Emergency livelihoods response and DRR programme advisor

Background

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Job Purpose:

The purpose of the post is to provide technical support to all programmatic aspects of Concern’s Alleviating Hunger Now and Beyond (AHNAB) and Stop Sliding Backwards projects within the livelihoods programme in Nepal. These projects are built around provision of food and cash for work to prevent immediate hunger and as a mechanism to invest in irrigation to improve long term food security; as well as sustainably reducing risks associated with natural hazards through preparedness, capacity building and small scale mitigation.

Duties & Responsibilities:

- Support Concern’s Alleviating Hunger Now and Beyond (AHNAB) Programme Manager to implement the programme as per the agreed programme documents

- Support Concern’s Stop Sliding Backwards Programme Manager to implement the programme as per the agreed programme documents

- Ensure effective and timely execution of Food and Cash for Work modalities through technical support, guidance and monitoring of Concern and partner staff

- Lead the piloting of Vouchers for Work mechanism in one programme area

- Support the design, and oversee the establishment, of an effective and appropriate monitoring plan with Concern and partners

- Support the design of feasible irrigation schemes through provision of engineering technical guidance

- Provide technical support to the construction of rainwater harvesting schemes in terms of design specifications and community mobilsation

- Monitor the technical quality of irrigation schemes against agreed design, budgets and timeframe

- Provide formal and on the job capacity building of Concern and partner staff in the areas of food, cash and vouchers for work modalities; fair and orderly distributions; rainwater harvesting schemes; small scale disaster mitigation measures; disaster risk reduction; emergency response; and appropriate engineering technologies.

- In conjunction with Programme Manager and partner agencies, liaise with WFP in regards to any issues arising from the delivery of inputs

- Support (through advice and monitoring) partner training provider organization and Concern staff to deliver and review humanitarianism and emergency response training to development oriented Nepali NGO and government staff

- As part of a team, assess, plan and support partners to implement emergency responses in Nepal

- Support partners and stakeholders to scale up the facilitation of District Disaster Management Plans to guide emergency preparedness and response

- Review and bolster the effectiveness of Village Development Committee Disaster Response Committees (VDRCs) created under the programme

- Support the conducting of Risk and Vulnerability Assessments in target VDCs by coaching and structured review

- Assist the Programme team to prepare and facilitate innovative means to improve community awareness of DRR, preparedness and response

- Oversee the design and implementation of small scale disaster mitigation measures such as terrace strengthening, slope protection, water drainage diversion, retaining walls, bank stabilisation, and hail covers, in terms of technical quality

- Take overall responsibility for preparing reports for ECHO and DIPECHO with support from the Programme Managers

- In consultation with Programme Managers and Country Director, develop the relationship with ECHO and DIPECHO

- Support the documentation of processes, gathering case studies etc so that Concern can capture and disseminate learning to a wider audience

- Provide ideas and data to the Research and Advocacy Coordinator to develop and execute advocacy plans

- If required, support Programme Managers to prepare budgets

- Carry out other duties reasonably assigned by the Country Director.

Person Specification

Essential:
- At least four years study to degree or higher qualification at recognized institute in engineering or related field

- At least 5 years relevant overseas experience in a developing country

- Demonstrable experience in administering Food/Cash for Work programmes

- Demonstrable experience in emergency preparedness and/or risk reduction and mitigation in a developing country

- Experience working with ECHO and/or DIPECHO funded projects

- Excellent report writing skills writing skills (in English)

- Demonstrated excellent monitoring and evaluation skills

- Demonstrated high level analytical and problem solving skills

- Ability to transfer skills through formal capacity building and on the job coaching

- Experience working in partnership with local organizations

- Sound computer skills in Microsoft word and excel

- Demonstrated ability and willingness to live and work in remote, harsh and challenging situations

- Experience working in both emergency and development contexts

- Experience working in insecure environments

- Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with a range of stakeholders (including local level partners, government officials, donors and other agencies)

- Ability to constructively assist ongoing dialogue with civil society, political leaders and other stakeholders in the target districts about the programme and Concern


Desirable:
- Ability to speak Nepali is an advantage as is a willingness to learn

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and Programme Participant Protection Policy which has been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organizations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions in these two documents