Community DRR specialist (8 positions)

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 general supervision of the DRR Field Project Manager and the direct supervision of the DRR Operations Officer - Community Capacity Building, the incumbent will be assigned for following tasks and responsibilities.

• Liaise with local village tract and village authorities, as well as with beneficiary households and establish rapport with community- and tract-level stakeholders.
• Identify the project’s target villages according to IOM vulnerability criteria developed for the project.
• Establish Village Disaster Management Committees at each confirmed target village and provide technical support for effective functioning.
• Conduct the Village Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) in all project‘s target villages.
• Conduct training and awareness-raising sessions on Disaster Risk Reduction to be offered to members of Village Disaster Management Committees and select community members at each target village.
• Coordinate the progress of work at each target village with DRR Field Coordinator and update VCA session and reports, different DRR trainings, DRR Action Plans and distribution of Disaster Preparedness and Response Kits.
• Supervise the village-level activities of the Field Assistants in Community on a daily basis, in support of the above terms of reference.
• Ensure beneficiaries’ feedbacks are well responded and reported to the DRR Field Coordinator.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation activities of the project.
• Undertake regular duty travel throughout Mon and Kayin States, Thanintharyi region, as may be required.
• Perform any other duties that may be required.

Desired qualifications

• A University degree.
• Minimum 2 year working experience with UNs and NGOs and at least 1 year experience in implementing community-level DRR projects, preferably in Mon and/or Kayin States.
• Good knowledge on community mobilizing and participatory tools.
• Ability to reads, write and speak English is not necessary but considered an advantage.
• Computer literate (Ms. Word and Excel).
• Ability to work under difficult conditions.
• Understanding Mon and/or Kayin Language is an advantage.