Manager, Disaster Risk Management

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

IFRC Myanmar Country Office is one of the IFRC Country Offices in the Asia Pacific Region. It provides vital technical, financial and logistical support to MRCS while strengthening its participation in regional and global cooperation during emergency and non-emergency times.

The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Manager is a part of the programmes team in the IFRC Myanmar CD, led by the Programme Coordinator. This position can also contribute to the objectives of the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) Health, Disasters, Climate and Crises (HDCC) Unit.

Job Purpose

The Disaster Risk Management manager will work with the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to support the strengthening of its disaster risk management capacities to anticipate, prepare for and respond to disasters. This support to MRCS also entails actions for communities to strengthen their safety and resilience through activities that aim to reduce the impact of disasters on people/ communities most at risk through disaster preparedness (DP), anticipatory action (AA), disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change (CC) mitigation and adaptation and climate smart interventions.

This position will additionally support the IFRC Myanmar country delegation and IFRC network members to strengthen the participation of the MRCS and the IFRC network in localised coordination spaces related to, but not limited to, early warning early action, anticipatory actions, disaster risk reduction and climate change-related and climate smart actions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction (including climate risk management):

• Provide IFRC support to the MRCS in its preparedness and risk reduction and climate risk management, which includes support for the alignment of MRCS strategies, polices, tools and guidelines.
• Assist MRCS to identify priorities for disaster risk management and project planning process (baseline surveys, risk assessments) in close co-operation with Health, WASH, National Society Development and Disaster Management sectors.
• Ensure programme support for integrated and sustainable community based early warning/early action (EWEA) initiatives is linked to regional/national early warning systems and hydrometeorological services. This should consider risk assessment, detection, monitoring, emergency management structures, local dissemination and public education.
• Provide technical support to integrate climate risk management and EWEA activities into operational planning and programs.
• Support MRCS with its Anticipatory Action capacities and actions, in coordination with IFRC network members. This includes contributions for the development and updating of early action protocols (EAP) enabling early action based on early warnings.
• Leverage technical coordination in disaster preparedness and risk reduction with the IFRC membership that support MRCS.
• Provide tailor-made technical support on climate risk management to MRCS and the IFRC Myanmar Delegation based on specific requests.

Institutional Preparedness:

• Provide support to enhance MRCS’ institutional preparedness to respond to disasters caused by climate hazards and human-made risks, in line with the Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach and lesson learned from previous and recent emergency operations.
• Provide support to MRCS to strengthen its disaster response capacity at HQ, state/region and township levels to improve readiness.
• Support processes and provide training for MRCS to develop, maintain and use standard emergency response mechanisms and systems (Emergency Operations Centres, Standard Operating Procedures, Emergency Management Fund, as well as IFRC tools).
• Ensure and facilitate the process to update MRCS emergency response plan and Standard Operating Procedures closely coordinated with sectors including health, first aid and water and sanitation.
• Leverage technical coordination in institutional preparedness with the IFRC membership that support MRCS.

 Disaster Response:

• Monitor the disaster situation and crisis trends in Myanmar associated to hazards caused climate-related issues and human actions.
• Support the MRCS to issue accurate and timely updates on disasters and crises (e.g.: GO Platform reports, informal updates, Movement coordination platforms, etc.) to ensure system-wide sharing of information.
• Ensure that risk reduction elements are incorporated in relief and recovery operations wherever appropriate.
• Work with Program Coordinator to ensure timely support to MRCS responding to humanitarian crises based on request of international assistance through DREF, EA and other bilateral contributions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Disaster Response:

• Support MRCS in the planning and coordination of relief and recovery operations within the Movement and ensure that the learning and recommendations from previous operations being applied.
• Promote the IFRC’s Principles and Rules of Humanitarian Assistance and encourage MRCS role at national coordination mechanism.
• Ensure responses do no harm and that principles of Equality and Diversity are translated into good practices on the ground during emergencies.
• Leverage technical coordination in disaster response with the IFRC membership that support MRCS.

Coordination, Programme Management and Reporting:

• Participate and contribute to the IFRC’s DRM networking and knowledge sharing mechanisms, including capturing the evidence-based of beneficial investments in preparedness, response and resilience by MRCS.
• Gather and present DRM, DRR and CC-related information for dissemination to internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with and provide technical support to members of the IFRC network.
• Coordinate with humanitarian organizations in country for DM, DRR, DRM, CC-related activities and actively participate in relevant cluster and working groups.
• Support MRCS in organizing regular MRCS DM technical working group meetings for a harmonized approach in strengthening institutional disaster preparedness.
• Contribute to results-based planning, monitoring and reporting for DRM programming.
• Provide programme management support to MRCS and IFRC country delegation for developing accurate plans, monitoring, ensuring quality of programmes and results-oriented reporting.
• Support the development of the IFRC Unified Plans for strategic priorities of climate and environmental crises and disasters and crises.
• Ensure that lessons learnt and good practice from operations and programmes are compiled, used to improve future planning, programming and implementation and shared within the region as well as with the relevant stakeholders for wider dissemination.

Policy, Planning and Standards:

• Support MRCS in increasing its knowledge, dissemination of IFRC polices and strategies and ensure that all response operations are appropriate and aligned with international standards.
• Support MRCS and the IFRC Secretariat engagement in national and regional policy dialogues (such as, National DRR Platforms, interagency technical working groups, Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on DRR, climate change and urban agenda related platforms).
• Leverage technical coordination in policy, planning and standards, including capacity strengthening spaces, with the IFRC membership that support MRCS.

Education

• University-level degree or equivalent in qualifying experience area is required.
• Specialised training or professional experience in disaster risk management (DRM), disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change (CC), climate smart actions and/or others is required.

Experience

• At least 7 years of disaster management programming experience is required.
• Strong involvement in the provision of support, coaching and accompaniment for the capacity strengthening of local partners in the field of DRM, DRR, CC, climate smart action and/or related topics is required.
• Proven field experience in the management of disaster and crisis projects and/or emergency response operations is required.
• Experience in humanitarian coordination, particularly on issues of DM, DRR, DRM, CC-related actions are required.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Solid project management skills are required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills is required.
• Developed soft skills such as adaptability, empathy, high-level of individual ethics is required.
• Ease with public speaking and engagement with external stakeholders is required.
• Ability to work in situations of uncertainty and rapid change is required.
• Proven skills to foster and identify need for confidentiality is required.
• Demonstrated internal and external accountability is required.

Language

• Fluent in spoken and written English is required.
• Fluent in spoken and written Burmese is required.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Competencies and values

VALUES: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism and Accountability.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, and Building Trust.

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing staff performance and Managing staff development.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic orientation, Building alliances, Leadership and Empowering others.