Thailand: Livelihoods and Cash Preparedness Coordinator

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

IFRC/AP region has developed the Operational plan for 2016 in line with the overall strategic direction of the IFRC’s 8 Areas of Focus and 4 Strategies for Implementation of the plan and Budget 2016 – 2020. Asia-Pacific regional office based in Kuala Lumpur includes a Disaster Crisis Prevention, Response, Recovery (DCPRR) Management Unit. The DCPRR team ensures overall guidance and support to the implementation of regional operational plan, the Regional Disaster Management strategic plan/framework and leads the co-ordination of Federation support to emergency operations within the region. The growth of livelihood programming in the earlier stages of a response and the use of cash in relief is a continuing trend in the AP region. Working collectively and closely with the DCPRR Operations and Technical and DM Coordinators, other technical units and support services (finance & logistics) regional and country offices (particularly disaster management colleagues) and National Societies, to significantly reduce the impact of disaster and crises events through (cash & livelihood) preparedness for disaster operations, specifically utilising cash as a modality to meet disaster affected populations needs and livelihoods as an area of focus for early recovery and building back better.

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the AP Head of DCPRR, the Asia Pacific Livelihoods and Cash preparedness Coordinator will focus on the IFRC Asia Pacific Region to provide leadership and technical expertise for cash preparedness and livelihoods interventions across the Region and provide guidance for operational management of CTP institutionalisation at country level. The role will deliver face to face and remote technical support intensively to National Societies and oversight for CTP coordination and planning between PNSs and manage the delivery of activities in order to achieve DCPRR plans or specific cash preparedness and livelihood programme objectives. The Cash Preparedness and Livelihood Coordinator will be responsible for supervising technical personnel and the financial resources.

This position will contribute to the achievement of the IFRC CTP and livelihoods visions:
1) That Asia Pacific member National Societies will have developed their preparedness capacities for scalable and rapid cash-based programming to meet immediate relief and recovery needs.
2) Member National Societies will have the capacity, confidence and resources to appropriately assess, design and implement livelihood interventions during relief, early recovery and longer term.
The Framework for Community Resilience establishes a global foundation for all RCRC actions to strengthen community resilience in line with the Strategy 2020, IFRC’ policies, the Sendai Framework for DRR, the Sustainable Development Goals and the One Billion Coalition for Resilience initiative. The AP region supports enhanced collaboration and positioning of National Societies with their own governments and other key stakeholders to ensure long term DRR community capacities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Policy and planning
• Provide strategic and policy guidance to National Societies and the Secretariat staff on how RCRC can contribute to the implementation of SDGs, Sendai Framework for DRR and Paris Climate Agreement.
• Support implementation of the AP region-wide DRM strategic plan (based on disaster risk and well prepared national society analysis: comprising of capacity building, relevant information systems, Livelihoods, CTP etc).
• Support National Societies to integrate Livelihoods and Cash preparedness into the plans and programmes; using and adapting the IFRC Policy, Frameworks, standards and tools
• Work with each NS to explore ways to integrate CTP into their existing contingency plans and preparedness/readiness processes so that CTP preparedness is understood to be multisectoral and not a stand-alone approach. The focus NS should be able to mount a scalable and rapid CTP response to meet immediate needs through as a result of this support.
• Support the NS with the development and implementation of the CTP Preparedness Plans of Action (including budget) ensuring that procedures and processes are created in consultation with the relevant NS departments and maintain a cross-sector approach.
• To review and develop guidelines, procedures and adapt relevant policies in order to provide clarity and standards to others within the function or programme of work and ensure that team members are able to deliver in ways that improve services for the National Society.
Technical Support
• Provide face to face CTP preparedness technical support to up to 4 National Societies (NS) who and provide follow up support to the 4 NS from 2016/2017. This technical support should be centred on developing their capacities for CTP preparedness specifically to be able to mount scalable CTP to meet immediate or relief needs. Working in at times a complex environment the technical support is likely to be provided in the following areas of CTP preparedness: 1) Procedures, strategic plans, reporting and systems, 2) human resource capacity development, 3) contingency planning and preparedness, 4) operational tools and action, and 4) communication and coordination (internal and external).
• Facilitate capacity building for the selected NS in CTP and livelihoods, with awareness sessions, face to face trainings, simulations and learning by doing exercises and remote and coaching in key areas such as the livelihoods approaches, integrating cash feasibility and market assessment into existing assessment methodologies, developing the tools for CTP relief, and training relevant NS staff.
• Guide each NS to develop CTP Relief SoPs that are cross-departmental/functional and have been tried and tested in the NS. These should aim to support the National Societies in the Country in designing, implementing and monitoring CTP interventions.
• Support NSs to conduct cash feasibility and market assessment studies and assess and sign pre-agreements with cash deliver mechanisms with any service providers as part of preparedness to enable a scalable and rapid CTP relief response.
• Advise, support and promote development of various other tools promoting holistic and integrated approaches, working closely with other technical units in the region such as Health, NS Development, Communications, etc.
• Advise, support and promote the mainstreaming of climate change, DRR, Urban DRM, and other cross-cutting issues such as gender, migration, beneficiary accountability, into the NS programs/ projects etc.
• Support Partners National Societies and ICRC in their support bilateral plans in Livelihoods and Cash Preparedness in Asia Pacific, ensuring that bilateral projects are integrating and using the standards IFRC tools and methodologies.

Coordination, Cooperation, Networking and Partnership
In close cooperation with the Technical Department in GVA and regional delegations:
• To coordinate and provide leadership for the cash preparedness and livelihoods programmes across the AP Region and maintain the overview of the livelihoods area of focus for the regional Operational Plan.
• Support effective coordination, collaboration and networking within and beyond the IFRC with regard to all issues related to Livelihoods, Cash Preparedness and resilience.
• Contribute to building stronger partnerships, coordinate activities, support better positioning of IFRC, identify areas of collaboration with external key stakeholders, UN Agencies, International NGOs, Private and Academic Sector in the region.
• Multilateral cooperation: World Bank, ADB – GFDRR, ADB, ECHO, USAID/OFDA, CaLP - exploring various opportunities for funding support for Livelihoods and CTP initiatives (cross-sectoral integrated programming) in AP region, in coordination with the Secretariat. Through networking and effective cooperation, contribute to strengthening of auxiliary roles of NSs with their respective governments through sub regional systems and better positioning of IFRC in the same.
Knowledge Management, Public Awareness and Public Education
In close cooperation and coordination with AP Regional Reference Centre, GVA, and other regional offices:
• To be the Focal Point for the IFRC Livelihood Resource centre and ensure technical support to national societies for enhancing livelihood capacity. This support will be centred around guiding livelihoods diagnostics, country level action planning, training and capacity development, and external coordination.
• Work with and advocate to the NS leadership and governance for appropriate direction for the NS to institutionalize CTP through understanding the NS needs, challenges and opportunities. Support the NS with its own communications and advocacy capacity in CTP and to represent in external cash coordination groups as necessary.
• Document the CTP Preparedness process, and draft case studies to profile the work of the NS, IFRC and the project highlighting good practice and lessons learnt. Share and disseminate CTP news, documentation and training opportunities that exist within and outside the Movement.
• Coordinate relevant CTP research and lead the roll out of IFRC wide global cash based programming standards, tools, procedures and advocacy activities in the AP region and with the targeted NS.
• To promote and support the implementation of the concepts of Labs, Hubs, Field Schools and other innovative approaches and methodologies in Livelihoods and Cash Preparedness.
Resource Mobilization and Reporting Management
• Support fundraising efforts by identifying areas of potential interest with relevant donors in close coordination with the Resource Mobilization team in the region.
• In cooperation with the plans and budget holders, implement the grants for the AP region CTP preparedness and provide grant management functions as necessary to fulfil IFRC implementation and reporting responsibilities to donors. Follow up on budget and expenditure issues and plans of each NS.
• Performance manage and develop team members in-line with broader operational objectives in order to support a culture of continuous improvement and high quality service delivery to National Societies. To manage staff, consultants and monitor available financial resources in order to deliver the agreed cash and livelihood activities for the region, region and country programmes.
• Undertake any other task as required by the Head of DCPRR in line with the “One DCPRR Team Approach” and “Disaster and Crises management Effectiveness” documents.

Education

University degree in Disaster Management / Disaster response or equivalent experience and knowledge.

Experience

At least 5 years experience of successfully implementing and coordinating humanitarian emergency response operations that include CTP in at least one context and preferably within the RC/RC Movement
Demonstrated experience in Livelihoods programming in emergency, recovery and development contacts

At least ten years experience in disaster management or response in humanitarian operations

Demonstrated experience in assessment which includes needs, market and CTP feasibility considerations

Experience with alternative cash transfer delivery mechanisms and working with private sector is preferred
Experience of successful institutional fundraising and managing donor relations and adequate narrative and financial reporting is preferred

Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching
Knowledge and experience of RC/RC National Societies both as HNS and PNS

Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills
Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organisations is preferred

Experience living and working in challenging and multicultural environments Knowledge, skills and languages

Sound knowledge of and commitment to, a holistic approach to disaster management, with a particular understanding of recovery, shelter and proven experience in cash-based programming.
Acquaintance with Federation DM tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, VCA and others) is preferred

Technical training in design, implementation and monitoring cash transfer programming.
Technical training in disaster preparedness, response and recovery is preferred

Proven skills in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting emergency
response that included CTP.
Understanding of the key issues relating to delivering cash at scale and skills to address them is preferred

Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically while under pressure
Experience working in insecure environments will be an asset is preferred

Fluently spoken and written English Competencies and values

Teamwork

Diversity

Building Trust

Communication

Strategic orientation

Interested candidate may apply it through : http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=3320