IFRC DREF Anticipatory Action Officer in London

Location: Budapest, Hungary (with flexibility to be based in IFRC Regional Offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Panama City, Panama, depending on the successful candidate)

Contract: Fixed term contract (8-months). Approximate contract dates: 01/04/26 to 31/12/26

Hours: 35 per week

Salary: £34,032 per annum pro-rata, plus monthly allowances of £1,617 per diem (per diem varies by duty station; the amount shown reflects current Hungary rates)

Status: unaccompanied position

This is a unique secondment with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), supporting the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), a vital mechanism for rapid and reliable funding in emergencies.

About the Role

This role leads key workstreams that strengthen and advance the anticipatory pillar of the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). As the Anticipatory Action Officer, you will provide high‑level technical and analytical support across anticipatory and imminent DREF operations, ensuring coherent, timely and evidence‑based decision‑making. You will play a central role in shaping guidance, improving operational processes, and promoting consistent anticipatory approaches across the IFRC defined regions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead technical review and coordination of anticipatory and imminent DREF operations to ensure high‑quality, evidence‑based and coherent response.
• Provide expert guidance throughout the Early Action Protocol cycle, strengthening forecasting, trigger monitoring and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Drive learning and capacity‑building by turning operational evidence into practical guidance, tools and advanced training.
• Enhance reporting and coordination across teams while acting as a key technical focal point for regional and national stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an analytical thinker and technical expert with a strong track record in humanitarian disaster management systems. You’ll bring:

• Strong technical expertise in anticipatory action, disaster risk financing and humanitarian disaster management systems.
• Advanced analytical skills, with the ability to interpret risk data, forecasting products and operational performance information.
• Excellent communication, coordination and organisational abilities, with confidence working across diverse global stakeholders.
• Experience in producing high‑quality narrative and financial reporting, proposals and evidence‑based recommendations.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused approach, able to identify systemic issues and drive improvements across complex operations.

About the team

The IFRC’s secretariat focuses on setting norms, standards and guidance, ensuring consistency, coordination and accountability for performance, knowledge sharing, and influential representation with global level partners. It is organised in three Divisions: National Society Development and Operations Coordination (NSDOC), Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, Management Policy Strategy & Corporate Services. This position is located in the NSDOC division, as a part of the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) Team.

The DREF is the International Federation’s pooled Fund for National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to access reliable international funding for anticipatory action and emergency response to small and medium scale disasters. The DREF has two pillars, the anticipatory action pillar and the response pillar. Each one with different funding options to support National Societies in anticipatory action and response. The DREF strategic ambition outlines its intention to grow the fund allocations to CHF 100 million out of which 25% will support anticipatory action.

As a member of the International Directorate you will be part of a directorate responsible for BRC’s international humanitarian response and disaster management, support to resilience programmes and organisational development of our partner Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. The work of the International Directorate also includes humanitarian policy and advocacy activities and upholding and promoting International Humanitarian Law.

British Red Cross' international work is carried out in coordination and partnership with the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement.

Closing date for applications: 23:59 GMT, 01 March 2026. Interviews will take place on week commencing 09 March 2026.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, these include:

• Accommodation while on deployment
• Subsistence allowances while overseas
• Travel to and from the country of posting, plus long service flights
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, personal effects and life insurance
• Pre and post assignment medicals and access to excellent health and wellbeing benefits
• Access to a pension, which you can join at any time during your contract
• Generous leave entitlement (36 days incl. public holidays)

A little bit more about us… The British Red Cross help anyone, anywhere in the UK and overseas; get the support they need if crisis strikes. Our organisation was born out of a desire to bring help without discrimination. Impartiality and neutrality have been central values for the Red Cross since we started.

At the British Red Cross, we are looking for the best people to help us provide support to millions of people affected by crisis in the UK. We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Diversity is something we celebrate, and we want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross. We want you to feel that you are in an inclusive environment, and a great position to help us spread the power of kindness.

In the British Red Cross we will not tolerate any form of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. We have a code of conduct in place, and are committed to creating a culture of integrity in the organisation where misconduct is not tolerated, situations of abuse are quickly investigated and perpetrators are dealt with effectively.

British Red Cross also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme for roles within the International Directorate. In line with the scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

If you are appointed to a role within BRC you will be subject to the organisation's Code of Conduct, a copy of which you can find on our website. As part of its recruitment and selection process the British Red Cross undertakes DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checking of all individuals who regularly work with or have access to children and vulnerable adults.

If driving is an essential requirement of the role, appropriate driver checks will be completed in line with current policy.