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 humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 192 member National Societies. The Organization acts before, during and after disasters, crises and health emergences 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, unity and universality) 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 IFRC Country Office in Iraq is located at the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) HQ and currently consists of Head of Country Office together with 1 DM officer and Driver. The IFRC has no status agreement in the country yet. The mission of the IFRC Country Office in Iraq is to support the IRCS in developing itself as a strong NS with a capacity to deliver services with the required level of effectiveness, efficiency, quality and accountability in areas identified as high priorities and based on needs in strong coordination with Movement Partners.

Job Purpose

To meet the above mentioned mission and to achieve Strategy 2020 ultimate goal of “Saving lives, changing minds“ through enhanced disaster management capacity of IRCS, the DRM Delegate will ensure overall guidance and support to the implementation of the IRCS programmes on Disaster and Crisis Management developed under the operational plan 2020/1 and also coordinate IFRC Iraq country team’s support to IRCS to enable them to deliver humanitarian assistance.

Reporting, lessons learnt and knowledge sharing:

• Ensure accurate and timely reports for the Federation and for donors according to approved guidelines

• Utilise appropriate information management tools such as FedNet, Go platform in disseminating Disaster Management related information

• Ensure that lessons learnt and good practices from disaster management, OD, Health and WASH in the IRCS office are compiled and used to inform and improve future planning, programming and implementation, and shared with relevant departments within the Federation regional office and externally with other partners in the country

• Support IRCS to ensure that relevant new tools and guidelines are applied to improve the quality of services provided in the areas of disaster preparedness and response and emergency Health

  Resource mobilization

• Assist head of country office to improve national fund-raising possibilities and technical partnerships with relevant agencies in preparedness and response for emergencies and risk reduction

• Assist head of country office to undertake fundraising/resource mobilisation of IRCS projects/programmes in the field of disaster management, emergency health, WASH and OD

  Job Duties and Responsibilities

  Sectorial responsibilities: Disaster and Crisis Preparedness:

• In coordination with IFRC MENA Regional office technical counterparts, support IRCS to achieve a holistic and integrated approach to disaster Risk management in line with the Federation’s frameworks, strategies and approaches for community safety and resilience, including climate change adaptation/mitigation, and food security/livelihoods

• Assist IRCS to develop its Disaster Management policy/strategy in line with the NS strategy and Federation-wide and regional policies and strategies

• Support the IRCS DM team to promote IDRL and developing disaster law program activities at national level

• In coordination with IFRC MENA Regional office technical counterparts, support the IRCS DM team in monitoring of and advocating for expanded community-based programming within existing mechanisms for scaling-up, particularly the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and the One Billion Coalition initiative

• Coordinate Federation support to IRCS to ensure community-based disaster preparedness is carried out in the selected branches based on risk profile, branch capacity, commitment and interest, in close coordination with ICRC and other Movement partners

• Ensure processes and training for IFRC and IRCS team to implement and maintain standard IFRC mechanisms, tools, guidelines, case studies systems and structures for managing emergencies (e.g. contingency plan(s), SOPs, regular simulation and drill exercises).

• Support the strengthening of IRCS’s human resources to establish IRCS national, branch and community level disaster response teams and related SOPs and triggering mechanisms.

• Assist IRCS to enhance its logistics procedures and capacity to manage its contingency stocks

• Support IRCS to establish Community Early Warning Systems (CEWS), to complement national, regional and global EWSs, as a last mile solution for saving lives and property

  Disaster and Crisis Response:

• Support IRCS to ensure their DM team is well structured and its activation, guidance and support to necessary disaster response is available to IRCS during emergency operations

• Assist IRCS to establish well functional HQs and branch level EOCs, including having a clear structure and SOPs

• In coordination with head of country office, lead the operational co-ordination of the IFRC Country Office’s support to IRCS response through proactive communication with technical delegates, IRCS DM and Health team and Movement Task Force and the utilisation of activated branch level response management structures

• Ensure that IFRC/IRCS participates in interagency co-ordination mechanisms e.g. shelter and logistics cluster and the co-ordination of any deployed international disaster response tools

• Support IRCS to ensure their response is appropriate and aligned with the SPHERE standards and relevant Federation and Movement polices and strategies

• In coordination with IFRC MENA Regional office, encourage Partner National Societies to provide support to IRCS according to co-ordinated response plans within the framework of the National Society Strategic plan

• In agreement with the head of country office, lead the IFRC operational plan development process and ensure the scope and content of the operational plan is in line with Movement standards

• Support the IRCS DM team to establish an appropriate response structure and to manage the deployment of country level response tools in an effective, efficient and timely manner

  Recovery

• In coordination with IFRC MENA Regional office technical counterparts, lead IFRC country efforts to strengthen IRCS capacity in recovery programming, with a focus on developing appropriate post disaster recovery plans and frameworks and managing the smooth transition from relief to recovery to longer term developmental programming

• Encourage the greater use of cash and voucher transfer programming in disaster/crisis relief and recovery programming where relevant and feasible in close coordination with the Regional Office Technical departments (DCPRR and Finance and Administration)

• Ensure that Federation supported disaster recovery operations are based upon holistic assessment of needs and integrated approaches to programming

• Support IRCS to ensure the inclusion of early recovery component in emergency response planning

  Coordination and partnership

  • In coordination with head of country office, represent the Federation country office in national level fora and maintain networks and partnerships with national level key players in preparedness, response, disaster risk reduction, emergency health and WASH

• Support IRCS to share experiences and to link with other actors (UN, NGOs) in the field of Disaster

• Management, Emergency Health, WASH in their respective organizations

• Ensure an ongoing working relationship and close cooperation with technical team of IFRC country office as well as IRCS departments.

• Maintain coordination with IFRC MENA Disaster, Crisis, Prevention, Response and Recovery Unit to ensure technical alignment and support

Programme Management

• Assist head of country office to ensure the annual operational plan contains relevant activities for emergency response capacity development, response and recovery (both early and long term), and are delivered in accordance with IFRC policies and procedures

• Oversee the development of programme budgets in accordance with established IFRC financing procedures, systems and budget revision scheduling

• Ensure that appropriate monitoring and evaluation criteria are being applied to measure the progress against the target set

• Ensure integrated programming approach and provide regular management/operational inputs to the Head of Iraq Country Office as and when required

• In coordination with IFRC MENA Regional office technical counterparts, ensure the timely provision of relevant technical guidance, training and support is provided for all areas of interventions for IRCS

• Monitor the development and implementation of country-level DRM activities, including training, technical tools, guidelines and other relevant initiatives.

  In consultation with the Head of country office line manage the DM staff in country, and other support staff,

  Education

• Degree and/or post graduate qualification in Disaster Management or equivalent – required

• Technical training in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery – required

  Experience

• 3 to 5 years’ professional experience in work environment similar to the requirements of the position – required

• Good understanding of the common global humanitarian environment and the Iraq context – required

• Red Cross Red Crescent knowledge and experience – required

• Basic Training Course for delegates (IMPACT) or relevant training – preferred

• 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 – required

• Advocacy, representation and negotiation skills – required

• Strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into action – required

• Team leadership and Team Building skills – required

• Experience in resource mobilization – required

• Experience in managing and coaching people including distance management – required

• Budgeting and financial skills – required

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

• Drive for change and improvements and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment – required

• Computer knowledge as a user – self supporting in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint – required

• Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic – required

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Spanish) – preferred

  Competencies and values

• National Society and customer Relations

• Collaboration and Teamwork

• Communications

• Building trust

• Leadership

• Managing staff performance

• Creativity and Innovation