Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization with operations in 40 countries dedicated to assisting, protecting, and finding solutions for refugees, internally displaced and other conflict-affected communities. To stay relevant and meet the needs of the people we serve, we are exploring new, innovative ways of responding to displacement crises.

For the past years, DRC has increasingly engaged in anticipatory action responses related to both climate hazards and conflict-induced displacement. We have developed innovative tools to forecast displacement from hazards to enable humanitarian actors to get ahead of crises. We have implemented several projects in response to drought and floods in Somalia and conflict-induced displacement in South Sudan, are partnering with ECHO, IOM, WFP, FAO and IFRC and are now expanding and scaling up this work across the region including Uganda and Ethiopia.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Danish Refugee Council East Africa and Great Lakes (EAGL) regional office is looking for a highly experienced Regional Anticipatory Action (AA) Coordinator to provide technical leadership over the anticipatory action portfolio across the region. In particular the AA Coordinator will be the technical lead for a four-year project, funded by the Dutch MFA to develop anticipatory action (AA) data models and approaches using local and global data for local-level analysis to help inform humanitarian actors’ decisions when deploying humanitarian assistance and to enable timelier, more dignified, efficient and sustainable assistance.

Under the project leadership of the project’s Chief of Party, and guided by the AA Global lead, the Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator will assume overall technical responsibility for the project in East Africa and Great Lakes region and the regional deliverables, will provide technical support to the project’s country office-based AA staff, and will support with project delivery in the pilot countries of South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. The AA Coordinator will also oversee delivery of other AA projects in the region, including projects in Somalia and Kenya with various partners. The position is Non-accompanied.

Responsibilities :

Management and Coordination

• Assume responsibility as the technical focal point for all AA activities in the region (supporting countries with project delivery across the AA portfolio and coordinating between countries);
• Contribute to technical working groups both internal and external, and participate in partner discussions and forums.

Implementation and technical support

• Support the country programmes in direct delivery of anticipatory action projects, including the development of conflict and protection analyses and contingency plans with communities, preparedness activities, trigger development and trigger release actions.
• Work with country teams in the development of frameworks and policy-level discussions at local and national government levels to ensure AA planning is part of the country humanitarian preparedness plan;
• Work with the Global Lead on AA to develop programmatic guidance and policies on AA in response to conflict- and climate hazards;
• Work with DRC’s broader Evidence, Knowledge and Learning team regarding the use of data and displacement forecasting models in AA and support the team in capturing evidence, lessons learned and formulating recommendations for other humanitarian actors and policy makers.

Business development and Advocacy

• Contribute to external advocacy and representation of DRC in relation to AA;
• Work closely with the DRC’s advocacy team on policy engagement related to expanding uptake of AA in humanitarian sector;
• Support the EAGL region with business development activities to expand the AA portfolio working with countries to develop proposals and engage with prospective donors.

Reporting and communication

• Establish and maintain clear lines of communication with AA project staff at the country levels;
• Support the project’s grants staff or focal points to ensure AA project staff are submitting quality and timely technical AA reports in line with donor and DRC requirements.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years of experience in a similar senior technical role overseeing AA projects or initiatives, coordinating across countries and engaging with external stakeholder.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and Technical competencies (included year of experience)

Required

• At least 5 years’ experience with anticipatory, early action or rapid response programming/projects in conflict setting;
• Alternatively, at least 5 years’ experience with conducting (rapid) conflict analysis, peacebuilding in emergency work, setting up/modifying emergency interventions in conflicts or similar relevant experiences will be considered;
• Experience directly implementing AA projects, preferably in east Africa contexts;
• Experience with conflict situations and an understanding of conflict, protection and emergency programming in displacement contexts;
• University Degree in Peace, Conflict, Security, Development Studies, War Studies, Political Sciences, Data Science, Environmental Science/Climate Change;
• Able and willing to travel for up to 35% of time and operate in a physically demanding working environment.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Demonstrated abilities in problem solving as well as taking a flexible and innovative approach to working;
• Experience with anticipatory action for conflict impacts (e.g. displacement);
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as part of a team and to form close working relationships with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds;
• Strong understanding of using, analytics in programming and response;
• Highly motivated and hard working with strong attention to detail;
• Experience with programming related to peacebuilding, preparedness, emergency and/or resilience-building.

What we offer

Contract: 1 Year Contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Salary: in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment Non-Management Band/ F.

Availability: 16th September 2024.

Duty station: Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda) or other country office in EAGL Region.

Reporting Line: Programme Innovation Manager – EAGL

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.