The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organisation whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Hausa Interpreter
Location: Nigeria, various sites
Type of role: Mobile
Working rate: 100%
Starting Date: Continuous, global deployment roster
Hardship: Variable
Job Level: B2
Length of assignment: 12 months, extendable
Contract type: Maximum-term contract
Job Purpose
- Language is at the heart of humanitarian action; it enables dialogue, builds trust, and ensures that people affected by conflict can express themselves and be heard.
- The ICRC Interpreter plays a critical role in enabling this by facilitating accurate and meaningful communication among ICRC delegates, affected populations, authorities, and other stakeholders.
- Through interpretation in sensitive and complex contexts, including protection activities, visits to detainees, family reunification processes, and dialogue with parties to conflict, the Interpreter ensures that every conversation can take place with clarity, respect, and confidentiality.
- This is a unique, people-centered role that goes beyond translating words.
- It requires judgment, cultural awareness, and a deep understanding of the humanitarian principles guiding the ICRC’s work, helping build bridges of understanding where communication can make a real difference.
Accountabilities & functional Responsibilities
- Oral interpretation: from Russian to English and vice versa during confidential interviews with people deprived of liberty, ICRC institutional dissemination, ICRC dialogue with authorities, activities to establish the family links which includes delivering Red Cross messages, family tracing and visits to families of detainees.
- Written translation: translation of Russian language (newspaper articles, correspondence, etc.) into written English.
- Analysis and reporting as required: analysis of conditions of detention, security and other matters relating to the ICRC’s mandate.
- Can be asked to provide support on other protection activities as needed.
Relationships:
- Externally, interacts with the authorities, representatives of other organizations and beneficiaries, both within and outside places of detention.
- May be called upon to develop a network of contacts related to operational needs.
- Internally, interacts with staff in other departments.
Required profile and skills
- Excellent command of English (C1) required.
- Excellent command of Hausa (C1) required.
- Proficiency in other ICRC operational languages (French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese) is a strong asset.
- 2 years of professional experience. Previous interpreter or translator experience is an advantage.
- Strongly motivated by humanitarian work.
- Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment.
- Open-minded and adaptable.
- University education / Degree in interpretation or translation is an advantage.
Our operational & field constraints:
- In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals.
- Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field.
- Candidates must possess a driving licence (for manual transmission vehicles).
- Candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for the first two missions (minimum 12 months each) or total of 24 months.
What we offer
- Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment.
- A two-week orientation course and other opportunities for further in-house training.
- Attractive social benefits.
- Join an ICRC talent pool and be considered for future assignments elsewhere.
Application Closing Date
Not Specified.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
