Intern, Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

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.

Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel:

A Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel has been established to promote implementation of the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. It serves as a critical platform to contribute to practical and tangible policies and practices that support the Declaration’s aims. It also offers a forum to exchange good practices and connect with humanitarian organisations.

To support the work of the Group of Friends, a Secretariat has been established and is hosted by the IFRC at its offices in Geneva, Switzerland. The Secretariat operates under the legal umbrella of the IFRC and will be subject to IFRC rules, regulations and policies. The Secretariat is headed by a manager and supported by a small team of two additional staff members. The Secretariat reports to the Steering Committee consisting of the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends (the Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva of Australia and Jordan) and the IFRC.

Job Purpose

The intern will provide support to the Secretariat on communications and policy, as well as general administrative and coordination matters.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Communications-specific support

• Assist with the development and maintenance of a communications content calendar.
• Help identify and package relevant stories, data, resources and content for the Group of Friend’s social media channels, website and monthly newsletter.
• Contribute creative ideas for new content, formats and narratives, ensuring they remain aligned with the Group of Friends’ communications strategy, tone, style and target audiences.
• Support with the collection of basic website, social media and newsletter analytics.
• Provide practical support during video recordings, meetings and events, including filtering and organising audiovisual files, photographs, and other materials.
• Help maintain shared folders, communications archives, calendars and administrative trackers.

Policy-specific support

• Assist with analysis of trends, incidents, and data, including review of reports, studies and other research products on the protection of humanitarian personnel.
• Contribute to development of knowledge and advocacy products related to the data and trends.
• Assist with preparation of briefing material for Co-Chairs and Advisory Group, ensuring they are updated on latest trends and relevant subject matter on the protection of humanitarian personnel.
• Contribute to the development of guidance notes, discussion papers, and thematic policy briefs.
• Work with Secretariat staff to organize meetings for Group of Friends, Advisory groups and other stakeholders, including developing agendas, background papers etc.
• As relevant, take notes of governance meetings and draft meeting summaries.

General Secretariat support

• Provide general administrative and coordination support to the Secretariat of the Group of Friends, as required.
• Support the Secretariat in the organisation of in-person meetings of the Group of Friends, including logistics, catering, room set-up and other practical arrangements as required.
• Keep mailing lists and contact databases updated and help segment contact lists according to audience and purpose.
• Monitor the Secretariat’s shared inbox and forward relevant messages to the appropriate focal points.
• Perform other related Secretariat-support tasks as required.

Education

Required

• Be currently-enrolled in a university or equivalent level, or have graduated recently (normally within 1 year from the date of hiring) in an area that is compatible with the IFRC activities.
• Enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a university degree in communications, international relations, political science, humanitarian affairs, public administration or another relevant field.

Experience

Previous professional experience is not required.

Preferred

• Experience supporting communications, administration, events or information management through internships, volunteering or academic activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Interest in humanitarian issues, international affairs or public communications.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage several tasks.
• Comfortable using email, spreadsheets, shared calendars and common digital tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively and handle information with discretion.

Preferred

• Familiarity with social media, websites, newsletters, photography or video.

LANGUAGES

Required

• Excellent written and spoken English.

Preferred

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

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instructions

Please submit your application in English only.