Emergency Response Manager – Cash Disaster Risk Reduction

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Job Overview/Summary:

At the time of the emergency, we will insert a brief synopsis of the overall emergency response- its size, scope, and programmatic focus.

The main objective of the ERD Livelihoods Manager (emergency response manager) position is to ensure the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer programming activities, specifically unconditional cash grants as well as the establishment and strengthening of community-based disaster risk management. Cash-based activities are designed to help people to restore their economic assets lost during the emergency, ensure the affected population has continued access to critical goods or services, and to minimize reliance on negative economic coping mechanisms because of the emergency.

The ERD Livelihoods manager (emergency response) is the management leader for all programmatic and operational aspects of cash transfer programming in west Guji zone. As the overall leader of cash transfer programming, the livelihoods manager is IRC’s key actor for market-oriented programming and economic recovery. The manager will liaise with other technical coordinators within IRC and complementarily of programming, as well as appropriate technical rigor in project design and implementation. The managers manage all ERD staff, providing all support necessary to ensure successful implementation of cash transfer programming.

Position objectives:

·         To manage all aspects of the successful design and implementation of cash transfer programming in emergency response.

·         To establish the IRC’s human and technical resources to carry out further cash, voucher or other market-based programming should further opportunities arise.

Responsibilities: -

Technical Quality

·         Provide technical and management leadership to a specific sector/function/field site location in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.

·         Proceed with the selection of the targeted communities according to the feasibility of the different payment options, and identify the types of cash-based activities (unconditional cash transfer, cash for work, cash grants, vouchers) the best appropriate to the needs and context

·         Ensure that the selection of beneficiaries is participatory, and inclusive

·         Ensure the payment options guarantee the maximum level of protection towards the beneficiaries

·         Ensure all CTP activities are well-coordinated with other IRC programs and externally with other actors

·         Ensure that all CTP program activities are implemented, to a high technical quality, in accordance with the IRC CTP Implementation Procedure, and according to established minimum standards and/or quality benchmarks

·         Ensure the establishment of community-based disaster risk reduction committees and link with government structures

Staff Supervision & Development

·         Directly supervises all CTP program staff

·         Build capacity of the team under his/her supervision in the different selected cash transfer methodologies

·         Raise community awareness about cash transfer and disaster risk reduction

·         Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

·         Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews.

·         Overall responsible for staff workplans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities

·         If/as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

Grant Planning & Implementation

·         Responsible for the overall achievement of SIDA supported cash transfer and DRR programming in West Guji

·         Anticipates plans and manages programmatic and structural transitions.

·         Has significant budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.

·         Responsible for ensuring the achievement the overall grant timeline and completion date

·         Provides direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the workplan and quality of technical activities,

·         Work with local social protection actors (PSNP) for inclusion of the most vulnerable groups

Grant Monitoring & Reporting

·         Development/ maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.

·         Develop post distribution monitoring tools, vendor monitoring tools, feedback mechanisms and other necessary data collection systems, and adapt them to the different cash transfer methodologies chosen

·         Ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.

·         Ensure IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements are produced in quality.

Partner Management

• Oversee IRC’s relationship with implementing partners specific to this project if any

·         Ensure regular technical support, guidance, and performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives

Coordination & Representation

·         Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy, and resolving problems/conflicts

·         Work closely and coordinates with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings

Program Development

·         Contributes to, development of country strategic direction and plans

·         Leads sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design

Other

·         Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

·         Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Education and experience

·         Degree in livelihoods/Agri(economics), agriculture, rural development, or any related fields

·         Minimum of 4 years professional experience in emergency response, preferably with specific experience in economic recovery and development and cash transfer programming.

·         Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred.

·         Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation skills

·         Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.  

·         INGO experience required; experience working with the UN cluster system desirable.

·         Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.

·         Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.

·         Fluency in English required, local language fluency a distinct advantage