Project coordinator

 Background & Rationale

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) was established in 1986 to support the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development, through implementing programs that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC is governed by its Board of Trustees and annually convenes the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC) that brings together National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) from 26 countries of the Asian region. In 1999, ADPC was constituted as an independent non-profit foundation under Thai law, with its headquarters in Bangkok. Currently, ADPC is in the process of becoming an inter-governmental organization, with the ADPC Charter signed in 2005 by 9 founder member countries of the Asian region. In March 2011, ADPC celebrated its 25th year of services and developed its Strategy 2020 to meet needs of the Disaster Risk Reduction sectors in the region and globally. This will be achieved by enhancing its existing organizational structure and resources; focus on technical aspects and needs of external partners and deliver competitive and high quality outputs. 

Disaster Risk Management Systems (DRMS) is one of six thematic Department of ADPC with the strategic objectives to:

- Strengthen government institutions and systems and implementation of national and sub-national strategies/action plans/programs on DRR and CCA.
- Support to development and implementation region specific multiple action DRR and CCA programs.
- Develop and implement programs on community based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR)
- Facilitate partnerships, knowledge networking and exchange of experiences to promote innovation in disaster risk management.

Status of the Project Coordinator 

The Project Coordinator, working under the direct supervision of an assigned Project officer / Project Manager/ Program Manager will be the core member of Disaster Risk Management Systems (DRMS) department. He/She will be guided and monitored by the Head of Department (DRMS) through direct /indirect interactions on both programmatic and operational issues.

The Project Coordinator refers to the professional title and grade as per ADPC’s personnel Policy and guideline. All ADPC wide provisions and norms are applicable unless and otherwise declared in writing in the Contract.

Roles and Responsibilities 

The Project Coordinator –DRMS provides coordination support to the DRMS Department and attached to one or more than one project based on ongoing projects requirements. The specific responsibility would be to:

- Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of project/ program activities under the thematic area related to National and Sub-national DRR and CCA within timeline.
- Develop work plan and draft progress reports for specific project/programs
- Ensure budget management and substantive and financial reporting for internal use, for donors and for implementing partners
- Assist in developing concept notes, project proposals related to thematic area
- Participate in inter- department activities for project implementation within ADPC
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the Supervisors

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes required 

Education Qualification and Work Experience 

- Bachelor or Master degree (preferred) in development studies, disaster management, urban planning etc
- Having 1-2 years practical experience working in field of Disaster Risk Management
- Proven skills in implementation of DRR and CCA programs or projects in particular training and capacity building activities
- Experience of financial, narrative reporting and managing budgets
- Strong analytical skills as well as in writing and documentation is a necessity

Practical Knowledge 

- Project coordination, management and administration systems
- Partnership and working with regional national, provincial, district and local governments
- Current approaches on DRR and CCA, key issues on development aid effectiveness and accountability

Work Attitude

- Team player and relationship builder.
- Experience of working under pressure and managing multiple tasks to tight deadlines
- Experience of working across cultures and multiple locations
- Ability to effectively manage and prioritize diverse workload
- Communicator (presentation) and influencer (representation)
- Comfortable working with senior management.
- Understanding of and commitment to ADPC’s mission and values
- Willingness to travel at short notice, including to relief operations anywhere in the world.