Senior Officer, Regional Anticipatory Action and Community Resilience

Organizational Context

“This is a national staff position open to nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in countries where IFRC has legal presence: Buenos Aires (Argentina), San José (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Kingston (Jamaica), Managua (Nicaragua), Panama City (Panama), Lima (Peru), or Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago).

Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in those countries during application phase”

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, Regional Anticipatory Action and Community Resilience is the IFRC focal point for anticipatory action in the Americas, with a particular focus on supporting ECHO PPP countries in the region (El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama) to set up and implement anticipatory action / FbF systems in the region, whilst representing IFRC in regional coordination platforms related to anticipatory action. The position will provide guidance to National Societies implementing anticipatory action initiatives and liaise with the DCC teams, Climate Centre and partners to ensure proper integration of the anticipatory action and FbF approach in other thematic functions in the DCC department. The Senior Officer, Regional Anticipatory Action and Community Resilience will provide timely and high-quality support and technical advice on the eligibility of forecast-based early action described in the approval and management process for Early Action Protocols (EAPs) submitted to the fund and assure its coherence with the DREF.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Support

Provide technical support to National Societies and IFRC Delegations in the Americas (prioritizing those under ECHO PPP) for the implementation of anticipatory action initiatives and operations:

• Monitor and follow up the implementation of FbF projects in the Americas region with an emphasis on ECHO PPP countries, in coordination with relevant partner National Societies (PNSs), UN agencies and disaster risk management (DRM) stakeholders
• Provide technical support and guidance to IFRC and National Societies (NS) in implementing anticipatory action, including FbF projects and other tools, including advice on the FbF methodology and providing technical support for the development of Early Action Protocols (EAP) and other early action plans, through workshops and collaboration with relevant stakeholders (NS, Climate Centre, partners, government agencies, including national hydro meteorological services, disaster management and sectoral agencies etc.)
• Support the development of Americas regional anticipatory action work plans and provide technical support and guidance to NS and IFRC offices in the Americas Region in a coordinated manner in line with their own strategies, the IFRC Operational Framework for Scaling Up Anticipatory Action, Strategy 2030, IFRC’s policies and IFRC Plans.
• Provide technical support for the integration of anticipatory action into existing regional and national contingency plans/systems, aligned with broader NS initiatives to strengthen their response and preparedness mechanism (PER).
• Promote increased understanding of anticipatory action terminologies, tools, quality criteria and approaches.

Coordination and advocacy

Contribute to the strategic development of anticipatory action in the Americas Region:

• Lead the development of a strategic plan on anticipatory action in the Americas.
• Regularly update the DCC of ongoing anticipatory action initiatives, including EAP progress, to ensure activities are closely linked and coordinated with wider national disaster risk management stakeholders.
• Liaise with RCRC and interagency partners, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders on anticipatory action/FbF mechanisms and technical platforms in place throughout the region to ensure good coordination and identify potential synergies and partnerships.
• Support National Societies to advocate for anticipatory action scale-up mechanisms, plans and strategies in line with national DRM laws and other relevant policies.
• Contribute to planning and resource mobilization, e.g. prepare concept notes, lead/participate in anticipatory action related project/program proposal development.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Build and support evidence basis and capture learning from on-going FbF initiatives for institutionalization of anticipatory action with national and local governments as well as other key stakeholders.
• Facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing for anticipatory action/FbF initiatives and processes, including trainings, at regional and national levels
• Provide timely updates and advise on scientific and technical developments, trends, best practise, areas for improvement and lessons learnt.
• Support and contribute to the preparation of the regional anticipatory action dialogue platforms together with IFRC offices, key Partners, and the Climate Centre, including technical content on behalf of IFRC ARO.

Planning and reporting

• Support monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual plans and reports.
• Provide feedback and quality assurance to IFRC offices in the region on annual operational plans with the aim of ensuring the integration and scaling up of anticipatory action.
• Participate in operations meetings, providing technical and scientific information related to FbF and early action planning.

Education

• Relevant post-graduate university degree
• Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge, preferred
• Technical training in disaster risk management and/or response preparedness
• Technical training in climate science, contingency planning and/or disaster risk financing mechanisms, preferred

Experience

• 5 years’ experience in the humanitarian sector, related to disaster risk management, institutional preparedness capacity strengthening and emergency response operations.
• 2 years’ experience in anticipatory humanitarian action, preferred
• Good understanding of the IFRC 
• Good understanding of the global humanitarian environment
• Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian actors 
• Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing   
• Experience in the Americas region  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Excellent communication, organization, and facilitation skills
• Self-sufficient in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.) 
• Skills in developing and training staff 
• Skills in negotiation and building relations

• Languages
  Fluently spoken and written English and Spanish

Competencies, Values and Comments

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