Disaster risk reduction programme coordinator

Job purpose

To manage the planning and successful implementation of a complex programme by members of a diverse consortium towards attainment of common goals across 3-sub-saharan countries in Africa

Background

The consortium is made up of the UK affiliates of four of the largest independent global humanitarian alliances (CARE, Oxfam, Save the Children, and World Vision) and the Overseas Development Institute - a leading think-tank specializing in international development and humanitarian issues (ODI). Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA) are corporate priorities for each of the four development agencies. All have significant DRR/CCA, livelihood and social protection programming worldwide and in the selected countries in particular with a strong track record of contributing knowledge and innovation to these fields. The four development agencies are members of the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) project - a global consortium of humanitarian relief organizations whose goal is to improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of the humanitarian community in saving lives, protecting livelihoods and defending the rights of people affected by disaster. This programme links with ECB plans in certain ways through shared objectives, specific areas of joint programming and learning within the Horn of Africa.

The purpose of the programme - initially for a 2 year duration will be:

- To demonstrate co-ordinated action amongst consortium members in proving whether incorporating risk analysis into poverty reduction programmes and planning processes improves resilience to climate related hazards amongst the most vulnerable to disaster in target countries.

- To influence policy and practice of governments and the humanitarian/development sector to become more effective at building resilience to climate related hazards at local level in target countries.

The programme will achieve this purpose by :

- Building the evidence base for integrating DRR/Adaptation in participatory planning processes and poverty reduction / social protection programmes

- Challenging and supporting governments and the humanitarian/development sector to improve action on DRR/Adaptation at local level, by using research-based advocacy and communications together with developing skills and knowledge capacity of key staff;

The programme will look to achieve these results in Uganda, Mozambique and Ethiopia initially (with potential for further countries to be added on the basis of evaluation and funding).

Key responsibilities

- Develop and manage relationships across the diverse cultures of the consortium.
- Ensure that the programme is implemented in a consultative, participative manner.
- Manage the development of programme strategy, plans and service agreements (including project and methodology selection, staffing and financial management models) between all parties and the donor within the overall programme framework.
- Support the consortium countries and ODI on the delivery of advocacy with government officials, UN agencies and other external actors to achieve programme objectives.
- Encourage the design of unique, innovative and experimental solutions to complex problems across the multiple technical disciplines encompassed by DRR and Climate Change Adaptation, using judgment to manage risks to the programmes success.
- Ensure that gender is fully taken into account in all aspects of the programme analysis, design and implementation.
- Manage programme learning processes and commission research.
- Liaise and communicate effectively with ECB and other selected consortia to work towards alignment of goals and outputs.
- Ensure that the programme delivers to and meets the requirements of Oxfam and DFIDs monitoring, reporting, accountability and other programme quality standards across the five budget cost-centers.
- Represent and act as point person for the programme both internally and externally.
- Ensure regular communication of programme progress to all consortium members through regular teleconferences, meetings and workshops as necessary.
- Ensure that programme learning is captured and shared internally across the consortium, with ECB and with other key learning networks in the region and globally.
- Hold an overview of all development, humanitarian and advocacy activities of the programme across the 3 countries, regionally and internationally.
- Maintain an understanding of national, regional and international policy debates and processes on climate change and DRR.

Skills and competence

Essential

- Understanding and experience of programming and advocacy in the humanitarian and development sector, and in particular on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, livelihoods or social protection.
- Proven record of policy development and developing and delivering advocacy that has demonstrably influenced governments, donors and other organisations and processes at a high level.
- A proven record of designing, managing and reporting on complex programmes across dispersed locations successfully.
- Ability to develop and manage complex relationships and teams across a wide diversity of actors, technical areas and cultures towards meeting targets on time and within budget.
- Experience of managing and reporting on complex programme budgets across various cost-centers.
- Ability to represent the programme externally professionally.
- Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
- Good written and spoken English.
- Commitment to Oxfam's equal opportunity and gender policies.
- Willingness to travel up to 4 months per year on short visits to programme countries and agencies offices, sometimes at short notice.
- Proven ability in analyzing and solving complex problems and in strategic planning. Flexibility to adapt to constantly changing dynamics.
- A highly motivated, self-starter, able to work equally well in isolation or as part of a team.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Desirable

- Practical experience of the integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and/ or Climate Change analysis into development, humanitarian or advocacy/campaigns work.
- Experience of the context.
- Experience of setting up or working through consortia.
- An understanding of research methodology and MEL
- Experience of knowledge management and learning.
- Knowledge of one or more of the following languages: Portuguese, Swahili, Amaharic