Regional DRR Adviser – Asia

Job Description

The British Red Cross (BRC) Asia team works bilaterally, multilaterally and in consortia with National Society (NS) Partners in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two country offices (Bangladesh and Nepal) and an office within IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) in Malaysia are in place. The vision of the BRC Asia Team is that ‘By 2030 IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office, National Societies and vulnerable communities have the required local and regional competencies and capacities to effectively and efficiently prepare for and respond to disasters.

The position will sit within the Asia regional team and will be aligned to the Technical & Advisory Team in the UK, under matrix management. The Technical & Advisory team provides integrated management of the provision of thematic technical and advisory specialist services. They work in partnership not only externally with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, but also internally within a matrix relationship with the regional staff of the BRC Programmes & Partnerships department, including advisory staff located within the regional programme teams.

The overall purpose of this role is to provide high quality technical support to BRC Country Teams and its National Society partners in Asia Region in order to implement high quality Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programs including providing surge and desk support for new resilience programs and capacity building. Additionally, the DRR Adviser will work closely with IFRC and the wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to promote integrated approaches to resilience building and ensuring measurement of their effectiveness.

Main Responsibilities

Programming and planning

1. Provide technical advice within thematic area for strengthening implementation of the International Directorate strategy and Asia Regional Action Plan.
2. Contribute to the assessment, planning and implementation of action plans and work plans including working with regional and country teams and National Society partners.
3. Collecting and analysing evidence from the field to demonstrate effectiveness and impact of the International Directorate’s work within DRR area.

Capacity Building and Learning

1. Provide technical input to country and programme managers in all stages of the project management cycle of BRC bilateral and multilateral programmes in DRR, promoting international standards, and good practice. Ensure that recommendations for program teams in countries are agreed with country teams.
2. Proactively improving quality and accountability, ensuring compliance through the provision of timely, implementable and effective advice, as well as capacity building. Ensure support (in some cases handholding support) to the stakeholders is provided to implement the advice or recommendations.
3. Gather learnings, evidence and build capacities of partner national societies and BRC national staff on climate change adaptation. Ensure that BRC supported programmes are responding to the “Climate smart” principles that encompass practices that sustainably increase productivity and system resilience. Further support in adapting Movement tools and approaches in DRR for application in the region, working with the Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Red Cross Climate Centre, other Movement partners and external agencies and networks.
4. Provide surge support to BRC Country Offices specifically during disasters ensuring that capacity is available to limit the impact of response activities to the ongoing programs and priorities in-country.

Internal and External relations

1. Build relationships within Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and other organisations to influence others and incorporate and apply lessons and good/best practice from outside BRC into organisational learning.
2. Identify the priority networks in the region for BRC to participate in (in the area of DRR, resilience, climate change adaptation, forecast based action ) and build alliances that further the strategic objectives of the BRC Asia regional strategy. Ensure that BRC ‘s work is showcased in relevant priority forums in Asia and globally.
3. Support country teams and National Societies to develop and maintain contacts as appropriate with institutional bodies, including other humanitarian agencies, academic institutions and relevant networks to foster learning and partnerships and the localization of skills and knowledge.
4. Collaborate with colleagues within BRC’s Programmes & Partnerships, Fundraising and Communication Divisions to develop donor funding proposals that include a DRR component.
5. Collaborate closely with the Technical Advisory Team based in UKO to ensure that DRR programmes in Asia are aligned to BRC International Directorate strategy and is built on good practices.

Required Qualification & Experience

Essential

• Substantial international experience of working in a relevant role or sector, of which 2 years has been in Asia and Pacific region.
• Proven technical experience within DRR and good knowledge of DRR within the international humanitarian system or international development context.
• Experience of providing support within a project/programme/area of responsibility.
• Experience of establishing effective relationships to influence and enable decision making. Proven negotiation and influencing skills. Strong experience and skills in networking and building relations with donors and peer organisations.
• Experience training and coaching on DRR concepts, tools, and techniques.
• Knowledge of climate change and climate adaptation.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. A working knowledge of Bangla or Nepali is preferred.
• Able to travel for up to 90 days per year and operate in a physically demanding working environment.

Desirable

• Experience of working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• Understanding of a matrix approach to collaborative working and programme design.
• Good project management skills.
• Knowledge of forecast based financing approach.
• Experience in cash-based assistance.

How to Apply

This position is open to Bangladeshi and Nepalese nationals only.

Please send a soft copy of your CV and Cover Letter to HRAdminBD@redcross.org.uk

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted