Senior DRR Officer for British Red Cross

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

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 (NSs). The overall aim of 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Details / requirements:

Job Title

Senior Urban Disaster Risk Reduction Officer

Classification Level

Organizational Unit / Duty Station

(Department / Zone Office / Delegation, etc.)

British Red Cross (BRC), Kathmandu

Immediate Supervisor’s Title

BRC Urban Resilience Programme Manager

Technical Manager’s Title (if applicable)

None

Number of Direct Reports (if applicable)

None

Number of Indirect Reports (if applicable)

None

Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)

This role will sit within the structure of the British Red Cross’ Nepal Office in Kathmandu. This role will require the incumbent to travel within Nepal to project sites as per programme needs.

Job purpose

Context

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives . Within the UK, the BRC operates through about 3500 staff and over 30,000 volunteers.

We are part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to and bound by its fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Within the International division, the Programmes and Partnerships department provides single oversight of our community resilience and capacity building partnerships with national societies and disaster management activities. The department is structured regionally and works in partnership with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The department functions internally within a matrix relationship of technical advisers and policy professionals, located in other teams within the International Division.

BRC in Nepal

BRC has partnered with NRCS for many years with an in-country presence since 2012. From 2012-2016, NRCS implemented the Earthquake Preparedness for Safer communities in the Kathmandu valley (“EPS”) programme. Building on the work of EPS, the DFID funded SURE programme, which started in October 2016 is a five-year multi-risk reduction programme, which targets the groups most vulnerable to disasters in the Kathmandu valley and two western and far-western districts (Kailali and Kaski) as well as working closely with municipal governments and building the auxiliary role of NRCS.

Additionally, BRC has supported NRCS on the following programmes:

  • an Integrated Disaster Resilience Programme (IDRP) in Jhapa district (began in January 2015)
  • a small-scale HIV/AIDS project in Pokhara sub-metropolitan city (completed in May 2016)
  • a DM consortia led by NRCS and Danish RC and funded by DIPECHO (Phase 2 beginning in June 2017)
  • a 2015 Earthquake Recovery programme in 3 Kathmandu districts (to finish April 2019)

Overall purpose of the role

The post of the Senior Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Officer builds on an established partnership that BRC has with NRCS in DRR. It is situated in the BRC Nepal Country Office and will work across BRC supported programmes including the DFID-funded SURE programme and the ECHO-funded Danish Red Cross-led consortium programme. The overall purpose is to provide practical and tailored support to NRCS (and its partners at national and district level) on developing and implementing effective government engagement and social accountability strategies that enhance programme outcomes, build robust relationships, and ensure high level quality and standards. The position will provide timely analysis of evolving local government restructuring, advice and technical support on urban governance and disaster management best practice, capacity building and mentoring on urban disaster risk management, and high quality documentation of learning in both English and Nepali. The position will ensure the roll out of targeted and effective training and capacity building for NRCS and its partners on issues pertaining to DRR/DM, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), inclusion and accountability.

Job duties and responsibilities

Technical support / advisor responsibilities

1. Provision of analysis and technical advice on urban governance and disaster risk management (including climate change adaptation) and cross cutting issues such as accountability, inclusion and CHS to NRCS staff, volunteers and programme stakeholders.

2. Provision of support to NRCS staff on the analysis and development of targeted engagement strategies to municipal, provincial and federal government and local elected officials on urban governance and urban disaster management, including government planning and budgeting, and exploring potential opportunities for partnership and collaboration.

3. Further evolve existing NRCS district government disaster management engagement (advocacy) and capacity building approaches, tailoring them to the new municipal context, working with NRCS and BRC staff to ensure a high level of quality of implementation and sustainability across multiple programmes.

4. Provision of technical advice and support to the development of social accountability mechanisms between local government and relevant stakeholders.

Capacity building and mentoring responsibilities

5. Provision of support to NRCS staff on developing municipal level emergency preparedness and response plans and simulation drills with government.

6. Work directly with NRCS staff to enhance adherence to and implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard, Red Cross Principles, gender equity and social inclusion best practice in disaster contexts.

7. Design and facilitate capacity building, training and mentoring of RC staff and, where appropriate, stakeholders (municipal government, local elected officials, local DM committees) on a variety of specialised themes including urban governance, urban disaster risk management and climate change adaptation including advocacy and how to develop opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.

M&E and Learning responsibilities

8. Ensure timely and informative reporting against relevant objectives for BRC-funded programmes in English.

9. Ensure quality documentation of learning, including case studies, gap analysis and best practice in English and Nepali.

10. Ensure data collected on urban governance and disaster management aligns with monitoring framework and accountability requirements, and feeds into evolution of programme activities.

11. Coordinate with, and where appropriate, support the IFRC and Partner National Societies (PNS) in urban DRR and municipal engagement related activities, especially where shared learning opportunities and standardisation of approaches are possible.

12. Proactively support NRCS to disseminate and apply learning emerging from municipal government engagement and social accountability with the RCRC Movement and the disaster management broader sector.

13. Travel to project sites as appropriate to ensure adequate support to NRCS, programme stakeholders, and programme objectives as part of clear monitoring strategy.

Duties applicable to all staff

1.

Work towards the achievement of the RC Movement goals through effective managerial and lateral relationship and teamwork

2.

Produce timely reports based on defined templates and indicators

3.

Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross/Red Crescent principles

4.

Perform other work related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the line manager

Position Requirements

Education

Required

Preferred

University qualification in urban disaster management, urban humanitarian, international or community development, urban governance, urban planning and/or demonstrable experience

X

Trained in urban specific related disaster management, governance or international development

X

Experience

Required

Preferred

Substantial experience in working with and advocating to Governments on urban governance and /or disaster management: both DRR and emergency preparedness

X

Experience in analysing information (programmes, policies, etc) and producing high level quality documentation in English

X

Substantial experience designing and facilitating capacity building/training courses and mentoring for a variety of stakeholders

X

Experience working within the Red Cross movement or with I/NGOs or CBOs in Nepal

X

Exposure to work in cross-cultural environments with expatriate staff

X

Experience designing and implementing social accountability mechanisms

X

Excellent knowledge of inclusion of gender equality, social inclusion and disability into programming

X

Knowledge and Skills

Required

Preferred

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali

X

Strong capacity building and mentoring skills

X

Competency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, e-mail and the internet

X

Flexibility, motivation, honesty, reliability and cultural awareness

X

Ability to work in demanding situations and sometimes under pressure

X

Ability to work in an organised and systematic manner

X

Ability to coordinate internally and externally and provide technical oversight

X

Languages

Required

Preferred

English and Nepali

X

Other relevant language

X

Competencies (to be filled in by HR)

Accountability

Integrity

Building Trust

Team Work

Communication

Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Salary Rs. 0 / Hour
Experience 5+ years
Education Please check details below.
Posted Date 18 Dec, 2018
Apply Before 02 Jan, 2019
City Kathmandu