Intern, Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation

Vacancy No.

S15735

Category of Contract

Intern

Position Type

Intern

Application Deadline

30/10/2025

Job Posted On

16/10/2025

Duty Station

Geneva, Switzerland

Country

SWITZERLAND

Grade

Internship, Not Applicable

Duty Station Status

Family Duty Station

Accompanied Status

Non-Accompanied

Duration

6 months

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.

The Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation (CCHN) is a joint initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Our aim is to facilitate the capture, analysis, and sharing of experiences and practices around humanitarian negotiation and to provide a space for dialogue across humanitarian organisations. At the core of our activities is the CCHN community of practice, a global community of humanitarian negotiators working at the frontlines of humanitarian action.

The CCHN is administratively hosted by the IFRC and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Job Purpose

The Intern, Operations (Africa / Transversal Thematics) is part of the CCHN Operations team comprised of the Team Leads of Transversal and Regional Operations, the two Regional Operation Managers, two transversal Project/Operations Managers, four Operation Associates and the Senior Curriculum Adviser.

The position holder provides administrative and operational support needed for the successful implementation of online and onsite events and workshops offered to the CCHN Community of frontline negotiators.

The Intern reports to the Operations Manager who covers both transversal files, such as Protection / Health negotiation, and Central and Eastern Africa region (Sudan, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, amongst others).

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Tech-hosting & Event Management
• As a tech-host, organize the technical support of online activities across platforms (Zoom, Teams, Miro, Mighty Networks, WhatsApp, etc.), ensuring smooth user experience.
• Advise on improving accessibility of digital events and platforms.
• Organize the recording of attendance in the system, in close coordination with LOG.
• Coordinate with COM for the publication of new events on the CCHN webpage (via Titan forms & Salesforce).

• Whenever required: provide support to logistic in the organization of events and provide translation/interpretation.

• Support to Community Engagement & Management

• Update and manage contact databases on Salesforce.
• Support the OPS/Project Manager in the engagement with the CCHN community of humanitarian negotiators. (Connect, WhatsApp, Emails).
• Participate in community events (online sessions, meetings, peer exchanges).
• Support the OPS/Project Manager with a first screening of applications/requests for participation.
• Provide support to participants regarding technical/administrative questions, raising any serious concern/problem to the OPS/Project Manager.

• Advise on possible amendments to improve the quality of the engagement.

• Support to Operational Research & Knowledge Management

• Support the OPS/Project Manager in the preparation of analytical reports, background papers, and summaries of findings and research.

• Other

• Provide ad hoc support across operations team activities.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat's goals.

• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.

• 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.
• Current university student or recent graduate in political sciences, international relations or equivalent.

Experience

Required

• Experience in project and information flow management.
• Experience in planning, organisation, and data-management software.

Preferred

• Professional experience ideally of 1-2 years in the humanitarian sector (with a preference in Protection or Health).

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluently spoken and written English, French.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills (including writing and editing).
• Knowledge of standard office administrative practices and procedures.
• Proficient computer skills and familiarity with online communication platforms.
• Capacity to deal with evolving technology as well as with constraints on digital access in some humanitarian contexts.
• Strong capacity to adapt to new demands and changing environments.
• Ability to work in an autonomous manner in a professional team, including under tight deadlines.
• Capacity to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including good public presentation.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Proficient in computer skills and online interactive platform (CMS, Zoom, Teams, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Salesforce, Miro etc.)
• Excellent knowledge in MS suite (Excel, Word and PPT).

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language as Arabic.
• Experience managing online communities an asset.

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 Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.

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