DRR operations officer (community capacity building)

Background

IOM is committed to the principle that safe and orderly migration is a benefit to migrants and society, and is essential for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. As a global intergovernmental organization, IOM supports governments to effectively manage the various challenges related to migration and also provides assistance to migrants. Migration can result from different environmental factors from the gradual environmental degradation including desertification, soil and coastal erosion to the natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods or tropical storms. Addressing these linkages from a human mobility perspective, IOM considers that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) are the way forward to help populations living in areas where hazards meet vulnerability. IOM is part of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Network and committed to the goals and principles of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) to work with Governments and Communities to rebuild resilience to hazards. As a Global Cluster lead for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in Natural Disasters, IOM has a global responsibility within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), ensuring that assistance is provided to the displaced. IOM has been implementing wide range of activities around the world over the years from preparedness and prevention, response and recovery with the aim of reducing vulnerabilities and managing the risks.

Based on emerging DRR needs in Myanmar and IOM expertise in the region combined with experiences gained from implementing emergency response projects in the aftermath of cyclones Nargis and Giri, IOM is now implementing a Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Mon and Kayin States of Myanmar. The project intends to contribute to the enhancement of the capacities of 55,000 persons at village, as well as Government and Township institutions, to adequately manage emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction and emergency response. The project aims to support the Government’s overarching national framework in Myanmar for preparedness for and response to natural hazards, as contained in the “Myanmar Action Plan on Disaster Risk Reduction (MAPDRR) 2009-2015”. Therefore, IOM is inviting qualified nationals with expertise in the areas of project management/coordination and DRR technical support to assist IOM to implement its DRR project in South-East of Myanmar.

General functions

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Manager and under the direct supervision of the DRR Field Project Manager and in close coordination with the Project Coordinator in Preparedness and Emergency Unit, the incumbent will directly manage 4 teams consisting of DRR Community Specialists and Field Assistants in all the technical and operational aspects of implementation of IOM DRR programme intervention in the field. Specifically, he/she will be assigned the following tasks and responsibilities.

Programme management

• Supervise implementation of all CBDRR activities from planning the operation, implementation, and monitoring to reporting, all according to the project workplan.
• Directly supervise 4 DRR roving teams day to day and provide operational support in all aspects of implementation on a daily basis.
• Manage 4 DRR teams to carry out Rapid Village Vulnerability Assessment to select the project target villages according to criteria agreed for selection.
• In each confirmed target village, direct the 4 roving DRR teams to implement Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA), establish Village Disaster Management Committees and develop Village DRR Action Plans, providing operational support throughout.
• Conduct DRR training needs assessment of key stakeholders at community level (Village Disaster Management Committee Members and targeted community members).
• Assist to develop / revise DRR training and IEC materials to be used in DRR trainings to members of Village Disaster Management Committees and beneficiaries.
• Provide DRR related trainings to IOM field staff, members of Disaster Management Committee, beneficiaries and Village Volunteers on DRR related capacity building areas.
• Coordinate and organize to conduct community levels trainings on writing of and implementation of Village DRR Action Plans.
• Conduct on-going and regular monitoring visits to all sites where DRR roving teams are working to monitor the implementation of work according to the workplan and provide operational and technical support, working closely with the DRR Field Specialist.
• Develop, update and maintain the project database.

Administration and Coordination

• Liaise with officials to, coordinate and facilitate effective communication with Township and Village levels authorities and with lower level field staff to ensure that the project activities are implemented in a technically sound way and in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the relevant information is shared / communicated to DRR Field Project Manager, Project Coordinator and Programme Manager to allow smooth and consistent functioning of project activities.
• Perform any other duties that may be required.

Desired qualifications

• Myanmar national with a university degree preferably in Social Science or Disaster Management.
• Minimum of 3 years work experience in UN and/or NGOs, with experience of project coordination (preferably in the field of DRR).
• Excellent communicator, with very good knowledge on training and utilization of community mobilization and participatory tools.
• Demonstrated management skills for planning, supervision of field staff, monitoring and evaluation. Ability to write clear and concise reports. High level of attention to detail and quality in all aspects of work.
• Very good team building skills and experiences.
• Demonstrable and proven problem solving skills.
• Good in written and spoken English and Myanmar.
• Computer literate (MS office applications and database management).
• Local knowledge and local language in project areas would be an advantage.