Organization: Adeso - African Development Solutions
Position title: Technical Advisor Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Program Manager
Reporting to: Deputy Chief of Party
Working with: REGAL-IR core team, consortium members, project partners and beneficiaries, NDMA, and other DRR stakeholders
Program / Duty Station: Isiolo, Kenya
Duration: One year, renewable
Starting date: Immediate
Organizational Context
Adeso, formerly known as
Horn Relief, is an expanding and vibrant African based international
development and humanitarian organization.
At Adeso, we work with
African communities who are yet to realize their full potential; working
inside these communities to create environments in which Africans can
thrive.
Our belief that economic,
social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community
drives the nature and intent of our programming.
We work to prevent and
overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by:
reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work,
providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.
For the past 20 years we
have strengthened rural livelihoods through environmental awareness,
training, technology transfer and innovative humanitarian projects in
pursuit of a peaceful, self-reliant, and greener future. At present,
Adeso has programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan.
Our current donor
portfolio includes the European Commission, USAID, SIDA, CIDA, UNICEF,
and the Government of Netherlands, among others.
Adeso is an exciting and
dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound
employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and
development.
Position Summary:
This position is part of
the Resilience and Economic Growth in Arid Lands - Improving Resilience
(REGAL-IR) project. The REGAL-IR initiative is a five year program
sponsored by USAID as part of their Feed the Future strategy for Kenya.
This program aims to
reduce hunger and poverty, increase social stability and build strong
foundations for economic growth amongst pastoralists and transitioning
pastoralists in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands.
REGAL-IR is designed to
empower communities to take charge of their development and to
strengthen their capacity to select, design, implement and monitor
activities focused on increasing their social, economic and
environmental resilience to natural and human-induced shocks.
Pending
the outcome of an intensive community engagement process –
Participatory Learning, Planning and Action (PLPA) – REGAL-IR
anticipates facilitating activities in six or more thematic areas
including diversifying livelihoods, improving value chain inclusiveness,
natural resource management, conflict management and mitigation,
disaster risk reduction and improving nutrition.
The program will be based in Isiolo town and implemented in Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Turkana counties.
Position Purpose:
This position is based in Isiolo town with frequent travel to project counties and Nairobi.
The successful candidate will design and coordinate disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities.
In addition, the
incumbent will ensure that DRR is fully integrated across REGAL-IR
technical components so that project activities empower communities and
strengthen them to withstand the effects of drought and other shocks and
disturbances.
As appropriate and
feasible, DRR activities will link with the National Drought Management
Authority (NDMA) and other governmental agencies, donors and NGO
stakeholders to facilitate:
- Community disaster contingency planning and integration of these plans in ward and county government planning;
- Community early warning systems, linking them with other existing early warning mechanisms;
- Community establishment of cereal, fodder and grass banks in cooperation with the Technical Advisor for NRM;
- Community participation in insurance schemes;
- Community pre-positioning for access to relief and assistance in the event of a major shock.
The TA/DRR - Program
Manager functions within the REGAL-IR Technical Advisory Team that
includes five technical advisors. S/he supervises five Project Officers,
and reports directly to the REGAL-IR Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).
Specific Roles and Responsibilities:
- Liaise with DRR
stakeholders including Hunger Safety Nets Program (HSNP), the NDMA and
other GoK MDAs leading DRR-related activities in northern Kenya;
- Coordinate members of
the REGAL-IR team, consortium and project partners to ensure that
REGAL-IR sector activities contribute to sustainable social, economic
and environmental resilience in project communities;
- Provide technical direction to the REGAL-IR Project Officers;
- Co-design, develop
and deliver activities and training programs with communities to
anticipate, prepare for and mitigate the impacts of drought and other
shocks;
- Facilitate community
monitoring of peace, climate, weather and other conditions in project
areas that could affect social, economic and ecological stability in the
ASALs and lead the implementation of related community-based early
warning systems;
- Improve community access to appropriate insurance opportunities;
- Manage, and if needed, deploy the REGAL-IR Crisis Modifier.
Skills and Qualifications:
- Five or more years of professional experience in DRR-related work; minimum three years in supervisory positions;
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in social science or relevant discipline;
- Experience working with local communities and governmental and traditional authorities in ASAL regions;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with fluency in English and Swahili;
- Experience implementing governmental and donor programs - preferably USAID relief/development programs;
- Proven leadership qualities, problem-solving and negotiation skills, and a demonstrable ability to work as part of a team;
- Strong IT skills, analytical and report-writing skills.
Application Process:
This is a challenging opportunity for a dedicated and highly motivated professional.
If you would like to join
this dynamic team and be part of building resilience and economic
growth in Africa, please submit your application to
jobs@adesoafrica.org, quoting the position in the email subject matter,
by 14th June 2013.
Each application should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager and include the following:
- An updated CV;
- An application letter which should include remuneration requirements and contact information for three work-related referees.
Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Adeso is an equal opportunity employer.
