Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) People and Strategy, and (iv) Legal, Governance Support and Accountability.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
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.
Migration and displacement are core strategic priorities for IFRC, reflected in Strategy 2030, the Movement Migration Strategy 2025–2030, and with increased ambition expressed with the launch of the new Global Migration and Displacement Platform in 2025. This position sits within the IFRC Secretariat to provide Protection, gender and Inclusion (PGI) technical, and quality assurance support to the Humane, Dignified, Sustainable Migration and Return Programme, a bilateral initiative led and funded by the Swedish Red Cross through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Job Purpose
The PGI/Protection Officer provides operational and technical support on PGI in alignment with IFRC policies, the Movement Migration Strategy, the Movement Protection Framework, and the objectives of the Humane, Dignified, Sustainable Migration and Return Programme.
The role supports the integration of PGI standards and protection‑linked approaches across relevant aspects of programme implementation and contributes to strengthening the institutional and operational capacities of National Societies.
Under the guidance of the PGI / Protection delegate, the incumbent provides day‑to‑day technical support to National Societies, IFRC country and regional teams and the Swedish Red Cross, contributing to coherence with relevant policy frameworks, quality standards and the achievement of country‑level results frameworks. The role also supports learning, documentation and coordination efforts that contribute to broader alignment across IFRC’s PGI and migration portfolios.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Technical Migration advice
- Lead the day‑to‑day collection, analysis and documentation of protection concerns, protection risks, inclusion barriers and safeguarding issues across programme countries, in coordination with National Societies and regional teams.
- Support the application and contextualisation of IFRC PGI guidance and capacity‑strengthening resources, including materials that situate migration‑related protection concerns within relevant legal, institutional and humanitarian frameworks.
- Ensure consistent use of IFRC PGI, safeguarding and data responsibility tools and support the adaptation of operational tools at country level where required.
- Provide tailored, high‑quality technical support to National Societies, ensuring coherence with IFRC PGI frameworks, quality standards, and the Movement Protection Framework.
- Support the PGI /protection delegate to work with National Societies and country delegations to support the integration of PGI across protection, health, livelihoods and migration activities at implementation level.
- Conduct technical reviews of project documents, assessments, baselines, referral pathways, protection strategies and country plans, under the guidance of the PGI/Protection delegate
- Support the operationalisation of do no harm, principled, rights‑based and people‑centred approaches in field activities, including identifying and flagging protection and safeguarding risks.
- Promote the use of participatory and accountable approaches (CEA, feedback and complaint mechanisms, participatory reviews) to strengthen programme quality, relevance and community ownership.
Institutional Strengthening of National Societies
- Support National Societies to review, develop or update PGI‑related strategies, policies, guidance and organizational procedures to align with the IFRC PGI policy, the Movement Protection Framework and national contexts.
- Provide technical support on PGI‑specific components of National Society capacity strengthening, including contributing to PGI capacity strengthening plans.
- Assist National Societies in identifying gaps in access to services for migrants and returnees, barriers to impartial information, risks of exclusion and protection concerns.
- Support cross‑country learning, peer exchange and communities of practice related to PGI and protection in migration contexts.
Evidence, Data and Impact
- Support National Societies to systematically collect, analyse and document PGI‑related evidence, including lessons learnt, case studies, good practices and stories of impact.
- Ensure PGI‑related impact evidence contributes to the Migration and Displacement Platform and other relevant IFRC knowledge products.
- Support the analysis of PGI‑related findings to inform technical recommendations, programme learning and adaptive management.
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Reporting and Documentation
- Support the development, updating and tracking of results framework products related to the programme and PGI, ensuring data quality, adherence to indicators and compliance with agreed timelines.
- Maintain strong knowledge management systems, ensuring structured documentation of the programme and PGI‑related processes, evidence, tools and good practices.
- Support safe, inclusive and ethical programme design and reporting, including the use of sex‑, age‑ and disability‑disaggregated data (SADD) and other relevant inclusion markers.
Risk Oversight
- Support the identification of risks related to PGI and safeguarding within migration and reintegration programming and contribute to the implementation of mitigation measures.
- Uphold principled humanitarian action and the Fundamental Principles across all technical work related to PGI.
- With guidance from the PGI/Protection delegate, Risk Managers, Programme Lead and CCD / regional offices, contribute to fostering a risk‑aware and safeguarding‑focused programme culture.
Education
Required:
- Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in a relevant field related to migration, displacement, humanitarian action, international relations, social policy or related technical discipline.
- Demonstrated a broad understanding of global issues and international standards for protection, gender and inclusion in migration.
Preferred:
- Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge
Experience
Required:
- Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in the humanitarian or development sector with a significant portion at global, multi-regional or cross-country level.
- Experience working within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, or a humanitarian aid organization, in a developing country and /or working with migrants and refugees.
- Experience in narrative reporting
Preferred:
- Demonstrated experience in programme processes, including results frameworks, MEAL planning, and integrated programming.
- Proven experience in risk management, safeguarding, data responsibility, and programme quality assurance.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required:
- Advanced knowledge of migration and displacement trends, frameworks, and operational modalities, including cross-border approaches
- Knowledge of IFRC operational framework, tools and procedures.
- Excellent analytical, research and evidence-generation capabilities
- Ability to work effectively within a matrix management structure, leveraging technical expertise across multiple teams.
- Cultural sensitiveness with the ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and cross-functional team-setting, including global/dispersed teams.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and presentation skills for internal and external audiences.
- Demonstrated proactiveness, with the ability to anticipate needs, identify opportunities and proposing solutions.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical quality assurance, including monitoring, evaluation, learning, risk management and safeguarding.
- Proficiency with standard digital tools and platforms, including collaborative workspaces, data management tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
Languages:
Required:
- Fluent spoken and written English
Preferred:
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
