Head of Disaster, Crisis, Prevention, Response and Recovery Unit at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Reporting to the Deputy Director, it is the role of the Head of DCPRR department to provide leadership, technical support and quality assurance, with the support of National Societies, other IFRC units and Movement members, in the development and strengthening of a holistic and integrated approach to disaster and crisis risk management that supports resilience, disaster management and institutional preparedness.

He/she will manage an interdisciplinary team dedicated to ensuring the following support services.

1. Disaster Management System. In line with the RCRC Principles and Rules for Humanitarian Assistance the department coordinates the multilateral disaster response and early recovery process of operations launched through IFRC mechanisms which include Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), Emergency Appeals (EA), One International Appeals (OIA), and Development Operational Plans (DoP). This includes the timely and appropriate mobilisation of global instruments (FACT, ERU, HEOps, DREF, Appeal) as well regional mechanisms (RDRT, NDRT) in order to ensure the capacity for immediate response to sudden needs that arise, in accordance with what was agreed with the National Society receiving assistance.
2. Better programming, technical support and coordination. The Unit liaises with internal and external partners at international, regional and national level –at National Society request- to ensure operational coherence in disaster response operations, development actions within the disaster risk management spectrum and actions related to the four areas of focus (DRR, Livelihoods and Basic needs, Shelter and Migration and one SFI (Effective DM), support to fundraising, communications, NS development, the operations room, and improving tradecraft tools and methodologies for performance improvement. This function will ensure close coordination with performance management systems to collect information on implementation rates, actual versus OpEx benchmark, and compliance to ensure continuous learning for effectiveness and efficiency.  
3. Institutional preparedness and readiness. The department is responsible of providing region-wide guidance, standard operation procedures and operational leadership to every other unit and office in times of emergency. This function extends to institutional readiness and preparedness actions within the IFRC secretariat and National Societies in the region, aiming to work as IFRC and to build resilient communities, capable to face and recover from disasters and crisis.
4. Advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy. The department leads the operational aspect of humanitarian diplomacy efforts in close coordination with the units for Partnership and Resource Development and Policy, Strategy and Development. The DCPRR Unit has the responsibility of providing PSK, PRD, Communications and the Senior Management Team (SMT) with advice and feedback on IFRC positions and policies to facilitate high-level humanitarian diplomacy actions. Furthermore, successful fundraising is contingent on close cooperation with Communications, PRD and DCPRR to ensure alignment across operations and external communication. Within a national scope, it is also responsible of providing this service to National Societies to support their own humanitarian diplomacy in order to promote access, climate adaption, and to strengthen their auxiliary role.
5. Resilient communities. The department supports National Societies in areas such as disaster preparedness, health and the promotion of social inclusion. In particular, it supports building resilience by integrating programmes on risk reduction and community-based health approaches, as well as migration, social inclusion, peace-building to build more resilient communities.

Management

• Select, orient and manage the team members under his/her direct responsibility
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, individual and team accountability by setting individual and team objectives, conducting timely performance reviews of individuals, monitoring team performance and participating in the regional performance management system.
• Ensure that the technical team under his/her responsibility has well defined results-based priority plans and capacity to provide sectorial technical support to response operations and programs at any time.
• Ensure that the team prepares accurate and timely reports in accordance with Secretariat requirements, formats and standards.
• To ensure that each thematic area works with a clear strategic approach with strategic priorities, clear objectives and deliverables.
• Ensure that each thematic area corresponds to a clear IFRC position paper and concept note.
• Represent the IFRC in disaster management and community resilience fora.
• Ensure coordination with other units within the regional office and Geneva, partner NS, ICRC and key external stakeholders throughout emergency response cycle.
• Support the Deputy Director to ensure strategic coherence and alignment, as well as programmatic and operational coordination between Disaster & Crisis, Logistics and Health.
• Monitor working relationships, programmatic and operational initiatives and internal procedures within the relevant programs.
• Participate in Heads of Unit meetings, planning retreats and be familiar with regional strategies and messaging, as well as the work of all teams, other units and the SMT.

Working areas

• Disaster Management System
• Ensure that IFRC Africa DM system provides adequate support to National Societies in managing emergency operations (floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, population movements, food crises, epidemics and other disasters).
• Administer the review process of plans and budgets to ensure timely validation of DREF allocations, Emergency Appeals, and resilience projects presented to Geneva. Present a ready to-be-signed DREF or appeal request to Deputy Director and Regional Director.
• Ensure disaster and crisis response operations are appropriate and aligned with internal guidelines and policies (SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules, Strengthening Movement Cooperation and Coordination (SMCC), etc.). Deploy and lead response, surge, assessments when needed.
• Validate requests for deployment of relevant disaster response tools (e.g. RDRT, HEOps, FACT, ERU), in support of National Society disaster management structures when agreed with the National Society and when the disaster exceeds their capacity.
• Monitor implementation rates and processes to measure actual performance against OpEx indicators and benchmarks, budgets and compliance, and propose corrective action where necessary.
• Follow up and support continental efforts to develop and implement regional contingency and resilience plans according to the trends; lead and advise in annual and scenario planning to ensure assets are pre-positioned and prioritized according to evidence.
• Promote coordination of DM actions with Movement partners, UN and other agencies, private sector partners, and others to enhance and augment emergency response, early recovery and resilience building.
• Better Programming, technical support and coordination
• Ensure that institutional and global Disaster & Crisis priorities are reflected in the support provided to National Societies in Africa. 

• Ensure that the Disaster & Crisis unit works with regional/country representatives/coordinators, Geneva based staff and other units to provide technical leadership when orienting National Societies on strategies to build resilience.
• Lead a shared leadership and accountability group that enhances Movement coordination, develops a common plan for IFRC membership in response to disasters and resilience building and promotes resource sharing and common measures of success.
• Work with regional/country representatives/coordinators, Geneva based staff and other units/teams in carrying out relevant research, sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and best practices with the aim to increase programming quality and impact.
• Ensure the integration of research, trend-analysis and lessons learned to take advantage of emerging opportunities, new technology and in anticipation of changing risk.
• Establish and ensure effective working relationships with the other programmatic and service units, with HR, Learning and Innovation, Strategic Relationships and Cooperation, as well as with the IFRC country and regional offices.
• Ensure a good working relationship with the National Society Counterparts and ICRC delegations in the various countries
• Promote a culture of Movement cooperation and coordination in order to maximize the quality and effectiveness in the assessment of needs and the delivery of disaster, crisis management and community resilience services. 

• Institutional Preparedness and readiness
• Ensure that National Society disaster and contingency plans and the National Disaster Response Teams are well linked to regional tools as part of the overall regional response system, and in line with the principles and progress of the “surge optimization” process.
• Promote that Disaster & Crisis unit facilitates training access, tools and opportunities, in close collaboration with Reference Centres, to strengthen NS Institutional preparedness.
• Increase the institutional knowledge of the disaster response and recovery related policies, code of conduct, principles and rules, guidelines and other quality standards tools to assist national societies in the development of their capacity and their accountability to beneficiaries.

• Advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy
• Support in defining institutional policy and positions, particularly related to 4 areas of focus and SFI1, Effective DM.
• Ensure that support is provided to NSs to enable them to assist their respective authorities in advocacy around policy and laws.
• Promote national-level implementation of recommendations from IDRL guidelines and the checklist on law and disaster risk reduction
• Contribute to the definition of a strategic and applicable humanitarian advocacy agenda with external partners, including the field of legislative advocacy.

• Community Resilience

• Ensure scaling-up investment on strengthening community resilience through ambitious and integrated longer-term plans, in cooperation with NSs and other key partners.
• Follow up and support the process to put into operation and guide the direct implementation of the One Billion Coalition for Community Resilience
• Ensure strategy development and implementation of the Roadmap for Community Resilience through its programmes and technical support to priority areas that aim to reduce vulnerability and create resilient communities, placing NSs at the center of the action.

Required

• University degree in management and/or social sciences or related fields

 Preferred

• Relevant post-graduate degree

Required

• 10 years’ experience analyzing, planning and managing development programmes and resources
• Demonstrated experience in start-up and launch of new programs
• 10 years of experience of managing and supporting staff
• Experience of working with Red Cross/Red Crescent
• Demonstrated success in project/programme planning, budgeting, management, reporting and evaluation

Preferred

• 10 years of experience working for a humanitarian organization in a developing country in disaster management and development
• 5 years of relevant experience in Africa

• Self-supported in computing systems
• Excellent writer; can produce program and project plans that are coherent and clear.
• Ability to work in a team, excellent communication and management skills
• Highly organized, able to track conversations, feedback, tasks and compliance requirements
• Ability to work in a cross-functional environment
• Available to travel to other countries
• Valid international driving licence (manual gears)
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Skills in training and developing staff
• Ability to adapt leadership style according to the situation

Languages

Required

• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of French

• Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Judgement & Decision Making
• National Society and Customer Relations
• Creativity and Innovation
• Building Trust
• Managing staff Performance
• Managing staff Development
• Empowering others