Disaster risk reduction and livelihood coordinator

Based in Nairobi with extensive travel to the IRC programming areas in Kenya, the Disaster Risk Reduction and livelihood Coordinator will be responsible for the integration of DRR in the existing and future programs as well as supporting the strengthening of country program’s emergency preparedness and responses. The position has linkages with all program departments, technical units and field offices to support IRC’s programming in Kenya, in particular networking with external actors, government line ministries, DRR, environmental and climate change working groups, donors, and other IRC county programs.

The position is also responsible for providing overall technical guidance and support in IRC’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptations, environmental and emergency programming across the Kenyan programs. She/he is also required to work in collaboration with other field coordinators, sector coordinators and field teams to ensure that DRR, environment, emergency responses are implemented according to the IRCs’ Country Strategy, Disaster risk reduction strategy, environmental strategy, emergency preparedness and response strategy and approved work plans and in accordance with the IRCs’ program strategic plan and program frame works.

Key responsibilities

Disaster risk reduction mainstreaming – (35%)

• Program development and quality:

- In collaboration with field coordinators, staffs and program coordinators develop ways in which disaster risk reduction can be mainstreamed within the IRC’s on-going interventions.
- Provide guidance and technical support to sector-specific in the design and implementation of DRR activities through regular field visits.
- Develop and implement work plans building on the country strategies on DRR and Emergency Preparedness/ Response
- Identify opportunities for IRC to strengthen DRR initiatives in Kenya- undertake donor and opportunities mapping
- Develop concept notes specifically related to the DRR theme
- Review all IRC Kenya proposals and to ensure that DRR issues are sufficiently integrated throughout the project cycle.

• Staff and partners’ capacity building:

- Assess the capacity of the IRC’s program and partners team members in relation to practical understanding of DRR, climate change and recommend strategies/ processes to build on the same
- Develop and impart necessary training programs for staff and partners related to DRR strategies
- Develop and implement work plans in line with the country emergency preparedness and response strategic plan

• Presentation, networking and advocacy:

- Develop network with external actors (eg. ISDR, IFRC, OCHA, Government of Kenya) on DRR and emergency response/ preparedness issues
- Support the country management team in analyzing and advising on disaster trends based on UNOCHA, FEWSNET, KMD, and arid lands billeting
- Prepare quarterly reports capturing the progress against agreed work plans and learning.
- Advocacy for DRR sensitivity programming in building resilience of beneficiaries within the Kenya programs
- Attend DRR/climate change working groups meeting and represent the organization in actors meetings.

Kenya emergency responses coordination - (20%)

• Develop and implement work plans building on the IRCs’ country strategy on Emergency Preparedness and responses
• Assist in planning, implementing, activating, and coordinating readiness of emergency operations responses with the IRC field response teams.
• Coordinate and support the Kenya Emergency Response Team (KERT) in formulations, design and implementation of emergency responses.
• Coordinates with and supports to program staff in analyzing and regularly updating the IRC’s SMT on emergencies responses and concerns where the Country Office has special interest and/or comparative advantages.
• In collaboration with the field teams and coordinators organize field emergency assessments and reporting and attend actors emergency coordination meetings;
• Prepare or coordinate after action reports following exercises & major emergencies, including recommending improvements & incorporating findings into current emergency management plans.
• Provide emergency management technical consultation, advice & service to the KERT, SMT and partners.

Environmental mainstreaming - (10%)

• Implement IRCs environmental strategy in all the project field sites in coordination with the field teams.
• Give technical support to all departments on environmental mainstreaming activities within the Kenya programs.
• Organize capacity building to staff and partners organizations on environmental management.
• In collaboration with program interns that the there is effective monitoring systems in place for environmental activities in all departments.
• Regularly sent out environmental green tips to the IRC field focal persons.
• To work closely with all program departments and teams on project enabling including WASH, health, environmental planning for sustainability in line with the strategy.

Support and implementation of Livelihood Programming - (20%)

• In collaboration with the IRC livelihood team conduct assessments, design concept and proposal that build resilience of the targeted communities.
• Submission of proposals, reports, budgets and concepts in a timely manner.
• Support livelihoods project implementations and share best practices in the dry lands that can inform IRCs wide programming.
• Provide support to the implementation of livelihood strategy.
• Promote learning and knowledge management on livelihood programming as well as review consultant report and assessments.
• Manage OFDA budget to ensure optimum burn rates (in collaboration with the Lodwar teams)
• Ensure that Garissa budget lines are being spent in an optimum level;
• Manage (in collaboration with field heads and relevant technical coordinators) selected budget lines through annual operational budgets for DRR, emergency and environment.

Staff management

• Share responsibility with the OFDA grant staff for success of that grant and integration with other key sectors such as nutrition, livelihoods, DRR

Quality programming

• Promote and enforce integrated programming approach and design quality program ideas for implementation
• Build staff’s capacity on selected technical areas
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Minimum requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in programs focused on emergency preparedness, and disaster risk reduction (natural disaster, emergency response and conflict contexts)
• Experience in emergency response and rehabilitation programs especially in the Horn and East Africa contexts
• Advanced skills in imparting training on DRR and environmental related issues
• Demonstrated assessment, project planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Fluency in English and Swahili, spoken and written- a must
• Ability to multitask, manage pressure and flexibility
• Education- Masters degree holder in social science, economics, political science, natural sciences or related stream.
• Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply. International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.