Disaster risk reduction and preparedness advisor

Vacancy number : 21/11

Introduction

After the earthquake in 2010, partner organisations were supported with emergency aid activities. In addition, Cordaid started a shelter programme in ten neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince and Léogâne. To complement the limited capacity available in Haiti, Cordaid established an office in Port-au-Prince with international and national expert staff for the direction and accompaniment of the reconstruction programme.

For the period 2011 – 2015, Cordaid has designed a strategic plan for Haiti. Integration between the current reconstruction- and rehabilitation activities of both Cordaid and her partners and the longer-term/structural activities is important. Major themes will be community development, livelihood and violence against women. Since Haiti is a country which faces many risks, Cordaid will start a Disaster Risk Reduction trajectory in Haiti (including Emergency Preparedness).

Position and responsibility

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness Advisor is responsible for designing, managing and coordinating all Cordaid’s disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness programmes in Haiti and supporting the capacity-building of local partner organisations in these areas. In addition, he/she participates in DRR platforms and networks and represents Cordaid during meetings.

The DRR/EP Advisor will report to the Cordaid Head Office in The Hague and liaise closely with relevant programme officers of the sector Disaster Risk Reduction & Emergency Aid and the sector Conflict Transformation at Cordaid Head Office.

General objective of the posting

• Capacity development of local partner organisations in the areas of DRR and EP.
• Identify, develop and support new DRR/EP proposals and projects with partner organisations.
• Support programme development and strategic position of Cordaid on DRR and EP.
• Networking, representation and acquisition.

Specific objectives

• Capacity Development on DRR and EP
- Help organize and facilitate trainings for staff of local partner organisations, government officials and staff of Caritas organisations;
- Provide technical assistance on DRR and EP to and accompany staff of local partner organisations to enable long-term skills-transfer;
- Support partners in applying and documenting community-managed disaster risk reduction;
- Improve learning, linking and coordination to strengthen networks, maximize recovery efforts and establish preparedness plans.

• Identify, Develop and Support Proposals and Projects
- Support partners in formulating proposals (workplan/budget/ logframes) for DRR and EP efforts;
- Support project development to strengthen and build upon linking Emergency Response, Emergency Preparedness and DRR;
- Support partners’ capacities on project cycle management;
- Regular visits to project sites to monitor progress of projects funded by Cordaid and back donors;
- Responsible for reporting to Cordaid HQ and others based on partner reports.

• Programme development and strategic positioning
- Explore opportunities and threats for a Cordaid programme on DRR in Haiti as well as the strengths and weaknesses of Cordaid;
- Explore potential local partner organisations to implement Cordaid’s DRR programme.

• Networking, Representation and Acquisition
- Represent Cordaid’s DRR/EP programme in relevant Caritas, UN and other humanitarian coordination / thematic cluster meetings, such as the DRR platform;
- Identify and establish contacts with relevant organisations and stakeholders (such as the government) as strategic to Cordaid’s DRR and EP interventions in Haiti;
- Explore added value of Cordaid and promote Cordaid’s interests within relevant clusters.

Qualifications

- Academic degree in development studies or other related field;
- Excellent French and English language writing and communication skills;
- At least 5 years proven experience with developing, managing and monitoring emergency response, emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction programmes;
- Experience assessing needs for and/or delivering DRR/EP training;
- Strong (financial) project management, analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Experience of working with internationally-funded programmes, including coordination, reporting and monitoring according to different donor templates (e.g. ECHO, OCHA);
- Experience in working with local NGOs, preferably with communities in conflict-affected states;
- Knowledge of Haiti’s socio- political environment is an asset;
- Be diplomatic, culturally sensitive and result-oriented.