The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The IFRC is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional, country cluster teams and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity 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 Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The southern Africa Cluster Office based in Pretoria, South Africa provides representation supports to the ten National Societies (NS) of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia. South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Based on IFRC mandate.
Cyclone Idai made landfall on the evening of 15 March 2019 in the port city of Beira located in Sofala Province of Central Mozambique. The cyclone wreaked havoc on Beira and surrounding areas resulting in loss of communication, important damage and destruction to shelter and settlements, health and WASH facilities and thousands of hectares of standing crops, communication infrastructures and as well as loss of life and injury. In response, the IFRC launched a CHF 31 million-dollar, 24 month appeal seeking to support over 200,000 people in the areas of health, shelter, WASH, Protection Gender and Inclusion and National Society Development.
The IFRC has established a large operational structure working with CVM (Mozambique Red Cross) to implement the operation.
With guidance and support from the Procurement Delegate, the Senior Procurement Officer based in Beira will monitor activities and services to enable the delivery of procurement services in-line with IFRC Logistics strategy and IFRC procedures ensuring right quality and optimized services that meets the requests of services users.
This role is primarily focused upon conducting all country level procurement activities for and on behalf of IFRC. The role will work closely with the Procurement delegate for delivery of logistics services with responsibility for procurement activities e.g. ensuring local and international sourcing, timely deliveries, quality of goods and services, local market research.
This role is expected to play an active role in training and support other IFRC and National Society staff in relevant procurement activities and support the coordinator to ensure alignment in cross-function activity. As such, this role will require strong procurement experiences as well as excellent communication and organisational skills.