Disaster risk reduction specialist

Asian Disaster Preparedness is implementing a program that facilitates the integration of tsunami warning in early warning systems of Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, with funding support from American Red Cross. The programme aims to strengthen multi-hazard warning systems in the countries by:

a) assisting countries to establish early warning national forums, with mass-based organization participation, for regular dialogues between warning information producers and users, to make early warning information actionable and relevant to users;

b) enhancing capacities of National Red Cross Societies in using early warning information to improve institutional and community preparedness to emergencies; and

c) demonstrating the functionality and reliability of early warning systems by addressing last mile problems, determined from a system audit, and engaging with pilot communities.

Required Qualifications/ Selection Criteria:

• Masters degree, or equivalent in training and experience, in international development/ environmental management / social sciences/ engineering
• Demonstrable knowledge in disaster risk reduction process
• At least five years of work experience in disaster risk reduction and related areas
• Minimum two years international experience, preferably in Asia
• Demonstrated understanding of key development and disaster risk management issues
• Experience in community-based disaster risk management and participatory processes
• Experience in developing and conducting training needs assessment for disaster management
• Experience in developing a training curriculum based on a need assessment
• Experience in training delivery
• Knowledge in Sphere minimum standards
• Proven ability to strategize, plan and organize events (workshops, training, conferences)
• Excellent English proficiency in communication, presentation skills and report writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to liaise and work with people of different backgrounds and nationalities
• Willingness and availability to travel periodically under sometimes adverse conditions
• Strong desire to learn; undertake new challenges; must be a creative problem-solver; must have self- confidence; willingness to work hard; good sense of humor, but with seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist program partners in organizing early warning national forums
• Document process, outcomes, good practices and lessons from these national forums
• Contribute to the development of training modules, course readings, presentation materials, and testing and evaluation tool
• Assist in day-to-day course delivery and management
• Contribute to refinement of training curriculum, methods, and materials, using feedback from testing and evaluation
• Assess institutional systems for end-to-end early warning, and develop strategies to further enhance these systems
• Identify, implement and monitor local level mitigation/ risk reduction activities in pilot sites for enhancing responses to early warning information
• Provide guidance to local project partners in carrying out project activities
• Coordinate with project partners and stakeholders for the regular preparation and timely submission of progress reports
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned