Economic Security Coordinator 2

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Context

The humanitarian needs in Ethiopia are expected to remain elevated in 2026.The current situation of food insecurity in Etiopia is caused by a complex mix of interrelated factors often reinforce each other. Over the past three years, regions such as Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Somali, and Oromia have experienced the most acute levels of food insecurity.

• The signing of the Pretoria Agreement in November 2022 has been successful in ending the war in Tigray, nonetheless Ethiopia is currently characterized by the presence of 3 active NIACs (GoE/OLA; GoE/FANO, GoE/AlShaabab) and 1 frozen IAC (GoE/Sudan). Conflicts and instability in different regions of Ethiopia have had a significant impact on food production, distribution, and access to markets.
• Ethiopia is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate variability and climate change due to its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources, and relatively low adaptive capacity to deal with these expected changes. Environmental factors had adversely affected crop yields, livestock, and overall agricultural productivity, exacerbating food insecurity in different areas of the country.
• Ethiopia’s economic policies have far-reaching consequences for food security, affecting the affordability, availability, and accessibility of food for its population. In addition to that, the current political and financial crisis impacts the capacity of the Government to provide essential services that will benefit the food security of the country, as fertilizers, seeds and vaccines for animals needs to be imported.

Purpose

Economic Security Coordinator 2 is the focal point for all matters related to economic security (EcoSec) activities at the delegation level and is responsible for setting and implementing priorities, objectives and strategies. S/he directs the orientation, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the delegation’s EcoSec activities and supervises and provides technical support to all staff involved in them. S/he ensures that there is close cooperation with other ICRC programmes (e.g. Protection, Health, and Water and Habitat) in meeting EcoSec objectives so that a multidisciplinary, integrated approach is taken. S/he coordinates closely with the delegation management in conceptualizing, setting and implementing its short- and long-term policies and objectives.

Specific to Ethiopia

Serves as the delegation’s focal point for all economic security (EcoSec) activities, leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies and priorities in Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara. The role ensures a balanced approach between emergency response and early recovery, overseeing interventions such as food/EHI distributions, conditional/unconditional cash transfers, agro-livestock support, capacity building, and contingency planning—with a particular focus on Tigray and Amhara.

Responsible for directing, monitoring, and supervising a team of 19 staff (3 mobile, 16 resident), while providing technical guidance and fostering multidisciplinary integration with ICRC’s Protection, Health, and Water & Habitat programs. Works closely with delegation management to align short- and long-term policies, ensuring a cohesive and context-adapted response to economic security challenges in Ethiopia.

Accountabilities & functional responsibilities

• Contributes to developing the delegation’s strategic orientations for EcoSec issues in cooperation with the management, field offices and other departments (annual planning).
• Is responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the overall EcoSec programme in the country and for managing related budget, staff and material resources (including mobilizing specialists).
• Seeks proactively opportunities for joint and/or complementary activities with other Movement components within the programme management cycle.
• Produces key strategy, planning and reporting documents for the EcoSec programme (strategic and operational plans and quarterly reports).
• Makes contacts and forms stakeholder networks to avoid gaps or duplications in services, building synergies wherever possible.
• Actively seeks to collaborate and build synergies with other ICRC divisions (e.g. Health, Water and Habitat, Protection, Movement Cooperation, Public Communication, Logistics, ICT and Finance and Administration).
• Ensures that the EcoSec programme is prepared for crises and can respond quickly and efficiently; integrates cross-cutting issues at all stages, such as context-specific vulnerabilities, nutrition and accountability to beneficiaries; applies a risk-management approach.
• Coaches and supervises EcoSec staff and directly contributes to developing their capacities.
• Masters most functional responsibilities of Economic Security Generalist 3.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the EcoSec team, delegation management, other coordinators and technical reference persons at headquarters or at regional level.
• Externally, represents the ICRC to the authorities, partners within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and organizations whose work relates to the EcoSec programme, such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme, NGOs, etc.

Our values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.

Reports to (role)

• Head of Delegation

People management responsibilities

• Yes

Scope & impact

• Option 1: (direct cost > CHF 5’000’000 and staff > 10) or
• Option 2: (direct cost > CHF 5’000’000 or staff > 10) and (program complexity >= 4) and (access complexity or senior level external relationships).
• N.B.1.: Program complexity count refers to the number of major programs implemented, incl. emergency assistance, agro (e.g. seed assistance / seed multiplication), veterinary (e.g. de-stocking / vaccination), nutrition (e.g. nutrition in detention / supplementary feeding program), micro economic initiatives program, cash transfer program.
• N.B.2.: Access complexity refers to restrictions in access to the field, incl. erratic access or remote management.
• N.B.3.: Senior level external relationships is a criteria consider for only three contexts today: China, Myanmar and ILOT.
• N.B.4.: The exact positioning of this role will depend on a full evaluation and may change over time.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the EcoSec team, delegation management, other coordinators and technical reference persons at headquarters or at regional level.
• Externally, represents the ICRC to the authorities and organizations whose work relates to the EcoSec programme, such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme, NGOs, etc.
• Movement wise, interacts with and develops regular contacts with relevant Movement counterparts present in the country.

Certifications / Education required

• University degree in economics, agronomy, veterinary or food science, anthropology, etc., or equivalent field experience.
• Specialized post-graduate degree an asset for those without a Bachelors degree in one of the above fields.
• Very good command of English and French.
• Very good computer skills and ability to run specialized software.

Professional experience required

• Ideally 8-10 years overall professional experience, 8 years’ experience in a similar field, of which minimum 3-4 years at the ICRC.
• Management experience an asset.