Regional Emergency Coordinator (West Africa)

****Position: Regional Emergency Coordinator (West Africa)****

****Supervisor: CARE International Head of Emergency Operations****

****Unit: CARE Emergency Group, CARE International Secretariat****

Location: West Africa Region

Background:

As part of CARE’s priority to strengthen its humanitarian preparedness and response globally, region-based emergency coordinator positions have been established in major regions where CARE operates. Coordinators support country offices and regions in the initial phases of an emergency response, humanitarian preparedness, regional donor relationships, capacity building, humanitarian policy & analysis and technical assistance in the support of quality emergency response.

****Job Summary:****

The Regional Emergency Coordinator (REC) provides critical coordination and support to CARE International’s emergency preparedness and response. In-between emergencies she/he works with country offices (with a focus on high priority/risk countries), lead members’ management, and CI and lead members’ emergency units, on strengthening capacity for preparedness, emergency response, integration of emergency programming within CARE’s program approach, strengthening our gender in emergency capacity, humanitarian policy, and other related priority areas, in order to strengthen CARE’s humanitarian capabilities across the region. She/he also represents CARE externally at regional level in the humanitarian field with key forums, partners and donors, develops a contextual understanding of the region, and undertakes appropriate humanitarian policy and analysis. During major emergencies, the REC will often be the first rapid response staff member to deploy from outside the country office and would support initial response start-up by the country office. The REC represents all of CI, liaises with various CI offices and members, and should ensure consistency with CI global humanitarian approaches and standards. For these reasons, the REC reports to the CI emergency group (CEG), but with strong links to lead members’ management structures, including both their line management and emergency units.

****Areas of Responsibility:****

1. Support country offices initiate responses to emergencies, in consultation with CEG and the lead member (line management and emergency units), including advising on start-up, assessments, and mobilization of resources. In rapid onset and/or major emergencies, the REC will be expected to rapidly deploy to the country office to directly support the start-up of the response in an appropriate role such as leading assessment and/or start-up of an emergency response, or other roles as needed. The REC might also be responsible for leading assessments and responses in countries in which CARE has no presence. In relatively small or chronic emergencies, the REC may coordinate or provide technical assistance to the country office team mounting a response. This includes monitoring country office capacity to respond and progress made in doing so, guiding country offices on the use of CARE’s emergency toolkit, helping country offices assess capacities and fill human and other resource gaps as rapidly as possible in consultation with CEG and the lead member.
2. Represent the region internally on behalf of CEG and in crisis coordination meetings/calls, CI conference calls, and with lead members as appropriate; ensure information flow among country offices, CEG, lead members (line management and emergency units), and with other CI members.
3. Establish strong and close relationships with CDs and Regional / deputy regional directors and emergency directors at CI levels and plays an active advisory, supportive and coordination role in order to facilitate clear communication and coordination, integration of humanitarian and long-term development, contextual analysis, and address any potential issues related to emergency preparedness and response.
4. Promote and guide quality in emergency programmes throughout the region. This includes promoting and guiding country offices in their adherence to minimum standards, including CARE’s Humanitarian Accountability Framework (incl. program principles and its humanitarian mandate, policies, procedures & guidance as contained within CARE’s emergency toolkit) incorporation of gender approaches and integration of humanitarian considerations within be a particular need in some regions. Strengthening quality also includes conducting capacity building and training, monitoring and facilitating engagement of technical specialists, compliance activities with CARE’s accountability framework for emergency responses in the region (e.g. After Action Reviews and evaluations). Additionally, this entails assisting country offices in preparing proposals for emergency response programming.
5. Support and advise lead members, country offices and partners on emergency preparedness planning (EPP). This includes working with lead members in the development of region-wide preparedness work plans; guiding country offices in their establishment and skill building of emergency response teams, application of CARE EPP guidelines and contingency plans, and integration of humanitarian considerations within country office strategic planning, programming and program support functions; seeking guidance and support from CEG, lead members (line management and emergency units), gender and sector specialists and other CI members’ emergency units; working with a team of country office focal points in the region on training and capacity building for EPP; sorting lead members in the completion and regular updating of country and regional preparedness plans and processes; developing an understanding of diverse regional and country contexts (including countries in conflict), emergency scenarios, and ongoing risk analysis ; serving as the regional link to CEG and lead members in monitoring and ensuring preparedness in high-risk country offices; and supporting country offices ratchet up their capacity as the situation requires.
6. Represent CARE International in regional forums and meetings in the humanitarian area including with regional entities, UN humanitarian agencies, other NGOs, partners, region-based emergency donors, inter-agency working groups etc., and coordinate with CEG and CI members as appropriate. Inform CO’s and Lead Members on a regular basis on regional meetings, forums and also on advocacy initiatives and opportunities.
7. Monitor and develop understanding of ongoing regional contexts and vulnerabilities and produce occasional updates/sit reps and support country offices to develop their own updates/sit reps when needed.
8. Work with country offices, CEG’s HR coordinator, lead members’ HR departments and technical specialists to support the staffing of the RED with qualified and skilled staff within the region readily available to participate in CARE responses to emergencies within and outside the region.

Key Internal Contacts:

CARE International emergency group (CEG): CI Head of Emergency Operations, Head of Emergency capacity development, Humanitarian Director, Programme Quality and Accountability advisor, and other CEG staff.

Lead members’ management:Including regional/line management and staff, as well as lead members’ emergency units, emergency directors and other emergency units’ staff.

Country offices:Country directors, emergency coordinators and other country office staff as appropriate.

CARE International emergency strategy implementation group (ESIG), response working group (ERWG) and other CARE International members’ emergency units and staff: ESIG andERWG members, emergency directors, sector and other specialized staff, and other appropriate staff.

CARE International communications working group (COMWG):CEG media & information coordinator, COMWG members, and regional communications and media officers.

Other CARE International units.

Key External Contacts:

Donor agencies, UN agencies, IAWG, other NGOs; host governments; and other principle stakeholders.

Reporting Lines:

The Regional Emergency Coordinator reports to the CI Head of Emergency Operations in CEG. If deployed during initial emergency response, and depending on the situation, the REC may report to the country director for the purposes of managing the specific response for the temporary duration of the assignment.

The position does not directly manage any positions, though when working as part of a CI emergency assessment or start-up team the coordinator may supervise other emergency staff for the temporary duration of the assignment.

Required Qualifications:

Masters degree, or relevant combination of qualifications and experience, in a relevant field.

Required Experience and Background:

1. At minimum 5-10 years experience in humanitarian preparedness, risk reduction and response
2. Experience and knowledge of the region
3. Experience in programme design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including SPHERE standards, gender, donor relations, security and protection considerations
4. Experience in scale-up emergency response
5. Excellent training, coaching and mentoring skills
6. High level of writing and communication skills
7. Willingness to spend high proportion of time travelling away from home (approx 60%) and be deployed with limited notice period
8. Language skills: English, French

Required Competencies:

1. Team building
2. Managing relationships across units, country offices, and CI
3. Self awareness
4. Interpersonal skills
5. Stress tolerance
6. Customer orientation
7. Planning and organizing
8. Proactive problem solving
9. Operational decision-making
10. Resilience, adaptability and ability to self-manage

HOW TO APPLY:

****Closing date for applications: 31st August, 2015****

Please send application (motivation letter and CV) to: cirecruitment@careinternational.org