Country Program Officer

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 Country Program Officer is part of the Health Programme team and reports directly to the Program Coordinator. The position plays a key role in ensuring effective coordination between the Norwegian Red Cross country office and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) regional branches, supporting the timely implementation, monitoring, and reporting of programme activities. The role requires frequent interaction with field teams and local stakeholders to facilitate information flow, strengthen programme coordination, and contribute to the effective delivery of health interventions in line with the Operational Framework and humanitarian standards.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the Country Program Officer is to optimize humanitarian outcomes through coordinating the implementation of country programs in line with Operational Framework and technical standards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic responsibilities:

• Support alignment of programme implementation with Operational Framework at field level and country.
• Contribute to programme results by ensuring timely follow-up of activities.
• Support coordination between programme teams at operational level

Operational responsibilities:

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to programme locations in different regions.
• Support day-to-day follow-up with field teams and track implementation progress.
• Identify operational issues and escalate them to Program Coordinator.
• Support preparation of programme documentation (MoMs, monitoring reports, field notes, surveys).
• Support data collection, verification and reporting processes.
• Ensure timely flow of information from field teams to programme coordination level.
• Assist in organisation of meetings and programme activities.
• Support follow-up on agreed actions and implementation timelines.
• Contribute to monitoring activities and basic data tracking.
• Identify and document programme achievements, beneficiary stories, lessons learned and examples of good practice during field visits.
• Prepare engaging programme stories, case studies and communication materials that demonstrate the impact and added value of Norwegian Red Cross-supported Health Programmes.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the line manager.

Collaboration:

• Liaise with Senior Program Officer and Program Coordinator on implementation updates.
• Liaise with HNS field teams and key local stakeholders to ensure relevance of technical assistance provided.
• to support programme delivery and coordination.

Mission specific responsibilities:

• This position will play a strong coordination role between main country office, and the URCS regional branches.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

Higher University Degree in relevant technical discipline (medicine, public health, healthcare management, nursing, physical rehabilitation, health sciences or another closely related health discipline).

Experience

• Working experience relevant for focus.
• Demonstrated ability to support programme implementation in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Strong communication and writing skills, with ability to prepare clear reports and documentation.
• Good working knowledge of data collection, monitoring tools, and reporting applications.
• Solid understanding of humanitarian principles and ability to apply relevant technical standards in daily work.
• Proven experience in supporting project cycle activities (monitoring, basic needs assessments, reporting, and follow-up).
• Ability to contribute to data analysis and support MEAL processes.
• Experience in working with or supporting partner organizations is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and deliver results within deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build working relationships with different stakeholders.
• Solution-oriented mindset with ability to identify issues and propose practical solutions.
• Team player, able to collaborate and support colleagues in achieving programme objectives.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field locations, including remote areas.
• 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.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.