Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Specialist

Working in the world’s most disaster-prone region, Habitat’s Asia/Pacific area office has seen firsthand how calamities wreak havoc. In response to these disasters, Habitat for Humanity paves the way for better, permanent homes and more resilient communities to be rebuilt on a larger scale. The Philippines, which is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year (the most recent and devastating, Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on 8 November 2013.) This single disaster affected around 16 million people in 44 provinces. Habitat has committed to a combination of response efforts for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan by providing aid (combination of distributing 30,000 shelter repair kits and building 30,000 homes.) Coordination and management of such proportions requires a strong and knowledgeable Disaster/Emergency Response team to ensure successful synchronization of resources from partner and donor agencies.


The Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Specialist will work at the regional level and be based at our Asia/Pacific area office in Manila, Philippines. The Specialist will build capacity of HFHI and HFH affiliated entities to design and implement disaster risk reduction and mitigation programs


RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensures issues related to disaster risk reduction and mitigation are integrated and addressed in country DR³ Plans and country strategic plans and management
2. Works closely with HQ, HFHI AP related entites and Partners to conduct assessments in support of conceptualization and design of disaster risk reduction and mitigation interventions
3. Provides technical advice on resilience-building in disaster prone contexts
4. Provides technical advice and capacity building support to NOs, Branches and Partners on a range of disaster risk reduction and mitigation issues
5. Provides direction, leadership and backstop support for the development, oversight and management of disaster risk reduction and mitigation interventions
6. Supports implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risk reduction and mitigation programs
7. Facilitates communication and information sharing with HQ, other AOs, NOs, Branch Offices and Partners on disaster risk reduction and mitigation program developments and monitoring
8. Designs, promotes, facilitates and participates in disaster risk reduction and mitigation training activities to increase capacity of NOs, Branch Offices and Partners
9. Research, identify and disseminate DR³ promising practices and internationally-accepted standards throughout the AP HFH network
10. Facilitates communication and information sharing with HQ, NOs, Branch Offices and Partners on disaster risk reduction and mitigation program development and monitoring, based on industry best practices
11. Through engagement in HFHI DR³ Community of Practice, contribute to the development of HFH programmatic approaches to disaster risk reduction and mitigation, in alignment with humanitarian shelter sector promising practices and industry-accepted >standards
12. Engage and connect HFHI to peer agencies and networks (internal and external), authorities and the DR³ donor communities
13. Supports collaborative resource development for disaster risk reduction and mitigation initiatives within AP
14. Supports resource development efforts specifically as related to the AP DR³ Reserve Fund
15. Engages in the development of industry-wide position papers, best practice documents and standards on behalf of HFHI-AP and HFHI in relation to disaster risk reduction and mitigation
16. Contribute to the timely and appropriate use of the AP DR³ Portal
17. Advance the development of the HFHI AP DR³ Community of Practice

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional continued relevant training within the DR framework
• 2+ years’ experience in disaster risk reduction and mitigation
• Proven experience in the successful design, development, and management of project proposals (including budgets) ensuring alignment with institutional and donor funding agency requirements
• Working knowledge of appropriate construction technologies suited to Disaster Risk Reduction & Response
• Strong command of the English language
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively (up to 40%)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior hands-on experience working within the Asia/Pacific region
• Demonstrated knowledge of current Disaster Risk Reduction and Response approaches, methodologies and tools, with a focus on the shelter and housing sector
• Previous experience coordinating DR³ efforts with large, international agencies (i.e. GFN, HQ, UN agencies, IFRC, DFID, OCHA, ECHO, USAID-OFDA, etc.)

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Interested candidates should apply on our website http://www.habitat.org/job/disaster-risk-reduction-and-mitigation-specialist