What does your job entail?
My name is Aisha North, I am 28 years old, I come from Malaysia, Canada, and the UK, and I am a Business Development Advisor at the Netherlands Red Cross. I am part of the team that focuses on ‘Financial Sustainability’ within the International department.
My job involves supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies from around the world in developing profitable businesses or social enterprises. By creating and running businesses that match Red Cross values, such as selling First Aid trainings and kits, National Societies can generate income that can be used to support their humanitarian mission and cover core costs of the organisation. This gives National Societies much needed flexibility in order to respond quickly and effectively to unexpected humanitarian situations, without having to wait for additional funding to become available.
In my role, I travel about 30% of my time to work in-country with partners in various National Societies, and the rest of the time I am based in The Hague supporting National Societies remotely.
How did you come to joining the Netherlands Red Cross?
Ever since I was young, I have always admired the important work of organisations like the Red Cross. It inspired me so much that I knew I wanted to work in this sector, leading me to undertake studies, internships, projects, and work experience related to the field. After finishing my studies, I worked for 6 years at a human rights organisation in The Hague before joining the Netherlands Red Cross, and when this particular role came up, I knew it was my time to join the movement.
What do you like most about the work and the organisation?
There are many reasons why I love working for the Red Cross and in this position. What I admire most about the organization is the passion, diversity, and drive of the staff. I really enjoy working with and meeting such incredible people. You get to meet people that have been with the Red Cross for their entire careers, to people who have worked in various countries working for the Red Cross, to those that started off as volunteers and later joined as staff members. It is extremely inspiring to work with and get to know such colleagues. Particularly in my own role, I get the opportunity to work with so many people from various National Societies around the world from the Caribbean to West Africa, to Central Asia, as well as with IFRC delegations from across the world. That for me is one of the highlights of working at the Red Cross.
As for my position, previously I never thought I could find a role that could bring together both my interest in business development and the humanitarian field. This just goes to show you that there are so many diverse career opportunities within an organisation such as the Netherlands Red Cross. Whether you have skills in finance, monitoring and evaluation, project management, human resources, or business - people with diverse backgrounds, interests, and skills can meaningfully contribute to the mission of the Red Cross.
What would you really like to say to a new colleague?
For new colleagues joining the Red Cross, I’d say to be curious and open. There is so much to learn within this movement, and so many people to learn from, meet, and exchange experiences with!
Can you say something about your development since you joined the Netherlands Red Cross?
Working for the Netherlands Red Cross has been a huge opportunity for me in terms of my own development. My team has supported me greatly in coming into my position, while also giving me the space to grow and make this role my own. Since starting, I have had the opportunity to join and contribute to various conferences. I've been exposed to many different contexts and I've been given the opportunity to take on roles and responsibilities that have been both challenging and exciting. I am extremely grateful for the trust the organisation has placed in me, as well as the support they offer to foster my development.
Keen to combine your expertise in building strong organisations with your motivation to help Red Cross societies overseas? Find the vacancies with an international focus here.