Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.









IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. Since then, the IRC has expanded its scope and size of the programs as new areas became accessible after prolonged conflict and insecurity, in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. The IRC’s is responding at scale to the humanitarian situation across sectors including integrated Health and Nutrition services, Reproductive Health care and Women Protection services, Environmental Health, Child Protection, Economic Recovery and Development, Education and General Protection. In 2015, IRC Nigeria developed a five-year long term Strategy Action Plan: The plan has Health, Education and Economic Wellbeing as high priority.

Job Overview/Summary

• The conflict in Northeast Nigeria has displaced over 1.9 million people and shattered livelihoods of many more.
• Since 2014 IRC has been delivering support to communities affected; across Northwest Zamfara, Katsina Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, with field offices in Maiduguri, Monguno, Gwoza, Damaturu, Yola and Mubi and a country office in Abuja
• With over 700 staff we deliver humanitarian support and longer-term recovery programming in health, nutrition, WASH, education, protection, economic recovery and livelihoods
• We work in coordination with State government Ministries, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN OCHA and other development organizations.
• IRC is an active participant in coordination mechanisms to contribute to improved impact.
  
  

Major Responsibilities

• The IRC Nigeria seeks an experienced, dynamic individual for the role of Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRC) to provide key cross-sector, cross-functional support to the country program and its implementing partners
• The EPRC is responsible for ensuring quality, coordinated, rapid emergency response, with an emphasis on timeliness and best use of resources; leading and building staff capacity on preparedness and acute response initiatives
• The EPRC’s responsibilities also include assessment and information gathering on early warning and emergency impacts; representation at various forums; and liaison with diverse stakeholders including IRC technical units, government partners, and international and local NGOs
• This position reports to the Deputy Director of Field Management and will be based in Maiduguri with frequent field travel.
• He/she is responsible for coordinating the quality and effectiveness of IRC Nigeria’s acute first line emergency response in all operational locations, including the Northeast of Nigeria
• The Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRC) will be responsible for coordinating and providing technical expertise to the Country Leadership Group (CLG) in strengthening the country office’s overall capacity to be prepared for and respond to emergencies in accordance with IRC’s principles and practices.
  
  

Programming

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the design and delivery of IRC acute emergency interventions in response to e.g. displacement due to conflict or natural disasters, disease outbreak, and other emergencies as they arise and based on needs.
• Initiate, and as necessary lead, needs assessments and data collection to inform project design; Support field teams where needed to develop/refine tools for and/or conduct and compile information from rapid assessments.
• Work closely with the Supply Chain at planning phase of assessments to ensure that all logistical needs are identified, agreed upon, effectively met.
• Identify opportunities to incorporate preparedness, cash-based assistance, and resilience components into both new and existing programs. Collaborate with technical teams to ensure comprehensive program integration.
• Work closely with the Grants and Finance departments to develop budgets and proposals for emergency preparedness and response interventions, ensuring alignment with IRC Nigeria strategic objectives. Coordinate input with other technical leads and specialists during project design and proposal development.
• Provide strategic leadership during rapid-onset emergency response, ensuring swift mobilization of resources and immediate implementation of emergency activities.
• Ensure emergency activities are carried out in accordance with the Sphere Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter in disaster response and other pertinent standards.
• Strengthen linkages across all program sectors to ensure a strong, coherent integrated outcomes approach in line with IRC Nigeria Strategic Action Plan
• Closely monitor and manage program spending and serve as budget manager for emergency response grants.
• Closely monitor and stay up to date on context-specific factors informing and/or impacting IRC planning and implementation, e.g. early warning data, security and access issues, other actor mapping, and make recommendations to SMT and program teams accordingly.
• Work closely with M&E unit to ensure data collection and monitoring tools are aligned with and responsive to emergency program M&E frameworks, core indicators, and inclusive of the needs of vulnerable groups.
• Ensure compliance with IRC policy, procedures and practices throughout preparedness and emergency response activities, including adherence to Do No Harm principles
• Serve as lead focal point for IRC Nigeria’s multi-department, cross-functional Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP), Country Emergency Team (CET), and Cash Program Prepositioning (CPP) initiatives, driving the implementation and further development of these initiatives with coordinated and efficient approaches; building and maintaining buy-in and capacity; and liaising with SMT and Regional/HQ Emergency Unit regarding progress and ongoing support needs.
  
  

Coordination And Representation

• In collaboration with field coordinator and security focal points, closely monitor and communicate with key staff as needed on new or anticipated developments in population movements, security context, accessibility constraints, and natural or environmental phenomena.
• Liaise with and support operational functions in their roles in effectively designing and delivering preparedness and response, particularly on cash, prepositioning, and timely procurement.
• Represent IRC at relevant national level forums (e.g. cluster, working groups, and other coordination meetings; launches and briefings) providing feedback, analysis and recommendations to the senior management team.
• Ensure that IRC’s response is well coordinated with other humanitarian actors, community leaders and appropriate governmental authorities.
• Identify opportunities for and take forward concrete actions toward enhancing coordination with other NGOs.
• As needed, facilitate donor and HQ visits to the program sites.
  
  

Reporting & Documentation

• As required, compile or contribute to the writing of assessment and project reports.
• Compile and disseminate any data, reports, briefings, etc. (IRC’s or other agencies’) relevant to IRC preparedness and response activities in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the design and development of program briefing materials, and provide timely, quality inputs to information requests from IRC regional and HQ management and donors.
• Lead the compiling and writing of periodic situation reports as required.
  
  

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Operations
  
  

Position directly supervises: EPR Manager

• Key internal contacts: Country Director, Regional Emergency Director
  
  

Other Internal And/or External Contacts

• Internal : FC’s, TC’s, Fin, P&C, SC, HASST, Etc.
• External: INGO’s, NGO, CBO, Etc.
  
  

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field from a recognized university with at least 10 years of relevant work experience; or master’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university with at least 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 10 years humanitarian aid experience in complex and natural disasters.
• Experience must include work in a similar role within an international humanitarian/emergency in a complex humanitarian context
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil military liaison and project cycle management
• Exceptional coordination and interpersonal skills.
• Background in situation analysis, needs assessments and project management.
• Demonstrably excellent written and oral communication skills; strong English writing skills required.
• Experience with cash programming is a plus.
• Familiarity with major donor rules and regulations (e.g. USAID/OFDA, DFID, ECHO, SIDA).
• Proficient in MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint, Kobo
  
  

Personal Specifications

• Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  
  

Working Environment

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator will be based in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria with travel to IRC field sites as necessary. The security situation in Northeast Nigeria continues to be volatile with security level currently at 3 (orange), though subject to change. A standard office working environment is provided for the role.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.