Technical Advisor - Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at African Development Solutions (Adeso)

PROJECT SUMMARY

Resilience and Economic Growth in Arid Lands-Improving Resilience (REGAL-IR) is a 5-year program sponsored by USAID/Kenya and Feed the Future (Ftf) to reduce hunger and poverty, increase social stability and build strong foundations for economic growth amongst pastoralists and transitioning pastoralists in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The program is designed to empower communities to take charge of their development and to strengthen their capacity to select, design, implement and monitor activities toward increasing their social, economic, and environmental resilience to natural and human-induced shocks.

REGAL-IR is led by Adeso and is implemented by a consortium of partners. An intensive community engagement process - Participatory Learning, Planning and Action (PLPA) - guides program implementation in six thematic areas including diversifying livelihoods, improving value chain inclusiveness, natural resource management, conflict management and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and improving nutrition. REGAL-IR is based in Isiolo Town and implements in Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Turkana Counties.

POSITION PURPOSE

The position is based in Isiolo town with frequent travel to project counties and to Nairobi. The DRR TA will provide overall strategic and technical leadership in REGAL-IR’s Thematic Area five. This includes design and coordination of disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities empower communities and strengthen them to withstand the effects of drought and other shocks and disturbances, AS appropriate and feasible DRR activities will link with NDMA and other government agencies, donors and NGO stake holders. The TA/DRR – Program Manager functions within the REGAL-IR Technical Advisory Team that includes five technical advisors. S/he supervises Senior Project Officers and Project Officers and reports directly to the REGAL-IR Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).

MAIN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead strategy development and technical implementation in REGAL-IR’s Thematic Area 5, including:

· Lead the strategy development and technical implementation of REGAL-IR Thematic Area 5

· Lead development and updating of work plans, budgets,, M&E, work targets etc.,

· Ensure adequate community capacity building and institution building for effective and efficient implementation of activities under Thematic Area 5 to anticipate, prepare for and mitigate the impacts of drought and other shocks;

· Ensure adequate staff and partner capacity building (SPOs, POs, other TAs, government experts, etc.) for effective implementation of the DRR project components (DCM, CC, CCA etc.), including development of guidelines and technical support during implementation;

· Upgrade existing DRR plans into community master plan and community development action plan;

· Facilitate development of contingency plans;

· Design, pilot and roll-out community based early warning system in all counties;

· Ensure disaster risk proofing for all REGAL-IR intervention;

· Facilitate community monitoring of drought cycle management phases in operation areas that could affect social, economic and ecological stability;

· Promote knowledge management, innovations and cross learning to build culture of resilience within communities;

· Contribute to advocacy through policy briefs and other interventions;

· Document better practices, prepare publications, organize round table discussions;

· Any other duties as required.

Lead coordination and collaboration of implementing partners in REGAL-IR Thematic Area 5 and other actors including:

· Coordinate with NDMA, other government partners and other actors, including REGLAP;

· Contribute to building and upgrading a strong network of REGAL-IR implementing local NGO partners;

· Represent REGAL-IR in the county, national or regional meetings related to project;

· Review partner reports;

· Conduct regular progress review;

· Foster thematic integration and synergies in programming and implementation;

· Coordinate with Sidai for training on LEGS;

· Coordinate with other implementing partners, ensure harmonized approaches and use if synergies and complementarity;

· Collaborate in multi-stakeholder needs assessment;

· Lead the documentation of better practices and success stories;

· Lead preparation and implementation of the Crisis Modifier (CM) mechanism;

· Ensure systematic project internal DCM monitoring;

· Lead the formation of a CM task force

· Design CM interventions and prepare project proposals to OFDA and other donors;

· Coordinate all response interventions with government and other actors;

· Manage CM implementation for early response:

· Manage interventions for post-disaster recovery;

· Lead the documentation of better practices and success stories;

· Any other duties as required

Coordinate, liaise, link, collaborate with other key actors (REGAL-AG, County Government, NGO projects, Kenya Meat Commission, Equity Bank, Private Sector, others), including:

· Facilitate practical links between and layering with the REGAL-AG supported components of livestock VCs and REGAL-IR supported VC components;

· In cooperation with REGAL-AG and REGAL-IR TAs develop policy briefs on pastoral production systems, livestock mobility, land use and tenure, VC enhancement etc.

· Support development of county livestock development master plans in Garissa, Wajir and Turkana with respective policies, regulations and budgets. Link these policies with those in Isiolo and Marsabit.

· Coordinate the development of livestock marketing plans (community and county level);

· Support the Garissa County Government in abattoir feasibility studies and market analysis;

· Support Counties in strategy development and implementation for community based SPS and export certification;

· Promote private investments in livestock VCs;

· Enhance market and price transparency;

· Improve VC actors’ access to financial services;

· Lead the documentation of better practices and success stories;

· Perform other responsibilities as may be directed/delegated by the supervisor

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

· 5+ years professional experience in DRR- related work, minimum 3 years in supervisory positions;

· Master’s degree in Social Science or relevant discipline;

· Experience working with local communities and governmental and traditional authorities in ASAL regions:

· Excellent interpersonal communication and networking skills with fluency in English and Swahili;

· Experience implementing governmental and donor programs- preferably USAID relief/ development programs;

· Proven leadership qualities, problem solving and negotiation skills and evidence of successful team player;

· Fluency in English, Swahili and at least one local language of the implementation counties;

· Strong analytical and report-writing skills;

· Ability to provide training and mentoring to project staff and partners;

· Demonstrate experience of working as part of a team, sharing ideas and working together towards a common outcome;

· Ability to manage own workload and juggle competing priorities in order to meet deadlines

· Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and think and plan strategically;

· Policy influencing and advocacy experience;

· Preparedness to travel frequently in project counties including remote locations;

· Strong IT skills