Field officer - Improving climate change resilience of caribbean communities project

Purpose:

• The Field Officer will be responsible for supporting the Project Officer in the implementation and reporting on activities of the project.
• The Field Officer will support the Jamaica Red Cross to develop, implement, monitor and report on the Project Improving Climate Change Resilience of Caribbean Communities. This project aims at developing National Society capacity to contribute to reducing the vulnerability of communities and to strengthen their main resilience factors through greater knowledge, preparedness, skills and climate change adaptation.

Background:

The project is a part of the Red Cross regional integrated climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction strategic framework supported by DFID that seeks to deliver reduced disaster and climate change impact in the Caribbean.

The intention is to reduce the vulnerability of communities and strengthen their main resilience factors, specifically:

• Community members demonstrate and train neighbors to apply recommended home retrofitting as well as flood-prevention applications in communities.
• Communities implement risk reduction projects and readiness actions through education and awareness of climate change adaptation.
• Knowledgeable communities take action to reduce their own health risks by providing health awareness and peer education for their neighbors to prevent the proliferation of disease

Combined, this pilot project will test and strengthen Red Cross shelter, climate change adaptation and health initiatives for communities and capture learning through a strong Monitoring and Evaluation process.

Specific project duties, responsibilities and accountabilities

• Assist Red Cross to improve their co-operation with the relevant government agencies at local level.
• Build relationships and maintain regular contact with community leaders, community groups, religious groups, sports associations, clubs and schools near to and in the selected communities.
• Guide the analysis of risks, vulnerabilities and capacities in the communities
• Organize, train and equip Community Disaster Response Teams in high risk communities.
• Support the Community Based Health First Aid (CBHFA) process in the selected communities
• Participate in the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Programme in order to achieve all activities within the allotted timeframe
• Identify Local Non Government Organisation (NGO) and Community Based Organisation (CBO) for potential operational partnerships and collaboration.
• Work with Team to further develop existing cross sectorial programme activities
• Provide regular reporting of all activities to the Project Officer
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Project Officer

Lateral relations

• Deepen the partnership between the Red Cross and the target communities
• Strive to further develop an effective operational partnership with the National Disaster Office and other government departments as necessary
• Share experiences, challenges and lessons learned with the other Red Cross countries involved in implementing the project

Qualifications:

• University Degree or equivalent - Required

Skills and knowledge

• Excellent practical knowledge of computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word processing, e-mail, Internet) - Required
• Experience in training - Required
• Experience of Disaster management programming and/or community development work - Required
• Experience in community work - Required
• Experience in working with volunteers - Required
• Experience in writing narrative reports - Required
• Experience in analysing community data for further decisions - Required
• Has a valid driver’s licence  - Required

Languages

• English - Required

Character qualities

• Able to work in a team - Required
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct - Required
• Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions - Required
• Self-motivated and proactive, with good judgment and initiative - Required
• Excellent interpersonal skills - Required
• Able to prioritize and meet deadlines - Required