Abdallah Selega

Role summary:

Provided strategic leadership and operational oversight for multi-sector humanitarian and development programmes at branch level, managing teams, volunteers, resources, and partnerships to deliver high-quality, accountable services to over 25,000 – 50,000 community members annually, in alignment with IFRC Strategy 2030 and National Society priorities.

Roles and responsibilities.

Programme Leadership and Delivery
• Led planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of multi-sector programmes including disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, health, livelihoods, youth development, and social protection, managing annual programme portfolios valued at USD 500,000–1.5 million.
• Ensured on time budget delivery of activities across 7 districts, achieving 90%+ compliance with donor USAID, IFRC, Finish Red Cross, Mastercard Foundation, American Red Cross and National Society standards.
• Translated national and IFRC strategies into branches level operational plans, driving measurable improvements in service reach, quality, and community impact.
Branches Development and Organizational Strengthening
• Led branches capacity strengthening initiatives, improving governance functionality, operational systems, and programme management processes, resulting in increased branch performance and audit readiness.
• Supported and advised Branch Boards and Committees, strengthening compliance with statutes, policies, and accountability mechanisms.
• Introduced standardized planning, reporting, and coordination systems, improving programme tracking and decision-making efficiency by 30–40%.
Volunteer, Youth, and Team Management
• Managed and supported 10 branch staff, 80–300 active volunteers, and multiple youth groups, ensuring effective recruitment, training, deployment, and retention.
• Led capacity development programmes, including induction and refresher trainings for 80+ Field Team Leaders from Tanzania and the UK, strengthening leadership, safeguarding, and operational competence.
• Promoted inclusive youth leadership, increasing youth participation in branch programmes by 40%.
Safeguarding, Risk Management, and Accountability
• Provided overall safeguarding leadership at branch level, ensuring 100% of staff and volunteers received safeguarding, Code of Conduct, and PSEA training.
• Ensured full compliance with safeguarding reporting and response procedures, managing sensitive incidents with professionalism, confidentiality, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Strengthened Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms, including feedback and complaint systems, improving community trust and programme accountability.
Coordination, Representation, and Partnerships
• Served as the primary branches focal point for coordination with local government authorities, IFRC, NGOs, UN agencies, and community leaders.
• Represented the organization in district and regional coordination forums, contributing to joint planning, emergency preparedness, and response efforts.
• Supported partnership development and local resource mobilization initiatives, contributing to 15–25% increases in branch-level funding or in-kind support.
Finance, Logistics, and Compliance Oversight
• Oversaw branches budgets, expenditure tracking, procurement, and asset management in collaboration with finance and logistics teams.
• Ensured compliance with financial controls, procurement procedures, and audit requirements, maintaining zero major audit findings.
• Supported emergency and development operations through efficient logistical coordination and resource deployment.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting (MEL)
• Ensured timely, accurate reporting to National Society and IFRC, including narrative, financial, and indicator-based reports.
• Promoted learning and adaptive management, documenting best practices and lessons learned to improve programme effectiveness.
• Used data and community feedback to inform programme adjustments, improving outcome-level results by 20%+.

Raleigh International Tanzania in Partnership with Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) and Agronomos San Fronteras implemented ICS
project, The ICS Livelihood project was an International Citizen Service, a project implemented in Iringa and Morogoro funded by UK government through Department for International Development (DFID) that aimed at boosting women and youth livelihood within agriculture value chain and environment with innovation capacities.

Under this position, I was reporting to Country Operations Manager, managing livelihood project operations in Morogoro and Iringa ensuring youth and young women improve their livelihoods.

Roles and responsibilities

• Spearheaded organizational capacity development, systematically identifying staff capacity gaps and operational risks, and providing regular strategic updates and recommendations to the Country Operations Manager to strengthen programme delivery and performance.
• Worked cross-functionally with Finance, Programmes, Logistics, and Youth Development departments, ensuring integrated planning, operational efficiency, and alignment between programme objectives and support functions.
• Delivered targeted one-to-one coaching and performance support to Community Livelihood Youth Facilitators and Field Team Leaders, strengthening leadership, decision-making, safeguarding awareness, and delivery quality at field level.
• Provided visible and values-driven leadership as a positive role model, fostering a professional, inclusive, and high-performing team culture while respecting roles, responsibilities, and delegated authority across teams.
• Offered continuous mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to Livelihood Field Team Leaders, improving staff retention, morale, and consistency of programme standards across multiple locations.
• Supported the Duty Manager in managing complex operational situations, including code of conduct breaches, safeguarding concerns, and challenging behaviours, ensuring timely, proportionate, and policy-compliant responses.
• Maintained 24/7 Operational Communications (Ops Comms) oversight through a structured rota system, ensuring real-time support, rapid decision-making, and duty of care for all programme teams operating in community settings.
• Proactively troubleshot operational and risk-related issues, conducting monitoring visits to sub-branch offices and field locations to ensure quality assurance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Planned and delivered a high impact induction programme for 80 Livelihood Field Team Leaders from Tanzania and the UK, equipping leaders with operational, safeguarding, and programme management competencies to effectively lead community-based interventions.
• Led the design and delivery of comprehensive Safeguarding training for staff at all levels, including Project Officers, Programme Managers, Coordinators, UK and Tanzanian Livelihood Team Leaders, and Volunteers, ensuring a robust safeguarding culture and zero tolerance for harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, or exploitation across programme implementation.
• Ensured full compliance with safeguarding reporting and response procedures, providing decisive leadership during reportable incidents and strengthening staff confidence, accountability, and adherence to organizational safeguarding standards.