Organization: Adeso - African Development Solutions
Position title: Technical Advisor Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Program Manager
Position title: Technical Advisor Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Program Manager
Reporting to: Deputy Chief of Party
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.
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.