Regional Disaster Risk Management Delegate

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its 192 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC’s work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality), policies and by Strategy 2020, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade. The IFRC Secretariat has a decentralized structure: five regional offices (each with several CCST and country offices reporting to it) covering the globe and responsible for frontline delivery through National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, backed by the Secretariat HQ based in Geneva. The MENA regional office based in Beirut; Lebanon supports 17 national societies in the region. The MENA Disaster and Crisis prevention, response and recovery (DCPRR) unit within the MENA regional office and works with one regional plan as well as provides the technical support & quality assurance to country cluster support teams and country offices. The MENA DCPRR unit has articulated its alignment with the IFRC global 4 Strategies for Implementation and the relevant Areas of Focus.

Job Purpose

The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) delegate as part of the MENA DCPRR unit will ensure, facilitate and support the application of Disaster Risk Management related policies, strategies and other technical measures to support - in a coordinated manner - MENA national societies, the IFRC offices and the movement partners to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing disaster risk and manage residual risk (through disaster preparedness, response and recovery), contributing to the strengthening of resilience and reduction of disaster losses.

S/he will work on enhancing the Disaster Risk Management capacity of MENA national societies with a focus on priority contexts (i.e. Syria crisis affected countries, Iraq, Yemen and Libya) to anticipate, prepare for and respond to disasters and crisis in an effective and efficient manner and to support communities in building safety and resilience. The post holder will also support the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic,

S/he will also lead thematically at regional level on the following areas: Forecast-Based Action, Climate-smart DRR, Preparedness for effective response, green response and recovery.

S/he will be serving as an outreach surge capacity (up to 4 weeks per mission) to be deployed on short missions to country cluster offices and country offices to deliver specific Disaster Risk Management technical ToRs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strengthening organizational preparedness

• Strengthen the Federation's work in promoting a holistic and integrated approach to disaster risk management (DRM) in line with the Federation's frameworks, strategies and approaches including the new DRM policy.

• Co-ordinate and deliver technical support to MENA National Societies and their branches to strengthen their Disaster Risk Management capacities in line with Federation-wide and regional policies and strategies emphasizing National Society institutional preparedness for future disasters.
• Support the strengthening of MENA national societies’ human resources technical capacity to establish national, branch and community level disaster response teams and related SOPs and triggering mechanisms.
• Lead on the technical support to the MENA National Societies to enhance their institutional preparedness for effective response (PER) and to update their DM/DRM strategies, contingency plans and Standard Operating Procedures, closely coordinating with other technical departments.
• Collecting and update the information related in the National Society following PER exercise/s to establish a mapping using Go platform
• Provide support to DRM Optimization process during 2020/2021 as part of the DCPRR MENA planning
• Coordinate the development/revision of DRM technical materials and training curricula together with the MENA national societies technical counterparts and other technical departments
• Promote integrated programming approach by National Societies, linking DRR with Disaster Laws, Shelter, Livelihoods and Basic Needs, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Migration and National Society Development.
• Together with other DCPRR staff members, ensure an adequate Secretariat readiness plan that is updated and tested on annual basis
• Lead on a process to support national societies to access to pre-agreed financing to respond ahead of a disaster, for example, by applying the forecast-based financing approach and development of early action protocols.

Placing people affected by disasters in the center of what we do and acting with a strong focus on results and impact.

• Ensure that needs assessments, planned response activities and recovery programs incorporate a gender and diversity analysis and are designed and implemented in a culturally sensitive, participatory, inclusive and accessible way that respects and protects dignity and human rights.
• Work together with he Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) with the aim to advise, support and promote the mainstreaming of CEA Senior Officer into the national societies operations and DRM programs to ensure continuously improving the efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, sustainability and impact of RCRC assistance.

Investing in community preparedness and risk reduction

• Coordinate and provide technical support to climate-smart risk reduction programs of the MENA national societies in an effective way to reduce the impacts of disasters and to protect community resources including livelihoods, built environment and nature.

• Lead on the roll-out and technical support to the interested MENA national societies on humanitarian anticipation with a focus on Forecast-based Financing (FbF) and Early Action Protocol (EAP) development together with partners.

• Support MENA National Societies in scaling up of preparedness at community level, specifically early warning and early action (EWEA) including Forecast-Based Action (FbA), as part of the overall DRM system.

• Together with the Information Management technical staff, improve the collection of risk data to strengthen a comprehensive Federation- wide risk analysis of hazards and their potential impacts in high risk areas and contribute to situational analysis for the broader humanitarian community before and after a disaster strikes.

Saving lives and livelihoods by responding to disasters in an effective, coherent and timely manner with consideration for long-term effects of humanitarian response

• Ensure appropriate use of flexible delivery mechanisms for response and recovery outcomes, especially cash and voucher assistance and market-based approaches,

• Be available to be deployed by the IFRC Secretariat to provide technical and /or operational support to other IFRC offices and National Societies within MENA region or other regions.

Providing the basis for longer-term recovery and strengthen resilience for the future

• Coordinate early recovery technical assistance to MENA national societies’ programs and operations that support people’s self-recovery, determined by people’s and communities’ own needs and priorities.
• Promote joint planning and integrated programming in response and recovery, including, where applicable in the context, to strengthen the key inter-relationships between livelihoods, shelter, health, water and sanitation, the environment (with a focus on green response), protection activities, restoring family links and psycho-social support in affected communities. Integrated programming ensures that a holistic understanding of communities’ needs and capacities inform operational and advocacy responses.
• Support MENA national societies to develop operational risk management methodology, transition and exit strategies as early as possible during response and recovery operations.
• Lead regional efforts to strengthen National Society capacity in recovery programming with a focus on developing appropriate post disaster recovery plans and frameworks, operation strategic planning and managing the smooth transition from relief to recovery to longer term developmental programming
• Ensure the inclusion of early recovery planning in emergency response planning and post-crises programming.

Maximizing the leverage and influence of Red Cross Red Crescent value and Partnering within the Movement and with others.

• Strengthening Movement Coordination and Cooperation (SMCC) initiative in situations in which National Societies, IFRC and ICRC are involved.
• Develop clear methods to communicate with communities, media and the public on disaster risk management activities, timeframes and strategies to ensure that promises made are deliverable, activities are appropriate and sustainable, and adequate attention is given to less visible but highly devastating disasters.
• Promote IFRC policy framework, standards, tools, methodologies, systems and procedures as well as DRR/DM mechanisms and tools available through the IFRC
• Support MENA National Societies and Secretariat offices to engage in national and regional policy dialogue platforms such as National DRM Platforms or similar forums.
• Support effective coordination, collaboration and networking within and beyond the IFRC system on all issues related to DRM and resilience.
• Provide coordination support to movement partners with respect to disaster risk management in the MENA region.
• Represent the IFRC in technical DRM meetings, conferences, seminars, trainings and forums in the MENA region.
• Revive and facilitate the Technical Working Group on Disaster Risk Management.

Coordinate with members of Red Cross Red Crescent movement and humanitarian organizations in the region for DRM activities

Contribute to regular knowledge sharing on good practices in DRM in the MENA region

Participate and contribute to the International Federation's DRM networking and knowledge sharing mechanisms. Support the National Societies and the Secretariat engage in the national, and regional policy dialogues (such as, National DRM Platforms and interagency technical working groups).

Education

• University Degree-Required

• Relevant training in Disaster Risk Management or equivalent-Required

• IMPACT (International Mobilization and Preparation for Action) Course or also known as BTC (Basic Training Course)-Preferred

Experience

• 5 – 7 years’ professional experience in disaster risk management and/or operations coordination-Required

• • 3-year experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation in a fragile and complex settings-Preferred
• • 3-year work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and/or with a National Society -Required

• Experience in programme management, strategy development, developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance and in establishing and maintaining networks-Required

Knowledge, skills and languages

• Able to represent the organisation at international level

• Advocacy, representation and negotiation skills

• Strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into action

• Team leadership and Team Building skills

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Experience in managing and coaching people including distance management

• Programme management and budgeting skills

• Ability to work in a cross cultural and cross functional environment

• Security management and personal security knowledge and experience

• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing

• Fluently spoken and written English-Required

• Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic)-Preferred

  Competencies and values

• VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

• CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust

• MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development; Strategic Orientation

• FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation; Leadership; Empowering Others

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer

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