Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 191-member National Societies. The Organization acts before, during and after disasters and other crisis in order to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unit and universality) and our humanitarian values (the people, integrity, partnerships, diversity, leadership, innovation) and by Strategy 2030, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade.

The Health, Disaster, Climate and Crisis (HDCC) Unit plays a central role in the coordination of disaster readiness and response system during emergencies in the Americas, a system that is made up of sub regional and national actors of the Red Cross Movement in the Andean sub-region (Perú, Ecuador and Bolivia).

Therefore, the principal role of the Disaster Risk Management Officer for the Andean Cluster Delegation is to provide technical support to National Societies in Andean Cluster Delegation, before and during times of disasters and crises. Key to the position is the technical contribution to the building and strengthening of National Societies’ disaster management capacities. This is done in coordination with, and often under the leadership of, Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) /ARO technical

Job Purpose

Based in the Andean Countries Sub- Region, the Disaster Risk Management Senior Officer will report to the Coordinator of Programs and Operations of the CCD.

He/she will work in building national, regional and institutional (including IFRC Secretariat) disaster risk management cycle (including preparedness, response, recovery and resilience capacities) to enable them to improve their disaster management programming and be an advocate for IFRC’s Preparedness for Effective Response approach and recovery programming.

He/she assures ongoing collaboration with all relevant partners in the region in the field of disaster risk management and will also work on further developing these relationships. He/she contributes to the quality improvement of the DRM programme of NS throughout the region.

The Disaster Risk Management Senior Officer will ensure a process of close collaboration with National Societies to develop their disaster management programs, with the ultimate goal of increasing community resilience to disasters, improving the disaster preparedness of National Societies and their branches, and enhancing community resilience.

Thus, the Disaster Risk Management Senior officer be deployed to the field on a regular basis of his/her time in support to National Societies, working on the following objectives:

• Increasing preparedness for effective response (through Preparedness for an effective response (PER) or the Red Ready approach), working with National Societies (NS) HQs and Branches to build response capacity prior to disasters, including contingency planning and Early Warning, Early Action Protocols forming Rapid Response Teams, Stock Prepositioning, and supply chains.
• Supporting of timely and high-quality humanitarian response when a disaster strikes, ensuring sound operational management and coordination in the field.
• Support National Societies to design long-term resilience building programme

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Disaster response:

Maintaining strong relationships and cooperation with other CCD/ARO units providing leadership to National Society’s timely response to disasters.

• Support National Societies in managing emergency operations.

• Ensure disaster response operations outcomes/deliverables are achieved in a timely fashion, within budgets, in accordance with requirements, formats and standards and maintaining the standards for relief, early recovery and longer-term development goals.

• Work closely with the NS team and IFRC PMER senior officer to ensure that timely and accurate narrative reports are prepared and are in line with requirements specified in the project agreement or standard Federation reporting guidelines.

• Ensure disaster and crisis response operations are appropriate and aligned with International Federation guidelines and policies (SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Disaster Relief, Seville agreement, etc.)

• Support National Societies in the managing of Disaster Response Emergency Fund operations including budget management, Early Action Protocols (Acting budget holder) and Emergency Appeals, writing, implementation, reporting, evaluation and resource mobilization. Define timeframes, deliverables/outcomes and costs.

• Provide technical guidance to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of emergency operations.
• Contribute to a shared vision of how to respond to the affected population’s assessed and expressed needs and capture it in the Operational Strategies or Emergency Plan of Action (DREF/EAP).
• Work with other technical units to ensure key elements such as green response, protection, gender and inclusion of individuals is included in operation strategies.
• Ensure disaster and crisis response operations are appropriate and aligned with International Federation guidelines and policies (SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Disaster Relief, Seville agreement, etc.)
• Support National Societies in the managing of Disaster Response Emergency Fund operations including budget management, Early Action Protocols (Acting budget holder) and Emergency Appeals, writing, implementation, reporting, evaluation and resource mobilization. Define timeframes, deliverables/outcomes and costs.
• Provide technical guidance to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of emergency operations.

  Contribute to a shared vision of how to respond to the affected population’s assessed and expressed needs and capture it in the Operational Strategies or Emergency Plan of Action (DREF/EAP).

• Deploy to crisis sites in coordination with the affected NSs when levels of threat are high, accompanied by the adequate specialized delegates if needed.

  Ensure comprehensive high-quality assessments are carried out taking into consideration accountability to beneficiaries and in accordance with the affected population’s needs.

  Ensure constant monitoring of threats and risks in the region and update risk watch in the weekly Operations meeting and prepare information messages and situation reports in case of emergencies and share with ARO.

  Complete with NS the Child protection and safeguarding checklist.

• Share periodically information on implementation with ARO regarding DREF and EAP under his/her responsability.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

• Support National Societies and the Secretariat in planning and budgeting for the submission of proposals to emergency response and disaster operations through DREF funds, in accordance with the fund’s requirements, formats, and standards.
• Actively engage the National Societies on the scaling-up of ‘Preparedness for Effective Response’ approach and improving coordination and harmonization of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) capacity building approaches to establish understanding, commitment and ownership of Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach.
• Coordinate and direct expertise, know-how, and other resources to advise National Societies and ensure the successful implementation of the five phases of PER.
• Working with other CCD/ARO units, define an integrated approach to address major trends such as climate change, urban risk, migration and violence as they relate to disaster and crisis response and early recovery.

  Liaise with Membership Services, PMER, Quality Assurance, Finance, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships to enhance regional response coordination and ensure well-coordinated operations.

  Facilitate technical guidance for the National Societies on Cash Transfer preparedness and programming in different emergency contexts.

• Support, assist and advise NS on Contingency planning development and ensure a clear linkage between NS contingency and response plans and the regional response system.

  Support the review, updating, development, promotion and dissemination of regional policies, disaster and crisis response and early recovery SoPs, guidelines and tools when required.

• Support the Shelter Coordination preparedness activities when applicable
• Assist in the development and maintenance of a sufficient Rapid Response Personnel capacity and management structure (Surge capacities) to ensure regional capability to deploy.

Education

University Degree in social sciences, international law, humanitarian law, international relations (required)

Operations Management Course-OMC (preferred)

Trained as IMPACT, FACT, ERU, RIT/RDRT or ENAP, CAP, ETL (preferred)

Relevant University Degree: Disaster Risk Management, Conflict Management, Development Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Affairs, Humanitarian Action, Emergency Response etc. (preferred)

Experience

+5 year experience of disaster preparedness and response experience (required)

+5 Field experience in coordinating disaster and crisis management projects and activities (required)

+5 year experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation (required)

+3 year work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and/or with a National Society or for a Humanitarian aid organisation in a developing country (preferred)

+3 year experience in managing relations with donors and partners. Work experience with other international organisations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies. (required)

Deployed at least once in the field to lead and manage an emergency operation as a FACT TL, or as an ERU TL, or as a RIT TL, or as a CAP TL or as an IFRC Head of Operation, or as an IFRC Disaster Manager or as an IFRC Head of Delegation or as a PNS Emergency desk. (preferred)

Acquired Early Recovery skills through operations (preferred)

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

Ability to work in a diverse cultural context

Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement
Them

Highly organised and able to work independently and proactively, with ability
to work in team

Overall understanding of budget and finance management

Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking

Skills in training and developing staff

Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing.
Valid international driving licence (manual gears)

Proved capability to be self-organized and flexible

Excellent interpersonal and listening skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

Knowledge of Fundamental Principles and RCRC Movement

Languages:

Fluently spoken and written Spanish

Knowledge of spoken and written English

Good command of another IFRC official language (i.e., French) or any other language relevant in the region (preferred)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust