Officer, Readiness and Preparedness

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion.

The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe. The 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 IFRC is scaling up a national society‑led response centred on community engagement, surveillance, and infection control, supported by an emergency appeal. Red Cross volunteers are mobilized in affected areas to conduct door‑to‑door awareness, counter misinformation, encourage early care‑seeking, and support safe and dignified burials, key to breaking transmission. At the same time, the IFRC is coordinating closely with governments and partners, strengthening cross border preparedness, mobilizing resources and surge capacity, and supporting logistics, infection prevention control, and community-based surveillance to contain the outbreak and reduce regional spread.

The Ebola outbreak, declared mid‑May 2026, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, with hundreds of suspected cases and hundreds of deaths reported across Ituri, South Kivu and North Kivu provinces. It began with clusters of unexplained deaths in early May and is spreading in a context of weak health systems, population movement, insecurity, and community mistrust, which together increase the risk of sustained transmission and cross‑border spread to neighboring countries such as Uganda and South Sudan. The absence of an approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain makes the outbreak particularly complex and heightens the urgency of rapid containment.

The Readiness and Preparedness Officer provides technical coordination for Ebola preparedness, readiness, and anticipatory action initiatives across DRC and other cluster countries (Burundi, Congo and Rwanda). The Readiness and Preparedness Officer reports to the Deputy Operations Manager.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Operations Manager, the Readiness and Preparedness Officer supports the National Society and IFRC in strengthening operational readiness, contingency planning, early warning and early action systems, cross-border preparedness, community-based surveillance, and response capacities to minimize the impact of Ebola outbreaks.

The role ensures that preparedness interventions are evidence-based, aligned with IFRC frameworks and national strategies, and contribute to strengthening institutional and community resilience to epidemic threats. The officer works closely with health, PGI, CEA, PMER, logistics, and external partners to ensure preparedness measures are functional, tested, and ready for activation.

the effective planning, coordination, and implementation of the operation in line with IFRC standards and the Emergency Response Framework.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Ebola Readiness and Preparedness

• Lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Ebola preparedness and readiness activities under the Emergency Appeal and preparedness programmes.
• Support National Society branches and volunteers in strengthening Ebola preparedness capacities.
• Ensure contingency plans, preparedness action plans, and standard operating procedures are up to date and regularly reviewed.
• Coordinate simulation exercises, drills, and readiness assessments to test operational capacities.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of surge mechanisms, standby rosters, and emergency deployment systems.
• Monitor readiness indicators and preparedness benchmarks and recommend corrective actions where gaps are identified.

Epidemic Anticipatory Action and Early Warning

• Coordinate inputs and contributions to the Federation-wide Appeal, ensuring timely, accurate, and high-quality submissions.
• Support the development and operationalization of Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) systems for Ebola and other epidemic-prone diseases.
• Contribute to the design and testing of Anticipatory Action frameworks and Early Action Protocols.
• Monitor epidemiological trends, risk indicators, and contextual factors that may trigger preparedness actions.
• Promote integration of Ebola preparedness within broader multi-hazard disaster risk management approaches.
• Strengthen linkages between epidemic preparedness, climate-related risks, and community resilience initiatives.

Cross-Border and Regional Coordination

• Support coordination with neighbouring National Societies and IFRC delegations on Ebola preparedness initiatives.
• Strengthen cross-border information sharing, joint planning, and preparedness mechanisms.
• Support harmonization of community engagement, surveillance, risk communication, and referral systems across borders.
• In the absence of the Dep Ops Manager participate in regional preparedness platforms and technical working groups.
• Coordinate with government authorities, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners involved in Ebola preparedness.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

NS Capacity Strengthening

• Organize and facilitate trainings for NS/IFRC staff and volunteers on:

• Ebola readiness and preparedness to respond
• Community-based surveillance
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
• Safe and Dignified Burials (SDB)
• Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
• Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA)
• Support branch-level preparedness planning and implementation
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange among National Societies
• Support Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) assessments and action planning

Community Readiness and Risk Communication

• Support community preparedness initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and reducing Ebola transmission risks.
• Work closely with CEA teams to strengthen community feedback systems and address misinformation, rumors, and concerns.
• Ensure preparedness interventions are community-centred and inclusive.
• Support the development and dissemination of preparedness messaging and community engagement tools.

Information Management, Reporting and Learning

• Track preparedness activities and maintain readiness monitoring tools.
• Prepare regular progress reports, situation updates, and technical briefs.
• Support preparedness assessments, after-action reviews, and lessons learned exercises.
• Contribute to donor reporting and operational updates.
• Document best practices and support knowledge management initiatives.

Education

Required

• University degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Disaster Risk Management, Health Sciences, Community Development, International Relations, or related field

Preferred

• IMPACT training or equivalent knowledge. 
  

Experience

Required

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in disaster management, public health emergency preparedness, or epidemic preparedness
• Experience supporting preparedness and response operations
• Experience working with government health authorities, humanitarian organizations, or the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
• Experience in capacity strengthening and training delivery
• Experience in contingency planning and preparedness assessments.
  

Preferred

• Previous Ebola outbreak preparedness or response experience
• Experience supporting cross-border health emergency preparedness initiatives
• Knowledge of IFRC PER, EWEA, and Anticipatory Action frameworks
  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Strong understanding of epidemic readiness, preparedness and response
• Knowledge of Ebola prevention, surveillance, IPC, and community engagement approaches
• Familiarity with preparedness planning, PER, contingency planning, and readiness assessment tools
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Excellent coordination, networking, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience facilitating trainings and workshops
• Ability to work in multicultural and high-pressure environments
• Strong planning, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications or IFRC digital tools or related
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and digital data management platforms, including IFRC systems and tools, with the ability to effectively utilize technology for planning, reporting, information management, and operational readiness
• Good written and spoken English and English

Preferred

• Specialized training in epidemic preparedness, outbreak management, IPC, RCCE, or public health emergencies
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic)
• Knowledge of Congolese National Languages
  

Competencies, Values and Comments

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; National Society relations; Strategic orientation; Communication; Teamwork