Disaster Risk Manager

JOB ADVERT: Disaster Risk Manager

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Purpose: 

Since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, some 50,000 Nigerians have sought refuge in Cameroon with about 33,000 of them living in the Minawao camp and the rest living with the host communities. This has resulted in the loss of livelihoods and has raised fear among local populations. Sporadic clashes have been reported between the Cameroonian army and the Boko Haram group in the border villages with Nigeria. In recent days these attacks have intensified resulting to some locals abandoning their villages and seeking refuge in nearby villages in Cameroon making more than 80,000 internally displaced people.

The emergency situation in the Far North is coming in addition to a more than a year old emergency response in support to the refugees from Central Africa Republic (CAR) in the East of Cameroon. There are 230 522 CAR refugees being supported by Plan International Cameroon as part of the CAR response.

Plan International Cameroon is looking for a Disaster Response Manager to provide technical support to emergency response management teams based in Maroua (for the response to Nigerian Refugees) and Bertoua (for the response to CAR refugees).

The Disaster Response Manager, will provide technical support to strengthen programmatic and management compliance and contribute to networking and building relevant partnerships to improve Plan’s capacity to meet the resource requirement to respond to the two emergency situations.

About the role

The Disaster Risk and Response Manager is the interface between the CAR and Nigerian refugees ERMTs, the Program Technical Team, Country Director and the National Organisations (NO). He/she will be responsible for the quality and effectiveness of Plan’s emergency response within his/her designated area of responsibility. He/she will manage the emergency response portfolio in consultation with the Grant Support Manager and is accountable for compliance with Plan’s disaster management policy and humanitarian standards.  This is a key management position in the country program and a member of the Country Management Team.

Major responsibilities include: leading the technical review and support to the emergency response teams in Far North region and in the East region (sectors) in the strategic development of sector plans/proposals; internally and externally coordinating sector activities; establishing and maintaining public relations with state authorities, UN agencies and other INGOs; coordinating management support, including resource allocations and utilization among sectors; monitoring emergency program implementation and revising response plans as appropriate, coordinating the production of Plan International Cameroon  and donor program and financial reports (Plan International Cameroon  and donors) with the program and support teams.

This position is based in the country office a with periodic supervisory field visits within the country

Dimensions of Role:

Area of Responsibility – CAR refugees Response- Nigerian Refugees response- National networking with centrally based actors.

The key role of the Emergency Response Manager is to ensure the development of four plans:

• Support the two Emergency response Managers (Far North and CAR) with the development and regular updates of the following strategies: Program response plan, Funding plan, Communication plan, capacity and capacity plan;
• Technically support emergency program implementation in CAR and Far-North and ensure compliance with relevant technical standards and donor requirements
• Actively network with NOs and donors in-country to develop the program portfolio both for emergency and early recovery programming.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

Support to Needs Assessment, Program design and planning

• In association with the Country Director ensure emergency assessments are executed and from them an integrated emergency response, implementation and exit strategies are developed.
• Oversee project design and proposal preparations for institutional and public funding.
• Development of concept note and proposals in relation with ERMs in country
• Provide support to the program team to ensure that country strategies and Programs are DRM sensitive,
• Build capacities of the country team, community members and relevant partners in DRM issues: code of conduct, Sphere, etc.
• Provide support to PUs in the event of emergency  response involvement and co-ordination with DRM policy and programming issues in Plan globally
• Advise CMT and PUs on emergency response and preparedness programming (health, education, protection etc…)
• Advise country teams in disaster preparedness in admin and financial domain
• Ensure the recommendations issued from the Country DPP and the action plan are timely addressed
• Assist the Country Office review the current structure and responsibilities of the emergency response team particularly with a view to ensuring balanced staff responsibilities in order to avoid overload and/or burn out.
• Ensure with the HR manager that the systems used for HR are adapted to the emergency context to ensure a rapid response while maintaining an acceptable level of accountability with regard to recruitment.
• Review HR policies to ensure that they are appropriate for an emergency response context
• Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency situation in the East and Far North regions of Cameroon and adjust activities accordingly.
• Ensured the quality of DRM project design abide international rules in that field: ALNAP, HAP, Sphere.

Support to strengthen compliance, Emergency project management and implementation

• Ensure with the Logistics Officer the timely and appropriate establishment of all logistics infrastructure (warehousing / transport / distribution) and associated operating / management /monitoring systems.
• Ensure with the Logistics Officer the establishment and maintenance of a functional procurement and supply chain management system for emergency project implementation in support to all emergency grants funded projects.
• Ensure compliance with all legal, contractual, labour and statutory requirements in grant implementation.
• Coordinate the development of all project implementation plans (DIP) and detailed budgets within the framework of the agreed emergency response programme and strategy.
• Ensure DRM program and activities are monitored and implemented the best way in regards of Plan relevant policies and systems in place: PPM, disaster management policy and related standards and guidelines;
• Provide input into the SitReps to ensure the region, NOs and IH are timely informed on operating environment and program progress,
• Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency response activities in accordance with Plan’s humanitarian accountability framework, relevant SPHERE standards, and essential environmental mitigation measures.
• Ensure that different sectoral activities are implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner taking into account dependencies and opportunities for efficiency gains.
• Ensure with the Finance Manager the establishment and maintenance of Plan International financial management and accounting systems for all assessment and response activities and assets.
• Ensure all personnel understand and carry out their duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, core values, the Code of Conduct and SPHERE.

Support to portfolio development to strengthen emergency response and early recovery

• Assist and advise the Country Director with securing donor funding for emergency projects.
• Responsibility for acquiring and managing grants related to DRM- supporting preparedness, relevant needs assessments and emergency response
• Identifying new funding opportunities for Plan International Cameroon and winning new grants and contributions-in-kind.
• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGO’s, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principal stakeholders including the military where present and if necessary.
• Recommend changes to team composition and functioning with Country Office and partners to maximise emergency programme quality and effectiveness.
• Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale.
• Ensure that Plan International Cameroon’s emergency program priorities are captured in the Regional Refuges Response Plan (RRRP) at regional and national lever annually
• Ensure the Country Director and ERMT is kept informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, funding opportunities, progress reports, and other significant developments.
• Promote a productive work environment respectful of the Code of Conduct with zero tolerance for verbal and physical abuse or discrimination against other persons on the grounds of race, colour, sex or creed.
• Ensure that human resources implications for CI RED and Plan International for both existing and anticipated emergency response are fully assessed, identified, described and communicated.

Key Results & Criteria for Success

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them

The Country Disaster Response Manager supports the application of the new disaster response management and logistics guidelines for disaster during response as per requirements, organizational policies and procedures and provides sensitization to staff to ensure compliance. S/he shall be able to conduct risk analysis every time to mitigate likely of child abuses during and after disasters.  In addition, cross cutting disaster related issues should be handled in a comprehensive way to mitigate adverse effects of the disasters.

Coordination of disasters response is another challenging aspect of this position.  Therefore, the incumbent shall be in constant relations with key concerned stakeholders in the Far-North and East regions and be able to position well Plan without jeopardising the organisation reputation.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

• Has high contact country wide (CMT, ERM, M&E Coordinators, Project coordinator for Northern PUs, government staff) and regional office staff
• Maintain high contact with PSM/POM and technical staff to support effective timely and quality communications on disaster related activities
• Maintains medium contact with other staff from the PUs to offer support for understanding, informing, influencing  administrative/disaster related activities

Key internal contacts: Country Director, Deputy CD, GSM, ERMs, Emergency response team members,

Key external contacts: Other NGO’s, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

• People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan’s core values and humanitarian principles.
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
• Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of Plan policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct and other relevant instruments.
• Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.

Technical competencies

• Minimum of 5 years humanitarian aid experience in complex disasters context
• High level of all aspects of managerial experience, including managing multi-million dollar budgets
• Experience in complex decision making and leading a multi-disciplinary, multi national team under difficult circumstances
• The highest level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil military liaison and program management

Level of Contact with Children: Middle contact:

NEXT STEP:

To apply for this job, kindly click on «  ». Your application should include:

• A cover letter
• A comprehensive CV including details of three referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor

Location: Yaounde – Cameroon

Closing date: 23 May 2019

Plan International Cameroon operates in an equal opportunity environment and actively encourages diversity.  Only applications received in French or English will be treated and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Plan international has a child protection and gender equality policies that are integral part of the recruitment process.