Disaster Management Intern

Job Description

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. The overall aim of 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.” 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 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.

The Health, Disaster, Clime and Crisis (HDCC) Department focuses on all components of disaster risk management, as well as all phases of disaster and crisis response recognizing that this often operate in a simultaneously and overlapping manner. The HDCC ensures quality, relevant and effective support to the National Societies of Red Cross (NS) to improve the services they provide to communities and people affected by disasters and crises and in support of resilience-building processes of disadvantaged groups. This covers actions reaching all levels of intervention –from local to global- in a way that fosters the effective integration of the seven areas of focus , as well as timely assistance to ensure that Red Cross National Societies consistently deliver –through their volunteers and staff- relevant country-wide services to vulnerable people, sustained for as long as needed.

To achieve its goal, the HDCC department delivers services to different stakeholders, at different levels. It mainly works with and through Red Cross National Societies, providing technical support and assisting in the implementation of their operations and programmes. It also works closely with other humanitarian partners and other actors, such as regional integration mechanisms, disaster management systems and civil society.

Job Purpose

Objectives, composition and roles and responsibilities.

The personnel attached to the Health, Disaster Climate and Crisis Unit team will sign the terms of reference and receive a copy.

Internship Purpose:

Contribute to the development of activities carried out by the Federation’s Health, Disaster Climate and Crisis Unit as part of the response, follow-up and monitoring of the emergencies and disasters in the Americas region.

General Objectives applicable to all staff are:

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work following the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.
• Adhere to standard operational procedures (SOPs), Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance and other standards.
• Submit the Handover Document, Mission Appraisal, and a Deployment Feedback at the end of the mission.

Specific Tasks and objectives:

The Intern will work closely with the Manager, Operations, Evolving Crisis and Disasters on the following tasks and objectives:

• Support to emergency and disaster response: Assist the HDCC team in monitoring and documenting ongoing operations (floods, hurricanes, epidemics, population movements, among others), contributing with inputs, data collection, and preparation of basic reports.
• Support in awareness and coordination sessions: Contribute to the logistical organization, preparation of materials, and systematization of results from awareness, training, and coordination sessions organized by the HDCC team.
• Contribution to hurricane season preparedness and response: Provide support to planning activities, internal communications, and follow-up of regional contingency plans in coordination with focal points and National Societies.
• Support in Rapid Response personnel deployments: Assist in the collection of information, preparation of inputs, and basic coordination of processes related to the mobilization of Rapid Response personnel in the region.
• Support to documentation and systematization: Contribute to the development of key documents (minutes, notes, presentations, lessons learned) related to emergencies, sessions, and HDCC activities.
• Other support tasks to the HDCC team: Collaborate in cross-cutting activities (e.g., Information Management, Cash and Voucher Assistance, or others) according to emerging priorities and in coordination with responsible officers.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

• Gain practical knowledge of IFRC emergency response mechanisms, surge deployments, and contingency planning in the Americas Region.
• Strengthen skills in coordination, documentation, and systematization to support decision-making in disaster management.
• Increase awareness of preparedness measures, particularly during hurricane season, and their role in effective disaster response.

Duration:

The internship will be for a period of 1 months. Any extension of this period will be agreed by the Intern and the Regional HDCC team. After this period the intern will fully debrief all aspects and result of their support as intern to the IFRC´ Americas Regional Office.

Pre-deployment Responsibilities:

The IFRC will fully cover the costs related of this deployment. This includes insurance, accommodation, international and local travel expenses. IFRC provide a stipend of CHF 30.00 per day, to support cover food and transportation expenses.

Security

• The Intern will adhere to the in-country security regulations of his/her Duty Station. The following security regulations will apply:
• The intern is included in the IFRC Security Framework and s/he must be aware of and adhere to the IFRC Security Guidelines during the mission. These include signing the “Acknowledgement of risk: security in the field” document annexed to the Security Guidelines.
• The interns will follow security plans of her/his place of residence during providing support remotely.
• If there are not Security guidelines already in place for the country of operation, these will be set by the TL in coordination with the Security Focal Point, and the Security Unit in Geneva (unit@ifrc.org)
• It is a requirement that each team member must complete the IFRC Stay Safe online course.

Due to the importance of the safety and security of individuals and the mission as a whole, any breach of Security Regulations may be considered to be misconduct. As such, security breaches may have disciplinary consequences, up to and including the immediate termination of the assignment or mission.

Duty of Care

• Travel approval process: The Regional Surge Focal point must be aware of all travel requests. Travel cannot be approved until coordinated with the following focal points in the regional office or nearest IFRC office: Security, Staff health (if available in the region), and Air Ops. The travel checklist must be signed and completed prior to travel.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• PPE: If the Rapid Response personnel need to engage in field work were physical distance is not possible and they are not provided with PPE prior to travel, then adequate PPE is to be provided by the receiving office. Please follow the proposed packing list for deciding adequate PPE amounts.
• Contracting and insurance: The mission dates must include quarantine days upon return to the rapid response personnel’s home country. Quarantine requirements should be checked at the time of deployment and during the deployment and personnel should be returning home within the contract time. In the event that the rapid response personnel shows symptoms within the quarantine days after returning home, the nearest Surge Focal Point is to be alerted and the rapid response personnel’s insurance coverage extended until the end of their symptoms.
• Budget: All costs related to quarantine upon return to the rapid response personnel’s home country are to be covered by the deploying entity (and should be budgeted under a relevant operational code if necessary). Per diem is to cover additional expenses so if under the entry requirements someone must quarantine in a hotel and if as a result there are costs to the individuals then there should be coverage so the rapid response personnel is not out of pocket.

Mission Health Vaccines

• The Intern should have the minimum required vaccinations completed before deploying to the mission country. Please see the Staff Health Guidance document available on IFRC GO for more information about COVID-19.
• Please check for more information at SoS international (www.internationalsos.com – username 22AMMS000091)
• Contact person at Regional Office for any queries regarding vaccination: staff.health@ifrc.org

Other information:

• The Intern should wear signage as provided by the Federation office.
• All team members should wear signage as provided by their National Society or Federation office.
• All team members should carry Identification issued by their National Society identifying them as a Red member of the Movement.
• All members should be outfitted with proper equipment including:
• Laptop computer and thumb drives
• Mobile phone
• The individual will be briefed online (Skype, Teams, etc) once the deployment is confirmed

Debriefing

• Mission debrief: Intern will be expected to complete a debrief at the end of their mission. The debrief includes a Handover Document, a Mission Appraisal and a Deployment Feedback.
• End of mission Feedback: The intern will provide a handover report to the line manager/s (including technical line management as applicable).
• Mission appraisal: The mission appraisal of the intern will be done by the line manager/s. The appraisal form will be shared by their line manager before the end of mission.

Education

• University degree on Social Sciences, Political Sciences and/or related academic knowledge with gender and diversity.
• Trainings related to emergency operations
• Trainings on Gender, Diversity and Gender based Violence (GVB);
• Trainings on Child Protection.
• Trainings on Disability Inclusion.

Experience

• Working or volunteer experience within the Red Cross Movement and / or IFRC;
• Working experience in emergency operation within the Red Cross Movement
• Previous mobilization within the region as rapid response personnel
• 1 year Working experience or cooperation projects in GVB, Child protection or related;
• Leadership experience;
• In-country contextual understanding and operational experience;
• Experience in capacity building and facilitating workshops and training;
• First-hand experience with collecting and systematizing data.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Good communication skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
• Good stress management skills;
• Basic knowledge on main protection issues
• Communication skills with high-level personnel.

Language

• Spanish or English, Spoken and Writing - Mandatory

Competencies, Values and Comments

Debriefing

• Mission debrief: Intern will be expected to complete a debrief at the end of their mission. The debrief includes a Handover Document, a Mission Appraisal and a Deployment Feedback.
• End of mission Feedback and Handover report: The intern will provide a handover report to the line manager/s (including technical line management as applicable).
• Mission appraisal: The mission appraisal of the intern will be done by the line manager/s. The appraisal form will be shared by their line manager before the end of mission.

An integral part of these Terms of Reference is the ‘Code of Conduct for Staff working in an operation managed or coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ which all the team members must be familiar with and comply with. All members should have received and signed a copy of the Code of Conduct from their deploying entity. If you have not, please let us know.

Note:

Please complete the attached form to complete your Internship Application: https://form.jotform.com/251464429828870.

Deadline: 18 Sep 2025