Intern, Risk Management

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 the 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.”  The 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 the 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 three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegation 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.

Risk management plays a crucial role to support any organization in the pursuit of its objectives. By implementing a systematic approach to risk management, the management team can increase the chance to achieve the organization’s objectives, by early anticipating risks so that they can be mitigated before they occur.

IFRC is in the process of rolling out its Risk Management Strategy for 2021-2025 to enhance accountability, transparency, and integrity of the organization. This includes supporting all Heads of Delegations, Operations, and Offices with the implementation on IFRC’s Risk Management Policy and enhancing the awareness of risk management across the organization.

The Risk Management Function is currently looking for support to ensure the successful continuation of the implementation of the Strategy. This intern position will be reporting to the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control, who is part of the Special Representative of the Secretary General Support Team, within the Office of the Secretary General.  

Job Purpose

The intern will support the implementation of the annual plan 2024 for risk management, in alignment with IFRC’s Risk Management Strategy for 2021-2025. This includes supporting systematic risk management for programmes and operations, in addition to supporting the administrative work required in the team with respect to risk management, such as update of risk registers, review of information management products, summarizing meetings. The intern will benefit from this experience by learning the complexities of managing the implementation of a new policy on a very technical topic in a complex international organization such as the IFRC, including multicultural experiences through working in close coordination with other departments and colleagues from all over the world. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support the actions required for rolling out IFRC’s Risk Management Policy across the organization.
2. Support the organization and facilitation of specific risk management workshops with colleagues across the organization.
3. Support the development of communication and awareness products for risk management, such as dashboards, bulletins, flyers, etc.
4. Support the administrative work of the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control, including taking minutes of important meetings, and drafting of reports.
5. Support the data analysis necessary to provide high quality reports from the SRSG to the Executive Leadership, focusing on financial and operational quality assurance.
6. Support the improvement and standardization of data collecting methods and data visualization, including risk management system proposal.
7. Support the review of technical documents related to risk management, including operational strategies, country plans, official reports, and other documents as requested.
8. Provide additional support to the IFRC’s overall risk management agenda, as defined in the risk management plan for 2024, and as requested by the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat's goals.
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

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.

Preferred

• Relevant university degree qualification in industrial engineering, IT or information management, finance, law, administration, project management, risk management, or any other relevant area. 

Experience

Required

• Advanced skills in and use of IT systems such as Excel (including VBA) and Powerpoint, or similar applications.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Knowledge and strong interest in risk management concepts.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing with different audiences, adapting style to fit the situation.
• Ability to gather, analyse, and evaluate facts, and prepare/present concise oral and written reports.
• Ability to plan work and manage conflicting priorities, and handle multiple demands simultaneously, including unexpected deadlines.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Good knowledge of project management.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish, Arabic).
• Understanding of the principles and application of good corporate governance, business and operational risk management and effective internal controls.
• Skills in PowerBI, Tableau, R, or others.
• Volunteering experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

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.

Application Instructions

Please submit your application in English only.

IFRC values equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, nationality, class, political opinions, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion, or belief.