Head of Inter-Agency Working Group East and Central

What will you do:

• The Head of the Inter‑Agency Working Group (IAWG) provides strategic leadership and representation for a regional, member‑led platform of international NGOs operating across East and Central Africa.
• The role exists to strengthen collective NGO leadership, coordination, and influence in humanitarian and protracted crisis contexts, ensuring that NGO perspectives shape regional humanitarian priorities, policies, partnerships, and resource decisions.
• The postholder serves as the primary convenor, strategist, and external representative of the IAWG at regional and global levels.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Set and drive the strategic direction of the IAWG in line with its Charter and multi‑year strategy.
• Lead strategic reviews and future planning, ensuring relevance to evolving humanitarian, political, climate, and security dynamics.
• Provide regular high‑level reporting and advice to the IAWG Steering Committee.

Collective NGO Coordination

• Convene and facilitate senior‑level coordination among NGO Regional Directors.
• Enable coherence, complementarity, and shared positioning across member organisations.
• Oversee the effective functioning of IAWG working groups and collective initiatives.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

• Position the IAWG as a credible, authoritative regional NGO voice on humanitarian priorities.
• Lead the development and articulation of common policy positions, messages, and advocacy priorities.
• Represent agreed NGO positions in regional and global policy and decision‑making forums.

External Representation and Partnerships

• Act as the primary representative of the IAWG with UN agencies, regional institutions, donors, and humanitarian partners.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships that advance collective NGO objectives and humanitarian outcomes.
• Strengthen alignment and collaboration with country‑level NGO fora and global NGO platforms.

Institutional Sustainability and Governance

• Ensure the financial sustainability and institutional credibility of the IAWG.
• Lead resource mobilization for core operations, analysis, and advocacy capacity.
• Support sound governance, transparency, and accountability to IAWG members.

Secretariat Oversight

• Ensure effective delivery, performance management, and compliance with host agency systems.

Note: The above responsibilities are just a snapshot.

Generic professional competencies for this position: 

Experience and expertise

• Minimum 10 years of progressive international experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts, including regional‑level roles.
• Proven leadership in multi-agency coordination, coalition building, or network governance 
• Strong understanding of humanitarian operations, NGO systems, and crisis dynamics in East and Central Africa.
• Proven experience in advocacy, policy engagement, and strategic communications.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic leadership and systems thinking.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and representational skills.
• Excellent analytical and policy writing.
• Ability to build consensus across diverse organizations and mandates.
• High‑level communication and public speaking skills.

Education and Language

• Postgraduate qualification in international relations, development, political science, or a related field.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

What we offer

• Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya
• Salary/benefits: grade 11 on NRC’s international salary scale. 
• Duration of Contract: 2 years
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.