Consultant, Disaster Law and NS Legal and Statutory Base

Organizational Context

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.

The 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.

The Secretariat provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; (ii) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. The National Society Development Department is part of the National Society Development and Operations Coordination. Disaster Law is part of the National Society Development Department.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this position is to provide legal advice and guidance to IFRC Disaster Law at headquarters on States’ ongoing discussions regarding the development of a new Treaty on the protection of persons in the event of disasters. The role will be responsible for conducting research and developing recommendations, position papers, training, and other communication materials and information products. In addition, the position will contribute to the development of guidance and informational resources to strengthen National Societies’ programmatic work in disaster law, as well as support efforts to enhance their legal and statutory frameworks.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide top level legal advice and support the development of global recommendations on disaster law and RCRC law (NSs’ legal and statutory base).
• Prepare IFRC language recommendations, position papers and negotiation materials related to the proposed Treaty on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, drawing on existing treaty law, relevant international frameworks on DRR, DRM, and protection, as well as States’ proposed amendments.
• Contribute to shaping the narrative on the body of law applicable to National Societies (“RCRC law”) to strengthen advocacy efforts in the context of treaty negotiations.
• Support the development of guidance material, tools, communication assets and training resources for governments and parliamentarians to enhance their understanding of NSs’ legal and statutory base, and recommendations related to disaster law and the Treaty, and to support NSs’ engagement efforts with public authorities and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to IFRC and National Societies’ messaging and advocacy strategies for key global and regional events and conferences, including by supporting the development of materials for the RCRC Statutory Meetings in December 2026, and the International PPED Conference in 2027.
• Support RCRC’s Communities of Practice on the Treaty and on NS’s legal base.
• Liaise effectively with IFRC colleagues across headquarters and country operations to foster coordinated approaches and ensure alignment on relevant initiatives.

Education

Required

• Bachelors’ degree in law or other relevant subject.
• LLM in international law or other relevant subject.

Preferred

• Ph.D. degree in law.

Experience

Required

• At least 10 years of legal work experience, of which, at least 5 at the international level.
• Experience in providing legal advice in the area of disaster law or on a topic related to disaster law.
• Experience in the development of guidance tools and informational products.
• Experience in legislative drafting.
• Experience with high-level intergovernmental processes.
• Experience with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Excellent understanding of key legal issues related to disaster risk management and the protection of persons in disasters.
• Good knowledge of international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.
• Excellent networking and communications skills.
• Demonstrated legal writing and research skills.
• Good understanding of disaster risk management concepts.

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.