Distaster and Risk Management Program Specialist

The DRM Program Specialist should enhance the DRM program delivery by supporting the development of holistic DRM program solutions at country and sub-regional level This will improve coherence among different country based projects and country programs addressing the same crisis. It will lead to standardization of approaches and application of best practice based program and project designs – both in country as well as cross border. The Program Specialist is supposed to support Plan International in WACA to program at scale thus leading to increase resources for DRM interventions. To achieve this, the post holder will have to analyze the respective regional and sub-regional DRM contexts, and bring the different stakeholder within Plan together (CO/NO; CO/CO; NO/NO and RO/NO) - if and where required. His/her main role will be to guide COs on their priorities, understand also the DRM donor trends and priorities, in order to reflect them in the Gendered DRM program development so that it has the required resources for its implementation.

Responsibilities and Tasks

1. Program development at RO and CO level

• Support all COs in WACA to develop a gendered DRM program strategy (incl. Preparedness, Response and Recovery strategies) in line with their own as well as NO preferences and donor trends.
• Lead and coordinate on the development of regional or sub-regional (multi-country) DRM program strategies and interventions (project at scale) jointly with all relevant stakeholders (RO/COs/NOs and donors).
• Ensure the integration of DRM as one of the two program aspects (the other one is development) of Plan International in every new country strategic plan to be developed.
• Help developing intervention frameworks as per sector (like EiE, YEEiE and CPiE) to facilitate the implementation of the DRM program strategies at regional and country level.
• Support CO in developing business cases for intervention justification in new area

1. Information and Co-ordination

• Support NO/CO DRM partnership as well as NO/NO exchange at CO level for better DRM preparedness/coordination and joint support initiatives at NO level.
• Support CO/CO exchange/lessons learnt on DRM aspects across the region.

1. Capacity Building

• Orient/guide the respective country teams of Plan International in WACA on key international humanitarian standards like Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), Sphere Standards, CPMS and INEE.
• Ensure that project designs, which build the foundation for the programs, are informed by needs assessments and contextual analysis in line with international standards and the new Global DRM Framework.
• Log-frame approach and application
• Establishing of and resourcing for simulations as standard preparedness approach across the region. Programming (CTP) at regional level where required.

1. Resource Mobilisation

• Support CO resource mobilization teams and related NOs on securing funds for continuous DRM program scale up.
• Identifying potential extension/follow up intervention sectors.
• Ensure that new intervention ideas within programmes are in line with overall programme and donor priorities.
• Providing support to program presentations to donors to enhance resource mobilization

Key Internal and external Contacts

Internal:

• Regional head of DRM of Plan WACA
• Country Directors of Plan International in WACA
• PSMs strategy or DCD-Programs of Plan International COs in WACA
• GSMs/BDMs of Plan International COs in WACA
• DRM/ERMs of Plan International COs in WACA
• All regional technical advisors of Plan International WACA
• DRM representatives of the NOs active in WACA

External:

Other agencies and stakeholders related to the DRM programme (i.e. UNHCR, UNICEF, Clusters) or decision makers (i.e. national governments) as well as donors where required and not covered already by the COs or NOs.

Selection Criteria

Technical Competencies required for this position are:

• Demonstrable experience in developing and coordinating programs funded by international donors (i.e. SIDA, ECHO, USAID, DFID, GFFO etc…).
• Sound understanding of processes and triggers at RO, CO and NO level would be considered an asset.

Core Competencies

• Networking and representation: demonstrable experience of organizational representation and engagement with humanitarian donors
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to guide local and international staff and also where required is able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan's core values and humanitarian principles.
• Adaptability & flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under a stressful working environment.
• Work style: Result driven and well organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Knowledge & skills: General knowledge and understanding of INEE and CPIE minimum standards, Core Humanitarian Standards, SPHERE, Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct and other relevant international standards for humanitarian response. General YEEiE, CPiE, EiE and TVET/IGA related experience is considered as an advantage.
• Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in IT/computer skills (including sound MS excel and word proficiency)
• At least 5 years professional experience of coordinating/implementing humanitarian programmes/projects with at least 2 years of coordination/management role at regional and/or CO level.
• Previous work experience in West Africa (desirable) & emergency context (mandatory)
• Experience as a coordinator for a multi-donor program/project coordination preferred
• Fluency in French and English (mandatory)

Physical Environment and Demands:

The holder of the position will be working in a typical office environment and entails 40-50 % travel within the region; this includes deployment to major size emergencies (orange level 2 or red level) within the region if required.

Office: West and Central Africa Hub

Location: West Africa

Employment status: Full time

Contract status: Local contract with benefits

Deadline for submission: 18/02/2019

Female applications are highly encouraged