Officer, Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NS). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member NSs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Societies Development (NSD) and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has CCD and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The CCD Bangkok covers four countries namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and operates as one joint team to support each country’s NS. The CCD Bangkok also provides secretariat support to the Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Networks and represents IFRC with the United Nations ESCAP and other regional organizations based in Bangkok.

Job Purpose

The Officer, DPR provides technical support to the four National Societies in the field of disaster preparedness and response. She/he is the main focal point for the four National Societies wishing to develop early action protocols, request the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), or when requesting IFRC to launch an Emergency Appeal (EA) on their behalf. The Officer, DPR is also the focal person for the Red Ready Initiative implemented by the Lao RC, and the team member responsible for the adaptation and implementation of the preparedness for effective response (PER) framework across the four National Societies.  

The Officer, DPR is the manager and (whenever necessary) the budget holder for all projects aiming at strengthening the capacities to respond to disasters and crises in the four countries. She/he ensures all emergency preparedness initiatives are supported by existing IFRC frameworks (e.g. Preparedness for Effective Response), 

and all emergency operations commit to the higher humanitarian standards and are aligned with the Principles & Rules – Humanitarian Assistance, and the IFRC emergency response framework (ERF). She/he is the manager and budget holder of DREF and EA operations implemented in any of the four countries covered by the CCD Bangkok.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical support and management

• Provide technical support and oversee as project manager the planning and implementation any institutional preparedness projects and initiatives in any of the four countries.
• Assist National Societies in activating DREF and launching emergency appeals and as project manager, help plan, manage, monitor and evaluate and disaster response operations in any of the four countries, or handover to a dedicated Operations Manager if required.
• Promote the preparedness for effective response (PER) framework as the IFRC standard.
• Support the development of pro-forma emergency plans of action (EPoAs) for DREF and EA based on most likely disasters (e.g. floods).
• Inform and train relevant National Society staff about IFRC emergency response tools (DREF, EA, surge mechanism, etc.)
• Coordinates the overall day-to day weather forecast and disaster alerts and provides early warning information updates to country focal points for immediate attention and support the National Societies in preparedness and early action.

Policy and planning

• Support National Societies in formulating hazard specific contingency plans as well as emergency response standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Project management

• Ensure accurate and timely disaster response and operation information report are posted on the IFRC’s GO Platform by liaising with the country focal points in their submission, or as required, posting information on their behalf.
• Support National Societies in drafting flash updates, field reports, DREF EPoAs, emergency appeals, and operation updates and upload them in the relevant platform and website.
• Develop various emergency preparedness project proposals, ensure timely and effective project monitoring including monitoring of the budgets as budget holder.
• Produce timely and accurate reporting.
• As budget holder, manage budgets as requested by the Programme Coordinator.

Coordination, cooperation and networking

• Facilitate and participate in operational and technical coordination among Movement partners in the sub-region to share good practices and lessons learned from the four National Societies.
• Liaise with ICRC Cooperation staff in Bangkok to ensure good communication and avoid overlap when supporting National Societies’ emergency operations.
• Act as the Focal point for the Emergency Operations team in IFRC APRO.

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict moral confidentiality and do not disclose neither spread any confidential or sensitive information.
• Organize archives of all reports and documents and treat them as confidential material

Education

Relevant university degree or equivalent (Required)

Experience

Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent in emergency response operations (Preferred)
5-7 years of experience in the adequate field i.e. disaster management (Required)
Experience of managing, coaching and supporting staff (Preferred)
Experience of planning and managing finances and budgets (Required)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Relevant training in Disaster Risk Management related subjects (Required)
Good knowledge of disasters, disaster response and preparedness (Required)
Skills in planning and implementing training course, workshops, etc. (Preferred)
Facilitation, communication and co-ordination skills (in relation to mobilization of technical support to National Societies) (Required)
Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing) (Required)
Strong skills in general administration, oral and written communication (Required)Fluently spoken and written English (Required)
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (Preferred)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Remark: Salary Range, Grade 6 (THB 56,764.00 - 69,377.00/month)

Thai citizen or foreigner with eligible visa can apply