Regional Head of Humanitarian Preparedness & Response, West and Central Africa 116 views0 applications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation 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 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The Opportunity

With the current and emerging humanitarian crisis and emergency situations, Plan International West and Central Africa is committed to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, protection, education and psychosocial support to the most vulnerable populations. Our programs are designed and executed in a way that protects girls, boys, children and youth in all their diversity.

To achieve greater change in children’s and their communities’ lives we are dramatically transforming how we operate, and we need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to steer our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to transform the lives of 100 million girls globally.

The Regional Head of Humanitarian Preparedness & Response will support and monitor the implementation of the humanitarian scope of Plan International’s Global Strategy ‘100 Million Reasons’ and its anticipated future updated version, the global DRM strategy and compliance with the DRM Policy at regional and country level and contribute to global policy and practice in the sector. This is intended to be a pro-active role with significant influence within countries and regional programs. The post-holder will proactively engage with country programs and regional initiatives to improve preparedness levels, responsiveness and quality of the humanitarian work throughout the West and Central African region. This role will support Plan International’s Programming and Influencing portfolio with a focus on the humanitarian and triple nexus agenda across the region working closely with the other colleagues in the RH Programming and Influencing unit and across country offices.

Do you have what it takes?

As the Regional Head of Humanitarian Preparedness & Response, you will be responsible for overseeing and supporting the implementation of the humanitarian scope of Plan International’s Global Strategy ‘100 Million Reasons’ and the global DRM strategy and compliance with the DRM Policy in Plan International’s 14 country offices in the West and Central African region. You will contribute to global learning and initiatives aimed at strengthening DRM within the wider organization. You will also support Plan International’s Programming and Influencing portfolio with a focus on the humanitarian agenda across the region working closely with the other colleagues in the RH Programming and Influencing unit and across COs.

• You will be deployable as Emergency Response Manager in responses to large scale disasters in the region.
• You will lead the disaster preparedness programs through overseeing and supporting the implementation of the DRM strategy in the 14 COs in the region and ensuring readiness to respond to disasters through ensuring compliance of the Disaster Preparedness Process (DPP) and roll out of capacity building activities across all COs in the region.
• You will manage disaster response activities through the support and advise given to CO management for timely decision making in slow-onset, protracted and rapid onset emergencies.
• You will wet up and manage a small regional Emergency Response Fund (small/medium scale disasters) and advise on allocation of the global disaster fund (medium/large scale disasters
• You will contribute in program management and fundraising by overseeing a portfolio of regional DRM grants, fundraise if necessary, and ensure that the grants commitments are met in terms of performance, schedule and costs while promoting and ensuring compliance of humanitarian standards and principles that govern behavior of staff
• You will provide guidance and technical support to country offices for DRM integration and triple nexus programming in new County Strategies and support development of programmatic approaches and guidance.
• You will ensure that Plan International’s global policies for safeguarding, gender, diversity, equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility.
• You will engage externally with relevant actors and coordinate Plan International’s work with other international/regional agencies and networks, such as the regional IASC network and working groups and donors.
• You will actively participate in disaster coordination and interagency cooperation based on clear understanding of organizations’ perspective and approach.

For a detailed job description, please click on the below link: Regional Head of Humanitarian Preparedness & Response, West and Central Africa

How to apply?

This is a regional position on local contract open to all applicants with no restriction to the nationality.  Females’ candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

To apply, click on the link and send by 7th November 2021 your application with:

• A comprehensive cover letter
• A comprehensive and clear CV that includes the contact of two of your references, one of whom should be your current employer.

Location: In any of the West and Central Africa Country where Plan International is established

Type of Role: 3 years fix term contract, renewable based on performance

Reports to:  Executive Director West & Central Africa/GYPA

Grade: G – Competitive local contract and salary scale

Closing Date: 7th November 2021

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy.

As an international child centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. 

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.