Country: Belgium
Closing date: 31 Jan 2016
The DRR Advisor will work at Oxfam-Solidarity headquarter in Brussels but will be part of the DRR unit within the Global Humanitarian Team (GHT) of Oxfam International.
The proposed contract is a full time work contract of 38 hours/a week with regular travels. It concerns a maternity leave replacement and last 7 months. Starting date : mid-March 2016.
Job Purpose - Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
To support countries prior to and after responses, lead on innovative thinking, research and quality assurance in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
The DRR Advisor holds a key position leading on strategy development, program implementation, quality assurance, capacity building, global representation and influencing, research and innovation, knowledge management, and more. The DRR Advisor will work closely with DRR staff in countries and regions, other teams as the EFSVL, WASH, gender and protection, MEAL, capacity building, resilience and long-term economic development teams, policy/advocacy teams, and other key staff/teams in Oxfam in order to fulfil the responsibilities of this position.
Responsibilities:
Programmatic Support for Countries, Regions and Affiliates
Build long term strategic relationship with key countries
• Be part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting key countries that are prone to shocks such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters
• Feed in to key country programme strategy, ensuring it includes an adequate analysis of shocks, stresses and vulnerabilities
Provide technical support to key countries
• Actively build relationships with staff in key countries and contribute to the development of key country capacity building strategy, identifying individual training needs in DRR and resilience
• Explore with key countries, the opportunities of working across sectors, in particular WASH and EFSVL, to ensure that programme work is risk informed and include adequate measures to ensure it does not aggravate risks or undermine capacities
• Provide key country support country based and/or distance (as appropriate) in DRR preparedness, program design, monitoring and evaluation
Affiliate Headquarters and Regional Support
• Convey advancements of Oxfam International's DRR to all colleagues at headquarters
• Organize training and presentations on DRR for colleagues at headquarters
Contribute to development and Leadership of Oxfam technical strategic areas (e.g. DRR linked to EFSVL and WASH, Urban DRR and resilience, local capacity building) work
Promote Oxfam strategy on DRR and resilience and represent Oxfam externally
• Guide the development of Oxfam DRR initiatives, programs, and approaches in order to deliver Oxfam’s humanitarian strategy and global DRR strategy
• Develop relevant technical/ thematic strategies and work plans to be embedded in global, regional and national DRR work plans and which clearly outlines links with WASH, EFSVL and longer term development work
• Represent Oxfam in technical discussions / debates at external policy forums and events to position Oxfam as a leader (i.e. VOICE DRR Working Group, The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), GCDRR, IDRC, EU consultations, etc) and influencing in the sector
• Organize and attend donor meetings to raise awareness on the technical area
Technical development
• Update existing analysis tools/guidance to ensure that results of analyses are able to inform the design of emergency responses;
• Coordinate with development and advocacy teams at global level and in regions to identify synergies and ways of working.
Coordination and sharing of best practice
• Support efforts to establish alliances and partnerships in thematic areas including managing a database of key stakeholders and assessments and sources of information
• Share best practice and lessons learnt on the thematic area in global platforms and in regional and country platforms (where possible and necessary) and development, refinement and dissemination of learning material, internally and externally
• Develop and disseminate tools for DRR in coordination with technical teams
• Commission and coordinate internal and external evaluation exercises and coordinate learning events, and promotion of good practice
• Participate in internal coordination humanitarian processes
• Participate in the Resilience KH, making link with DRR, and sharing best practices
Fundraising Support
• Identify funding opportunities, specifically for global DRR programs
• Work closely with the funding team to develop global funding proposals
• Inform countries and regions on DRR funding opportunities and give, if needed, technical support to national and regional DRR proposals.
Profile
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field
• Knowledge of and experience in managing DRR projects and a good understanding of the challenges facing field managers
• In-depth understanding of the global discussion on Disaster Risk Reduction (Hyogo Framework, Post Hyogo Framework, Global Platform on DRR)
• Representational, diplomatic and advocacy skills to enable the post holder to operate effectively within Oxfam and in external networks
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills with internal and external audiences in complex and stressful circumstances
• Ability to effectively advise and support field staff using methods such as mentoring, coaching, shadowing, demonstration, accompaniment, training, written advice, verbal advice, research and development
• An understanding of and active commitment to promoting gender and diversity issues in all aspects of Oxfam work
• Well-developed strategic, planning and analytical skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, together with the capacity to remain calm under pressure and not lose sight of strategic priorities.
• Willingness to travel for up to 12 weeks per year, to regional centres and country programmes
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts
• Excellent written and spoken English
Desirable
• An understanding of humanitarian principles, relevant guidelines, standards and policy issues
• Ability to identify and implement opportunities for innovation
• Experience of contributing to, or leading on, strategic development within the humanitarian programme
• Experience of development work (field) – at least two years
• Working knowledge of at least one other Oxfam language (French, Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese)
How to apply:
INTERESTED CANDIDATES should send their CV and a letter of motivation, all in English, before January31st, 2016 to the following email address : jobs@oxfamsol.be.
Please specify in the reference: “DRR Advisor".