Disaster risk reduction project manager/officer - Consortium project

CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT:

For the past ten years, the French Red Cross has been internationally engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction projects, focusing on preparedness and risk mitigation activities. Preparedness includes activities carried out by communities and organizations to minimize material and human damages caused by natural disasters through suitable protection and prevention measures. It also involves ensuring effective and efficient responses to natural disasters. Mitigation requires the implementation of structural and non-structural measures to protect infrastructure and vulnerable elements and reduce the negative consequences of natural hazards.
The French Red Cross (FRC) is engaged in Southeast Asia for more than 20 years. Over the past 10 years, the FRC in Laos has developed an acknowledged expertise in Water & Sanitation, Food Security, HIV/AIDS and Disaster Risk Reduction. Implemented in 4 provinces, the Consortium project will start in June 2014.

In the framework of the 9th DIPECHO Action Plan for Southeast Asia, the FRC is engaged with the Lao Red Cross (LRC) in a natural disaster preparedness project, in consortium with OXFAM (OSB), CARE and Save the Children. Led by the FRC, this program aims to scale-up DRR activities in 4 provinces, focusing on good practices’ capitalization through the creation of a national “platform” of practitioners and stakeholders.
The local DRR institutional landscape is changing, with the handover of the disaster management portfolio from the Ministry of Social Welfare to the recently created Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE). In this context, the position implies significant responsibilities. The successful candidate will have to achieve the following objectives:

POSITION OBJECTIVES

The Coordinator of the DRR Consortium Project will have to ensure the implementation of the following activities:
- To lead the initial phase of designing a MoU with the GoL, and a MoU between all Consortium members;
- To establish and co-lead the “national DRR platform”, by creating institutional links and reinforcing capacities of MoNRE representatives involved in this project;
- To supervise the CBDRR activities assigned to the FRC and the LRC in Khammouane province
- To lead the coordination between the Consortium members, to monitor their developments and consolidate the outputs;
- To assume the overall responsibility of the project in accordance with FRC internal process and contractual obligations;
- To Represent the FRC during meetings and DRR-related coordination activities within the Red Cross Movement.

TASKS

OBJ 1: To lead the initial phase of designing MoU and other collaborative agreements.
- Negotiate the terms of each MoU and other agreements with all the stakeholders (FRC HQ, LRC, Consortium members, NGOs in charge of work-packages, MoNRE, MoFA…)
- Formulate the terms of negotiation through the writing of draft documents (MoU, agreements….) until obtaining final versions.
- Monitor the MoU validation progress by the MoFA.
- Organize formal ceremonies for the signature with the LRC, in accordance with legal obligations and other dispositions agreed between Consortium members.


OBJ 2: To Establish and co-lead the “national DRR platform”, by creating institutional links and reinforcing MoNRE representatives’ capacities.
- Continue and develop terms of references for the “platform” in partnership with MoNRE, Consortium members and other interested stakeholders (UNICEF, HI…).
- Negotiate and get the institutional anchorage of the platform validated by the MoNRE and by the sub-working group “Disaster Management and Climate Change” between the GoL, donors and development actors.
- Organize participation of UNISDR and ECHO to the platform launch
- Assist MoNRE in setting the agenda of activities (mapping, capitalization, meetings…)
- Provide the required formation to the focal person in charge of the project within the MoNRE (and beyond if possible)
- Submit further scenario for the continuation of the platform beyond the project lifetime (exit strategy, durability) and secure the key stakeholders’ operational and financial commitment (ADB, UN…)

OBJ 3: Supervise FRC/LRC CBDRR activities in Khammouane province.
- Frame the content and proceedings of community activities under the direct responsibility of the FRC
- Confirm the selection of villages and districts in which the activities will take place
- Provide a technical support to the FRC DRR Officer in charge, and participate to the field activities when needed.
- Regularly supervise the reports provided by the LRC and the FRC DRR Officer

OBJ 4: To lead the Consortium coordination in implementing the project and achieving its objectives, in accordance with the terms of reference and the MoUs content.
- Settle internal procedures to ensure the Consortium functioning (communication, information management, reporting, finance…)
- Organize knowledge and capacities sharing activities (technical meetings, study tours…)
- Organize project steering group meetings according to the agreed frequency
- Occasionally discuss operational changes with the Consortium members
- Finalize the TdR and contractualize partners (NGOs…) in charge of work-packages (HI…)
- Monitor the progress of activities implemented by Consortium members and stakeholders in charge of work-package
- Capitalization of experience and documents provided during the project

OBJ 5: To assume the overall responsibility of the project, in accordance with FRC internal process and contractual obligations

- Manage all the inherent activities of a Project Officer (operational planning and budgeting process, HR management, internal and external communication, preparation of logistics requisitions…)
- Assure continual and high-quality feedback to the Regional Technical Officer
- Manage communication with AT ECHO Bangkok.
- Produce weekly and monthly internal reporting in accordance with the donor’s contractual terms
- Produce reporting according to the contractual term of the GoL(MoNRE and MoFA) and the LRC
- Produce a retro-reporting towards Consortium members, in accordance with agreed terms.
- Organize donors’ visits.


OBJ 6: To Represent the FRC during meetings and DRR-related coordination activities within the Red Cross Movement.
- Respond to LRC, RC Movement or any organizations’ solicitation of DRR-related information (mail, meetings)
- Participate to the DM working groups outside of the Platform (DMWG, UN Clusters…)
- Conduct investigation mission on express request of the Head of Delegation.


HIERARCHICAL LINK
- Under the authority of the Laos/Cambodia Program Coordinator
- In charge of 3 FRC national staff (DRR officer, Translator/Liaison officer, Admin/Log/Accountant)


FUNCTIONAL LINK

Internal:
- work in close cooperation with his/her Regional Technical Referent based in Thailand, and with the DRR Technical
- work in close cooperation with the Laos/Cambodia Delegation Head of Service Support and her technical staff (admin/HR/LOG)

External:
- Work in close cooperation with Consortium members’ project managers and other organizations in charge of “work packages”.
- Work in cooperation with the LRC HQ Relief and Disaster
- Work in cooperation with the LRC staff in Khammouane

LANGUAGES:
French
English mandatory (professional English required)


PROFILE
- Capacity for hard work
- Multi-skilled, flexible with a strong capacity of adaptation
- Good analytical skills: ability to analyze and synthesize large amounts of information
- High sense of diplomacy, patience, tenacity, teaching skills
- Managerial competencies, engaging partners
- Strong communication and representation skills


COMPETENCIES
- Relevant educational background in Natural Disaster Risks, Geography, Environment
- Significant international experience in DRR project management (senior)
- Solid experience in institutional support to local and national authorities
- Experience with ECHO funded projects essential
- Prior experience working in consortium appreciated
- Good knowledge/Experience of the Red Cross Movement a strong advantage.