Disaster risk reduction delegate – W/M – Bogo - Philippines

Ref. ASIE0113

Context of the position

RED CROSS OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS

Philippines Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is a respected civil society organization with broad presence at provincial, municipal and community levels through its Chapter and volunteer structure. Like many Red Cross organizations, PRC enjoys the advantages of a volunteer system, guaranteeing access to population, since the volunteers come from the communities themselves.

PRC was founded in 1947 and became a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) the same year. It has 102 established Chapter offices in all 78 provinces and major cities of the country. At Chapter level, PRC is governed by the Board of Directors and the staff is headed by the Chapter Administrator. PRC is working countrywide with 1.054 employees. The organization provides six major services: Blood Services, Disaster Management Services, Safety Services, Community Health and Nursing Services, Social Services, and Volunteer Services. It has gained particular recognition for its strength in the provision of blood bank services (PRC provides more than 40% of the blood used in the country’s health services) and disaster preparedness and response.

With strong capacity and experience in disaster response and preparedness, PRC was at the forefront of first responders providing humanitarian services to those affected by typhoon Haiyan with relief items such as tarpaulins and shelter kits; cash grants; safe water and improved sanitation; emergency health services; psychosocial support to survivors and responders and family reunification, all achieved through the support of more than 8,300 volunteers deployed in the affected areas or at the headquarters.

PRC has developed a Plan of Action for the Typhoon Haiyan Operation, which aims to support up to 155 000 households in 10 provinces. PRC also developed with IFRC, and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) a Movement-wide Operational Framework. FRC (French Red Cross) and PRC actions are in line with these strategic frameworks.

French Red Cross and Philippines Red Cross joint actions

Emergency phase: a FRC Relief-Emergency Response team deployed for 3 months

Together with other Red Cross Red Crescent Partners (American Red Cross and Benelux Red Cross), more than 100 000 households have been supported during the emergency response phase, under the umbrella of the IFRC. From November 16th 2013 to February 15th 2014, the French Red Cross mobilized relief Emergency Response Units (ERU) teams to support the PRC in the distribution of relief items in Leyte and Ormoc. During this 3 month mission, FRC deployed 20 Relief delegates and 1 Relief coordinator delegate. 99 726 NFIs were distributed, benefiting to 19 806 households in 99 barangays.

Recovery phase: an integrated approachtowards most affected people in northern Cebu

Detailed assessments have been carried out in January and early February 2014 to design the recovery phase of the RC Movement. Most urgent gaps are related to shelter, wash, infrastructure rehabilitation, and livelihood. However, there are also long-term housing issues; consequently, resettlement and relocation have also been considered.
In this context, FRC has decided to have a permanent Country Representative with 2-3 delegates (TBC).

To respond to these recovery needs in first instance, FRC currently contributes to two projects:

• A project entitled “Early Recovery Assistance to Populations affected by Typhoon Haiyan in Cebu province in the Philippines” implemented by the German Red Cross and the PRC, from March 2014 to September 2016, targeting 5000 beneficiaries. It mainly consists in building 500 transitional shelters in 5 municipalities in northern Cebu and has also wash, infrastructure, livelihood, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction), and OD components.

• A relocation project called “Integrated Recovery Intervention on Housing, Livelihood and Access to basic services for population affected by Typhoon Haiyan in Barangay Papay, Northern Cebu, Philippines” implemented by FRC and PRC, with the support of the NGO Habitat for Humanity, together with its partner sponsors represented by the France Philippines United Action (FPUA). It aims at rebuilding a safer and healthier living environment for the most vulnerable people, by building permanent disaster-resistant houses for 148 households, and to improve and rehabilitate community infrastructures (including health center, day care center, and multipurpose center). The needs are very large since a lot of households are living in extremely exposed areas defined as “no dwelling zones” by the national government. Most of the people in-need for relocation is part of the fisher folk who lost most of their incomes sources during the typhoon. Hence relocation initiatives have to be designed in integrating a strong livelihood component offering income opportunities to beneficiaries as well as social measures for neighboring communities. In this context, the French Red Cross and the PRC together with its partner sponsors represented by the France Philippines United Action (FPUA), are supporting the resettlement of 148 families severely affected by typhoon Yolanda and considered as extremely vulnerable in the Barangay of Paypay, Daanbantayan, North Cebu.

The second phase of FRC and PRC programming will focus on strengthening communities and local authorities’ skills in disaster management in order to increase their capacities to cope with disasters. Through awareness campaign, mitigation activities and DRR infrastructures rebuilt, population living in a highly risky area in North Cebu will be better prepared to reduce the impact of a Typhon.

The position

The DRR delegate will have to ensure the implementation of FRC’s DRR activities, by following the activities below together with the PRC:

• To support the PRC in conducting an initial assessment in order to ensure the validity of the activities written for the project;
• To establish a smooth working relationship mainly with PRC (Philippine Red Cross), and with IFCR (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent), German Red Cross (GRC) and Japanese Red Cross (JRC) as well as with local authorities;
• Support the PRC in implementing the project activities ;
• To set up with the PRC a common approach and synergies with other ongoing projects in implementation phase in North Cebu.

Hierarchical link
• Under the responsibility of the Country Representative based in Manila.

Functional Link
• The DRR delegate will work on a daily basis with PRC colleagues (staff and volunteers from the Cebu Chapter, the Haiyan Recovery Teams in Cebu and Manila),
• He will work in close cooperation with the other FRC delegates (construction and livelihood) to ensure the implementation of a coordinated and integrated project,
• Work in close cooperation with his/her Regional Technical Referent based in Thailand, and with the DRR Technical Expertise Unit (FRC HQ) based in Paris.
• Functional links with the different poles of the FRC delegation (logistic and administration/finance coordination)

The profile

Knowledge

• Relevant educational background in Natural Disaster Risks, Geography, Environment or other DRR related courses
• Significant international experience in DRR project management
• Solid experience in institutional support to local and national authorities
• Good knowledge/Experience of the Red Cross Movement is a highly considered

Abilities

• Strong motivation to work in close partnership with a national partner
• Capacity for hard work
• Multi-skilled, flexible with a strong capacity of adaptation
• Able to manage stress
• Good analytical skills: ability to analyse and synthesize large amounts of information
• High sense of diplomacy, patience, tenacity, teaching skills
• Managerial competencies, engaging partners
• Strong communication and representation skills
• Diplomacy
• Experience / Knowledge of Philippines is an asset

Languages

• A good professional English is mandatory
• French is an asset