Economic Security Coordinator Role Available

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 promote respect for international humanitarian law. As an independent and neutral organization, our mandate stems from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We collaborate closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their International Federation to ensure a concerted, rational, and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of victims of armed conflict or internal violence.

Context

The humanitarian needs in Ethiopia are expected to remain elevated in 2026. The current situation of food insecurity in Ethiopia is caused by a complex mix of interrelated factors. 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 ended the war in Tigray. However, Ethiopia currently has 3 active NIACs (GoE/OLA; GoE/FANO; GoE/AlShabaab) and 1 frozen IAC (GoE/Sudan). Conflicts and instability in different regions have significantly impacted food production, distribution, and access to markets.
• Ethiopia is vulnerable to climate variability and climate change due to its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and low adaptive capacity. Environmental factors have adversely affected crop yields, livestock, and overall agricultural productivity, exacerbating food insecurity.
• Ethiopia's economic policies have far-reaching consequences for food security, affecting the affordability, availability, and accessibility of food. The current political and financial crisis impacts the Government's capacity to provide essential services, as fertilizers, seeds, and vaccines for animals need 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. Responsibilities include setting and implementing priorities, objectives, and strategies, directing planning, monitoring, and evaluation of EcoSec activities, and ensuring close cooperation with other ICRC programs.

Specific to Ethiopia

Serves as the delegation’s focal point for all 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.

Responsible for directing, monitoring, and supervising a team of 19 staff while providing technical guidance and fostering multidisciplinary integration with ICRC’s Protection, Health, and Water & Habitat programs.

Accountabilities & Functional Responsibilities

• Contributes to developing the delegation's strategic orientations for EcoSec issues in cooperation with management, field offices, and other departments.
• Responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the overall EcoSec program in the country.
• Seeks opportunities for joint and/or complementary activities with other Movement components.
• Produces key strategy, planning, and reporting documents for the EcoSec program.
• Forms stakeholder networks to avoid gaps or duplications in services.
• Collaborates with other ICRC divisions.
• Ensures the EcoSec program is prepared for crises and can respond quickly and efficiently.
• Coaches and supervises EcoSec staff and contributes to developing their capacities.
• Masters most functional responsibilities of Economic Security Generalist 3.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the EcoSec team, delegation management, and other coordinators.
• Externally, represents the ICRC to authorities and organizations related to the EcoSec program.

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 is 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.

Skills Required:

• Agricultural / Studies
• Animal / Science / Veterinary
• Economics / Statistics
• Food / Technology / Science / Engineering
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development