Turkey: Disaster Risk Reduction Project Officer
Country: Turkey
Closing date: 15 Sep 2013
Background
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) Regional Office West and Central Asia, located in Istanbul, provides program support to DKH Project Offices and local partners in the region. DKH aims to increase and further strengthen relations with local partners in focus countries. For this purpose, disaster risk reduction and recovery projects are implemented in the region.
Currently, disaster risk reduction projects are implemented in Afghanistan and Palestine. In Afghanistan, DKH works in cooperation with 3 partners and implements projects through a grant program scheme. In Palestine (Gaza), DKH works in cooperation with 1 partner in the framework of a 3 year BMZ funded project.
Relief projects linked to the Syria crisis are implemented in Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in cooperation with local partners. The Regional Office is also responsible for intervening in case of acute emergencies in South and Southeast Asia.
Task Description
Location: Istanbul, with frequent travels in Asia, mainly Afghanistan and PalestineProjects: All DRR projects within the Regional Office for 2013-14Assignment Period: 1 year contract starting as soon as possible, renewable
Working in close collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and the Program Manager, the DRR Project Officer is responsible for the following tasks:
Program Management Support
• Supporting project planning and implementation by local partners.• Monitoring and evaluating through field visits and remote management.• Preparing reporting guidelines and following work plans of project activities implemented by local partners in the region.• Following the administrative and other preparatory work for the planning and implementation of project components, such as tender dossiers, tender evaluation committees, monitoring forms, and payment plans.• During monitoring visits to projects implemented by local partners, supporting the partner in managing records, files, folders, and other project documentation.• Based on periodic reports from local partners, drafting monthly progress reports to be submitted to DKH HQ, indicating project status and planned versus actual comparisons including target figures and photo documentation.• Identifying gaps in the management of projects and supporting local partners in undertaking action for their improvement.• Assist local partners in developing project proposals to be submitted to third party donor agencies.• Ensuring that narrative and financial reports of local partners are prepared in accordance with the requirements and regulations of third party donors, if any.• Managing local DKH staff in Afghanistan and Palestine.
Strategy Planning and Coordination
• Planning DRR strategies and annual action plans for focus countries and the region of West and Central Asia.• Ensuring the collaboration of all stakeholders of DKH in the field, from staff of DKH and local partners to target communities and other aid agencies and scientific institutions active in the same area of operation.• Attending all coordination meetings in sectors that are relevant to DKH sectors of operation.• Establishing and maintaining good contact with the ACT Alliance Forum in each focus country, if available.
Capacity Building
• Identifying DRR capacity building needs of staff and local partners to increase their competence in DRR programming. • Preparing and updating training modules for DRR and delivering or supporting the delivery of trainings on Risk Assessment, Community Based DRR, PCM.• Provide sector specific input and guidance within prevention, preparedness and response.• Assessing organizational capacity of local partners and designing and managing capacity building programs, where needed.
Operations Support
• Providing support to the Operations Manager in establishing and maintaining a roster of human resources for emergency response in the region• Supporting the development of DKH’s emergency preparedness plan for the region • Where needed, carrying out one or more of the following tasks in the aftermath of a disaster in Asia:
o needs assessments o designing emergency relief and recovery operations and writing project proposalso setting up and staffing of field offices in a disaster zoneo identifying local partners and involving them in the relief and recovery operationo establishing and reviewing institutional structures in field officeso conducting impact evaluation studies of relief and recovery programs
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be defined according to DKH’s salary scale and on the basis of the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
Qualifications
The requested minimum qualifications are as follows:
• University degree and training in a relevant field• Minimum 2 years of experience in program and project management• Demonstrated experience in Disaster Risk Reduction Projects • Good understanding of key natural disaster risk reduction issues and linkages to relief and development programmes• Overseas experience in insecure environments• Technical competence in the design of needs and risk assessments, program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation• Proven experience in developing budgets and monitoring expenditures• Demonstrated experience in working with local partner organizations
For this post, the following further qualifications are an asset:
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with policies, protocols, and procedures of international NGOs and donor agencies;• Knowledge of standards and requirements of backdonors such as the German Government (AA, BMZ) and the European Union (ECHO)• Good understanding of key principles of international NGOs including accountability, impartiality, neutrality, cooperation, and intercultural understanding;• Experience in relief and early recovery projects• Excellent analytical/problem-solving skills and detail orientation;• Excellent knowledge of the English language and computer skills;• Strong commitment to teamwork;• Effective communication, motivating leadership and interpersonal skills.
The post requires travels to countries such as Afghanistan, Palestine and possibly other countries in Asia.
How to apply:
Contact
Please send your CV (including at least 2 references) and cover letter by e-mail to:applications@dkh-istanbul.org
The closing date of the application is 15th September 2013. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
