership forums to strengthen visibility, influence and collaboration.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with external stakeholders and support partner engagement and outreach efforts.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Team and Portfolio Management

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team, establishing clear objectives, priorities, responsibilities and performance expectations.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing work environment that supports staff development, wellbeing and succession planning.
• Oversee portfolio planning, budgeting, resource allocation, monitoring and reporting in accordance with IFRC policies, delegated authorities and agreed priorities.
• Promote effective matrix management and collaboration across country, regional and global functions, National Societies and Movement
• Champion a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace and ensure compliance with IFRC standards relating to safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, discrimination and abuse of authority.
• Ensure concerns relating to inappropriate conduct are addressed promptly, confidentially and in accordance with IFRC policies and procedures.
• Hold staff accountable for compliance with IFRC policies, standards of conduct and performance expectations, while promoting staff wellbeing and access to support mechanisms.

Advisory and Operational Support

• Support the Head of Delegation in the effective management and performance of the Country Cluster Delegation, including operational planning, implementation oversight and cross-functional coordination.
• Serve as a principal operational adviser to the Head of Delegation by providing analysis, recommendations and implementation support on key priorities and issues.
• Deputise for the Head of Delegation, as required, exercising delegated representational, operational and management responsibilities.
• Support a culture of accountability, efficiency, collaboration and continuous improvement across the Delegation.
• Position the IFRC Secretariat as a trusted partner and service provider to National Societies, supporting institutional strengthening, accountability and effective humanitarian action.

Education

• Advanced university degree in International Relations, Humanitarian Studies, Development Studies, Public Administration, Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or another relevant field.
• Relevant professional training courses (Basic Delegates Training Course/IMPACT). (Preferred)
• Relevant professional training in humanitarian coordination, programme management, leadership, partnership development, resource mobilisation, or delegation management. (Preferred)

Experience

• At least 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian, development, resilience or emergency operations or programmes
• Experience coordinating complex multi-country or multi-stakeholder programmes and portfolios.
• Experience in programme management, grant management, budgeting, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience in working in an international environment, preferably with IFRC, ICRC, United Nations or large non-governmental organizations.
• Experience working with institutional, bilateral and/or multilateral donors.
• Experience of preparing strategies, proposals, detailed implementation plans, plans and writing narrative & financial reports
• Experience managing staff and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of field-based program implementation
• Experience representing an organisation in external coordination, partnership or technical forums.
• Experience working for or closely with a National Society. (Preferred)
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa. (Preferred)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong programme and portfolio management skills, including planning, budgeting, implementation oversight, monitoring and reporting
• Strong partnership development, stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated resource mobilisation and proposal development capability
• Ability to analyse complex operational issues and support effective decision-making.
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural, multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines in a dynamic operational environment
• Sound financial management and budget oversight skills
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.
• Knowledge of IFRC grant management procedures. (Preferred)
• Fluent spoken and written English

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
• Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others