Disaster risk reduction (DRR) advisor

Reports to:

Emergency Preparedness Co-ordinator when in Dublin
Relevant Country Director when in the field

Job purpose:

To support country programmes integrate DRR approaches within their programming and strategic planning and achieve PEER compliance with appropriate training and technical support.

Main duties & responsibilities:

The DRR Advisor will work with the Emergency Preparedness Advisor to ensure that the organisation’s DRR and PEER strategic objectives are attained

The DRR Advisor’s role is, primarily, to support the Overseas Directorate and the country programmes. It entails giving direction to the country programmes, disseminating appropriate standards, facilitation and training. The advisor does not have direct management responsibility though may have a hands-on role in the field while developing or reviewing specific DRR interventions.

The DRR Advisor is a member of the Emergency Unit, based in Dublin, but with frequent travel overseas. Approximately 35% of the Advisor’s time will be spent overseas.

Due to the size of the unit, and the degree of travelling involved, members of the unit are expected to have the general competencies required to support each other’s key responsibilities.

Key aspects of the DRR Advisor’s post

1. Policy, best practice and strategy in relation to DRR

* Ensure that Concern’s policy and practice reflects good practice and is widely disseminated throughout the organisation
* Establish criteria to monitor the status of DRR within the organisation
* Lead in the development of a DRR knowledge database that can be a practical and useful tool for field workers
* Share responsibility for representing Concern at various international fora and for promoting and disseminating DRR within Concern including, inductions, recruitment of programme staff and awareness sessions with identified groups of staff
* Assist in the review and production of the second edition of the ‘Approaches to DRR’ paper
* Keep abreast of policy trends, donor priorities and approaches, and thinking relevant to the sector
* Monitor and report on the organisational PEER compliance status

2. Training

* Work with the Emergency Preparedness Co-ordinator to review and refine a range of DRR-focussed workshops for various audiences internal and external to Concern
* Deliver training in support of the PEER process
* Be able to deliver these workshops on a sole facilitator basis as required

3. Overseas Technical Support

* As agreed with the Emergency Preparedness Co-ordinator, provide appropriate support, advice and direction in approaches and technical areas of DRR programming to the Overseas Division and to staff working overseas
* Upon request, visit overseas programmes to support them achieve PEER compliance
* Actively support the roll out the ‘How Concern Understands Ext Poverty’ paper and the Contextual Analysis Guidelines that accompany it.
* Facilitate project reviews and evaluations as requested
* Upon request, review project concept notes and proposals and give advice on proposed DRR programmes
* Assist the HR Department with the recruitment, screening, interviewing and briefing of staff for DRR and PEER related programmes

4. Networking, representation, and information sharing

* Establish and maintain links with other organisations, institutions or professional groups in relation to emergency issues (in particular, BOND in the UK, VOICE in Brussels and ISDR in Geneva)
* Represent Concern to relevant institutes, universities, organisations, and donors in areas related to DRR and PEER. The University of Ulster and British Geological Survey currently have engagement with Concern on a number of areas mostly associated with geo-hazards and it is anticipated that the outcomes of this engagement may inform some DRR and PEER activities in certain countries
* Attend workshops or seminars on DRR and emergency-related issues as appropriate

5. Emergency deployment

* As required, be available to respond quickly to respond to emerging needs. Activities may include:

- assessing the impact of new disasters and making recommendations as to whether Concern should respond, and what the nature of that response might be.
- leading and managing emergency response teams and representing Concern when responding to disasters in countries in which Concern has not had a prior presence.
- supporting existing country programmes responding to new disasters.

6. Organisational policies and strategies

* Contribute to Concern’s organisational policies, strategic development and general programming work through active participation in organisational programming discussions, and through making proactive suggestions on improving Concern’s approaches and strategies.
* Assist with the development of advocacy issues in relation to emergency programming, security issues, humanitarian issues and disaster risk reduction.

Person Specification:

Education

* A relevant third level qualification is essential preferably in the areas of natural resource management or engineering, together with practical and theoretical knowledge of the principles and practices of Disaster Risk Reduction interventions.

Essential experience

* Five years’ experience of working overseas
* Experience of managing emergency responses, preparedness or disaster mitigation interventions
* Experience of programme planning and monitoring
* Extensive training experience

Desirable qualifications

* Ability to work and deliver workshops in French
* Experience of working with and through local partners in different situations
* Familiarity with Concern systems
* Experience of working in insecure environments

Special skills

* Flexibility and the ability to work with and/or direct a multi-cultural team
* Commitment to working with a value-based organisation
* Practical, adaptable and resourceful
* Good interpersonal and communication skills
* Good organisation, planning and management skills
* Ability to work under pressure
* Diplomacy
* Computer literacy