Emergency Response Coordinator 472 views0 applications

Since the early 1980s Niger has consistently been ranked at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index. Over half the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and one in ten are extremely food insecure. Niger is also a disaster prone country, regularly hit by food crises and vulnerable to flooding, cholera and locust swarms. Access to health care and education for women and girls are very limited. In addition to the vulnerability of a significant proportion of Nigeriens, Niger also hosts refugees from neighboring Mali and Nigeria.

IRC’s vision for Niger is that individuals, households and communities are resilient, self-reliant and able to thrive in a changing context. IRC Niger is present in the regions of Tillabery, Agadez and Diffa with projects in the following areas: Environmental Health (EH) and Non-Food Items (NFI) including Emergency – Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), Protection (SGBV, Child Protection, Monitoring Protection and Protection Integration), Education, Nutrition, Health and Livelihoods.

The RRM (Rapid Response Mechanism) is an emergency response program that covers all regions in Niger with a focus in areas with high population displacement potential such as Diffa, Tillabery and Tahoua’s regions. The main objectives of the IRC’s RRM program are:

• To conduct multi-sector assessments in areas recently affected by population movements in order to inform the humanitarian community about the scope of these movements and the primary humanitarian needs; and
• To intervene quickly in the sectors of non-food items (NFI), Shelters, Environmental Health, Food aid and protection in favor of the recent displaced households (less than 3 months) to preserve their live and dignity.

Position summary

The Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC) will report to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), and will oversee IRC Niger’s emergency preparedness and response programming. The ERC will support IRC country team to respond to displacement crises across the country with a focus on the conflict crises. This will include pre-planning, oversight of field office scale-up and related tasks, and ongoing development and training of the Country Emergency Team (CET). The Emergency Response Coordinator has a key role in the planning and delivery of capacity and competency development activities for IRC CET staff and staff of local NGO and CSO partner organizations that will also promote common approaches and standards across emergency responses. The ERC will continue to support the process of increasing IRC country program emergency readiness through the regular updating of country emergency preparedness plans. The ERC is responsible for ensuring rapidity of response, scale of assistance and timely delivery of program activities, along with ensuring the best use of resources, while maintaining a positive relationship with other agencies, both local and international.

Specific responsibilities

1. Emergency Preparedness, Response & Program Implementation

• Lead the IRC emergency response during displacements (due to conflict or natural disasters) and other emergencies as they arise;

• Undertake rapid needs assessments to identify gaps and needs in humanitarian landscape;

• Collaborate with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to define the scope and objectives of IRC’s response to each specific emergency;

• Oversee the implementation of the emergency response program and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met;

• Ensure that program implementation is managed closely through the development of structured work/implementation plans;

• Work with finance to closely monitor and manage program spending and serve as a budget holder for emergency response grants;

• Organize, supervise and provide any trainings and updates to the emergency response teams, CET which may include Child Protection, WASH and WPE and preparedness capacity strengthening

• In collaboration with country program security focal points, closely monitor the situation and development in population movements, security context, accessibility constraints, and natural or environmental phenomena, and advise the SMT on staff movement, and immediate actions when necessary;

• Lead conversations with IRC Niger stakeholders on risk thresholds and program criticality in complex environments;

• Ensure compliance with IRC and international policy, procedures and practices throughout emergency response activities, including adherence to Do No Harm principles;

• As the team leader of the CET, provide leadership during emergency response start-up through the establishment of field offices and hiring of staff (as relevant and necessary);

• Manage CET members and response team budgets;

• Collaborate with SMT members to support response related activities and relieve bottlenecks; and

• Identify gaps and work with SMT to mobilize national and global IRC resources to respond to crises as appropriate.

• Oversee the development of Emergency Preparedness aspect for the CP.

2. Coordination, Liaison & Representation

• Represent IRC in technical meetings within the RRM consortium.

• Represent the IRC at other humanitarian response coordination meetings providing feedback and analysis to the SMT with recommendations for future planning;

• Liaise and coordinate with other UN and NGO partners, local authorities and beneficiaries in planning and response to emergencies;

• Collaborate with DDP, program managers, and SHAC on rolling out community engagement strategies as appropriate;

• Coordinate with the Security and Humanitarian Access team on the identification and engagement of relevant stakeholders and approvals;

• Facilitate donor visits to the program sites; and

• Liaise regularly and work closely with program, operations and finance staff in Diffa, Niamey, Agadez and Tillabery and field sites to coordinate program planning.

3. Program Design

• Working closely with the DDP, program and grants coordinators to lead the program design for humanitarian response and key preparedness aspects;

• Develop concept notes and proposals, in collaboration with the sector coordinators and technical advisors based on the assessments and addressing the identified needs and concerns;

• Initiate and lead needs assessments and data collection as necessary to feed into project design; and

• In collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation team, support the development of strong data collection and monitoring & evaluation plans within each program and proposal, including developing logical frameworks and indicators.

4. Reporting & Documentation

• Provide accurate routine reports to the SMT, document results and maintain detailed records of program activities;

• Develop needs assessment reports and other internal reports as required by SMT or as appropriate under the circumstances;

• Work with communications to design program briefing materials, and respond to requests for program information from the IRC’s Regional Office, advocacy team, HQ or Emergency Unit, donors and others; and

• Work with the program staff to ensure that field experiences are documented and used for learning and to advocate on behalf of the communities with which we work.

Requirements

• Graduate degree in a relevant field preferred

• At least 4 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex humanitarian programming. Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.

• Strong familiarity with IRC Niger’s core programming areas including integrated Protection, WASH, and Economic Recovery and Development.

• Demonstrated successful leadership experience managing a multi-disciplinary team and cross-cultural dynamics

• Superior diplomatic and coordination skills are essential, both for internal coordination and for working with key stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies

• Proven track record of leading multi-location teams

• Politically astute, with well-developed diplomatic and negotiating skills

• Fluency in spoken and written French; working knowledge of English strongly preferred

• Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders

• Experience of managing programs in a complex and rapidly changing security context

• Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations

• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes

• A keen understanding of political complexities in the West Africa region

• Strong commitment to IRC’s vision, mission and core values

• Motivated, positive individual who excels at taking initiative and is able to motive team members to produce results under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.

This position is based in Niamey, Niger with frequent travel to the field.

IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.