Senior Roving Officer, Disaster Management

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies 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.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The 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 the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The 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.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC Africa Region has 15 country cluster delegations (CCDs) across the continent. Each of these delegations support 3-4 National Societies. Other country delegations may be considered depending on the support required by National Societies.

An important component of these CCDs is to strengthen NS capacity in disaster and crisis prevention, response and recovery as well as other key thematic/programmatic areas defined by the Pan-Africa Key Initiatives as well as DRR. The CCDs also enhance the collaboration between Movement partners, facilitating context analysis at national and regional level, coordination towards common and harmonized approaches, plans alignment, efficient utilization of resources and National Development to deliver their humanitarian mandates.

Reporting to the DRM Coordinator, the Senior Roving Officer DM plays a critical role in preparing for and responding to emergency needs arising from both slow and sudden onset natural disasters, food chain crises, socio-economic crises, violent conflicts, and protracted crises. IFRC’s work in emergencies focuses on reducing people’s vulnerability to hazards before, during and after disasters through risk assessment, risk reduction, preparedness, coordination, emergency response and rehabilitation. 

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer- Disaster Management handles day-to-day operational aspects of emergency preparedness and response from initiation phase to operational and financial closure. The Senior Roving Offer will travel to different field locations to Support DRC, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi National Societies, including to remote and hard-to-reach locations and is expected be able to perform to a high standard in challenging and hardship conditions. The responsibilities cross-sectoral including in health, protection, WASH, and food security. The Senior Roving Officer will also work closely with the partnerships and operational support departments. Responsibilities include preparation of project proposals and fully-fledged project documents in accordance with the project management cycle, operational support to emergency projects/programme, technical clearance, liaison with donors, partners and governments and providing sitreps, briefs, reports and final statements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

DREF cycle Management

• Ensure that information on DREF operations Kinshasa CCD is collected to assist in assessing and recording key achievements and challenges from DREF operation to contribute to improving future disaster responses.
• Supporting effective and rapid DREF requests, ensuring adherence to established criteria, and to monitor the operations achieve their goal, objectives and expected results as per the DREF Procedures.
• Foster compliance to DREF Procedures and Guidelines amongst French-speaking ANSs, making sure any non-compliant requests and a rationale for proceeding with any such requests are duly documented.
• Support National Societies and IFRC clusters in the review of Operations Updates and Final Narrative and Financial Reports, ensuring timeliness and quality of the same.
• Support the DREF Officer for Africa in overall management of DREF requests, timeframe extensions and final reports.

 Response Project operational support

• Assume the role of grant manager for any new DREF and Emergency projects acting as a budget holder to ensure business continuity until a full time Surge / Manager is hired /assigned.
• Ensure support to identify suitable Surge deployment and Operation managers in close collaboration with the National Society and programs and technical teams.
• Develop workplans with the National Societies, IFRC Delegations, Climate Centre and Partner National Societies for the implementation of the AA project in country.
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of Emergency Response activities in line with project targets and including immediate needs assessments and community led response.
• Provide timely situational reports and methodical updates regarding needs and trends specific to the response to relevant delegation and regional focal point.
• Track and monitor expenditure of emergency response projects monthly and ensure burn-rates remain on track and that expenditure is compliant with relevant donor regulations and requirements.
• Ensure Accountability to affected populations by installing community feedback and complaints mechanisms, establishing linkages with Protection and CEA.
• Ensure project funding agreements and pledges are in place working with National Societies operations to ensure day to day progress on agreed workplans.

Preparedness and Anticipatory Action

• Develop and monitor Early action protocols and preparedness plans for all Emergency project activities in accordance with the overall Emergency Response.
• Support National Societies to convene stakeholders on DRR, including National Hydro-meteorological Services, relevant sectoral ministries as well as other humanitarian partners in country.
• Foster dialogues on early action and preparedness, advocating for governments to ensure ownership and coordination of government stakeholders including Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies
• Organize events in collaboration with Movement partners and external stakeholders on early warning for strengthening cross regional cooperation to foster lead time early warning services.
• Provide guidance to National Societies to strengthen preparedness using available tools such as DREF for anticipatory Action among others.
• Oversee the planning, coordination and implementation of a multi-sector assessments of conflict affected communities to inform partners and donors of key needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Representation / Advocacy

• Represent the IFRC at community or local official level and liaise with the inter-agencies and organisations when/where appropriate and be the focal point for Inter Agency coordination.
• Facilitate/support National Societies with initiatives and strategies related Disaster Law/policies.
• Facilitate cross-country level exchange of knowledge and best practices in disaster preparedness and disaster response.

Resource Mobilization:

• Support fund-raising by participating in the development of proposals and fast and effective mobilization of Federation response system and mechanism.

Education

• University degree in disaster risk management and project planning and management

Experience

• Relevant experience on project and budget management
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in disaster management, including field operational experience
• Experience managing and coordinating emergency projects, leading emergency heeds assessments and reporting
• Experience of working for Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• Proven experience of writing quality project proposals
• Experience in project cycle management (Project writing, Log Frames, Financial management, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation)
• Experience in managing communications and advocacy projects
• Experience with donors programming requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Creative and result-oriented problem-solving skills
• Information analysis and report writing skills
• Ability to work with a degree of autonomy
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills
• Time management and organisation skills
• Good drafting and research skills
• Strong team leadership and conflict resolution skills; Cultural sensitivity, consensus team building, and adaptability will be considered a strong asset
• Established capacity to deal with stressful situations, willingness to work in remote and isolated location.
• Fluent spoken and written in French
• Good command of English

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
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others
• Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development

 

Applications from women are strongly encouraged.

 

The IFRC is a not-for-profit humanitarian organization. It ensures that candidates’ applications are dealt with transparently and on the basis of their skills. The IFRC does not ask candidates for any money during or after the recruitment process.