Country Manager, Niger and Burkina Faso, FRC
The Red Cross brings joy, maintains hope and strengthens trust – join us to do meaningful work!
The Finnish Red Cross is part of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network with millions of volunteers and staff operating in 191 countries. Our mission is to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies. To achieve this, we follow the Fundamental Principles of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.
FRC is seeking a Country Manager, Niger and Burkina Faso. The position will be fixed-term and placed in Niamey, Niger with frequent travels to Burkina Faso. Starting date preferably mid-April 2026. Mission length is 1 year. This is a non-family-posting, because of security restrictions. Fluent written and spoken English and French required. Strategic level experience and change management or organizational development skills required. Previous experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is an asset.
Background
The Finnish Red Cross (FRC) International Aid (IAID) department consists of five units at the Headquarters (HQ) in Helsinki, three regional teams (East Africa; West and Southern Africa; and Asia) and the logistic centre in Tampere. The FRC international aid strategic framework sets our vision to be an impact-driven and adaptive international humanitarian partner, whose operating principles are driven by inclusion and localization. The FRC Regional team has a key role to ensure that the FRC IAID strategic framework and its four strategic drivers (impact-driven, adaptive, inclusive and localization) are at the centre of our work and engagement with partners in the region.
The current portfolio of programmes and operations in Burkina Faso comprises of long-term developmental programmes and humanitarian operations, together with organizational development support to the Burkinabé Red Cross. In Niger, the FRC will shift from a consortium modality to a bilateral cooperation, and the portfolio is yet to be designed. In both countries, a strong emphasis will be on National Society Development (NSD) and organisational change. Multilaterally, the FRC supports both the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operations. The FRC aims at being a dynamic actor and cooperative partner that contributes actively in different forms to wider Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement goals, and that supports through its own capacities and resources the efforts of its partner National Societies, the IFRC, and the ICRC in a principled manner.
Guided by the strategic framework, support to building strong and inclusive partner Red Cross Red Crescent societies with capacity to deliver relevant and sustainable country-wide services (as auxiliaries to their public authorities) through volunteers and staff remains a key priority in FRC’s country programming, which is further guided by FRC’s Country Compass.
Job purpose
The overall purpose of the position of the Country Manager is to facilitate strategic partnership and humanitarian and programmatic cooperation between FRC and both Niger and Burkina Faso Red Cross, based on their respective strategies and priorities, for the benefit of most vulnerable population groups – men, women, boys and girls of all ages, of all backgrounds and abilities, in the country. The Country Manager, guided by the Head of Region (HoR), oversees the FRC partnership process in both countries and FRC’s National Society Development (NSD) support to the NS.
The position provides programme support and oversight of the institutional, programmatic, and operational cooperation between the partner societies. The Country Manager is the key focal point for FRC in both countries, representing FRC vis-à-vis partners, donors and wider humanitarian and development community. The Country Manager is responsible of strategic planning, positioning of FRC as key actor for identified thematic objectives and managing accountably FRC’s resources in the countries.
The Country Manager is the budget holder for the FRC’s bilateral projects/programmes and operations in the countries. S/he ensures that both Niger and Burkina Faso Red Cross whom are implementing the projects and operations receive sufficient Project Cycle Management (PCM) support, including compliance, quality control, ensuring technical support and contributing to knowledge development. The Country Manager ensures projects and operations are implemented in time and according to agreed budget frameworks and that reports to FRC HQ and/or back donors are produced in time and with high quality.
Who we are looking for
What we expect from you
We look for a person with capacities and skills as follows:
Requirements:
Education
- University level Master’s Degree in development studies, project management, business administration or other relevant discipline
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic cooperation and partnership management is required, while also experience with support for project and portfolio management through local actors is expected.
- Experience in working with Red Cross/Red Crescent National Society, IFRC or ICRC preferably in the Sub-Saharan region is an asset
- Experience with organizational change and institutional capacity building is an asset.
Knowledge and Skills
- Capacity to work independently and with a wide range of stakeholders and excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Expert knowledge of project/programme cycle management and facilitating related processes, including financial project management
- Self-supporting in using computers and ICT materials
- Strongly motivated by locally-led humanitarian and development work, and high sensitivity to diversity
Languages
- Fluent written and spoken English and French is required, as English is the FRC organizational language and French is the locally used organizational language.
- Only candidates that provide evidence of their bilingual capacity in their application shall be withheld.
Competencies:
- Standard for all delegate positions: National Society relations, Teamwork, Results-focused, Communication, Building trust, Integrity, Diversity and Cultural sensitivity.
- Specific for this position:
- Strategic vision, Change Management mindset, Self-motivated, Critical and analytical mindset, Excellent coordination and negotiation skills, Strong time management, Ability to frequently travel to the implementation area.
- The Country Manager is expected to demonstrate strong competencies in partnership-based leadership, systems thinking, and enabling sustainable National Society Development, in line with the Finnish Red Cross strategic framework and National Society Development core competency framework.
We expect commitment to Red Cross values and principles. We encourage applicants from different backgrounds and sexes.
What we offer to you
You will be a part of the world's largest humanitarian organization and multicultural professional team, reaching the most vulnerable people in their local community. We offer you a chance to learn and grow as a professional with some of the best experts on the field.
We offer you a compensation package according to Finnish Red Cross terms of employment for international delegates. Compensation package includes salary based on your job description, accommodation, insurance package, travel and mission allowance. You will benefit from a comprehensive training package and receive briefings and debriefings prior as well as during and after your mission. Medical check-ups and psychosocial support are included in your assignment.
Apply
Apply now and become a vital part of our commitment to humanitarian assistance.
To apply, kindly send your application, CV and a brief cover letter in English via TalentAdore system as soon as possible, but on Friday 27th February at the latest.
