Disaster risk reduction adviser

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual crises.

British Red Cross enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. When the crisis is over, they help them to recover and move on with their lives.

The international work of BRC is managed by an International Division of around sixty people based in the organisation’s UK Office in London and by staff employed overseas supporting BRC bilateral programmes, or as delegates to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The International Division consists of six departments:

• Partnership Development (management of relationships with national society partners and long-term programme support to the Red Cross Movement (RCM)).
• Disaster Management (including recovery programmes).
• Humanitarian Policy (managing key external relationships and planning).
• International Law.
• International Finance
• Performance and Accountability

BRC has prioritised long-term support to partners’ programmes that build community resilience through the development of health and care, disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness. The Partnership Development (PD) department plays the central role in assisting partners to develop their capacities to deliver programmes focusing on resilience. The department is supporting long-term programming in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Central Asia. BRC currently has a field presence managed by PD, supporting partners’ long-term programming in Southern Africa, East Africa, South Asia and East Asia.

Scope

The Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser will work with colleagues in the resilience team including Health Advisers and a second DRR Adviser to support the development of policy and resilience incorporating BRC’s experience in disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness (DP). Drawing on wider learning and knowledge gained from a broad spectrum of programmes, he/she will provide guidance on effective community and organisational disaster risk reduction and preparedness strategies and activities.

He/she will ensure that BRC informs the policy agenda on disaster preparedness and risk reduction both within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and externally with key institutional donors, such as Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union (EU), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), the academic and research community and the private sector.

Working within the Resilience Team which sits in the Partnership Development Department, the Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser will contribute to the development of integrated or better inter-linked programming that promotes the resilience of vulnerable communities.

Also, working with the Humanitarian Policy Team and alongside the current DRR Adviser, he/she will further develop the research and learning agenda for BRC on disaster risk reduction and preparedness, including engagement with current initiatives on DRR in programme cycle management; integrated programming, climate resilience, urbanisation and risk assessment in humanitarian emergency contexts. The post holder will also contribute to the corporate planning process.

Overall purpose of the post

To provide technical advice on the core area of disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction, as part of a resilience programme approach, developing policy and improving practice through research, learning and knowledge sharing.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Support and strengthen the technical and organisational capacity of partner National Societies across all stage of the programme cycle to enable them to deliver effective and relevant disaster preparedness and risk reduction interventions ,
2. Work with the resilience and programme management team, as well as partners in the wider Red Cross Movement to promote and develop integrated resilience programming.
3. Work with colleagues in the Disaster Management Department, particularly the Recovery Team, to integrate, disaster risk reduction and promote resilience, as key areas of BRC’s support to partner national societies’ capacity building, BRC recovery programming and support to the Movement during emergencies.
4. Assist in the development of and facilitate the application of quality assurance tools (impact monitoring, baselines etc.) and processes for disaster preparedness and risk reduction programmes.
5. Contribute to the development of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of the Red Cross approaches and tools on key disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience issues.
6. Work with the Humanitarian Policy Department to increase awareness around disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience issues, including climate change and risk in urban or post-conflict settings.
7. Support the development of training materials in disaster preparedness and risk reduction and facilitate the implementation of training / capacity building activities.
8. Collect, analyse and disseminate lessons learnt in disaster preparedness and risk reduction programming.
9. Strengthen networking on disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience within the UK and with relevant international technical actors and scientific forums.
10. Work with BRC Fundraising and Communications Divisions to communicate key messages to donors and other audiences on disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience.
11. Make presentations as required for learning, fundraising and training purposes to staff, volunteers, delegates and external organisations, including the media.
12. Undertake international on-call duties when required.
13. Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and to work within the Society’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to demonstrate the competencies and behaviours set out in the Society’s Management Development Framework.
14. Undertake other appropriate duties and assigned pieces of work by the Head of Partnership Development

Person specification

Education/ training

Post holder must be educated to degree level or equivalent within a relevant discipline.

Experience

• Experience in international humanitarian programmes which should include time spent overseas and at HQ level.
• Managing or supporting disaster preparedness and risk reduction programmes.
• Providing proven technical support and capacity building to partner organisations in developing countries.
• Working in an advisory capacity.
• Experience of analysing and responding to risk reduction and resilience building needs in vulnerable settings, particularly urban contexts
• Demonstrable project cycle management skills, covering all phases from programme design, through to implementation and closure.
• Experience of establishing accountability to beneficiaries in humanitarian programmes.
• Experience of developing integrated programming (covering at least one of the following: health and social care, livelihoods, food security or climate change, alongside disaster risk reduction).
• Experience of participating in strategic planning processes.
• Experience of humanitarian policy development.
• Experience of working with the Red Cross Movement would be an advantage.

Knowledge/ technical skills

• A good overall understanding of current good practice and trends in disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience.
• An awareness of current methodologies to best understand risk, vulnerability and capacity in communities, particularly in urban and climate vulnerable settings.
• Strong understanding of participatory approaches and ability to train, mentor and coach partner organisations.
• Ability to assess and analyse community needs and capacities through data collection, survey and assessment techniques and to develop appropriate interventions.
• A good understanding of resilience issues across humanitarian and development programming.
• An understanding of community empowerment and accountability.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an advantage.
• Public presentation skills would be an advantage

Competencies

• Ability to work in different cultural contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Planning and managing projects and activities.
• Analysis, decision-making and problem solving.
• Innovative and creative thinking.
• Responsibility for the well-being of others.
• Team working.

Behaviours

• Uphold the Fundamental Principles and act with integrity and in accordance with the Society’s values and obligations
• Recognise the implications of working within a charity and a voluntary organisation.
• Ensure equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice and promote diversity.
• Recognise and value the contribution of others.
• Take responsibility for own and team’s decisions and actions.
• Demonstrate flexibility and open mindedness.
• Give feedback and support.

Special circumstances

• Able to travel for up to 90 days per year and operate in a physically demanding working environment while doing so.
• Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary.
• Prepared to work in situations of political insecurity.

Minimum short-listing criteria.

N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two-tick symbol scheme.