Regional Emergency Coordinator

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Overall purpose of the role

The Regional Emergency Coordinator assists in the development and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response within the region through the provision of technical support, operational guidance, trouble-shooting and quality assurance to all emergency programmes within the Middle East Regional Office and Asia and Europe Regional Office (MERO & AERO) on a needs and request basis, both remotely and via regular field deployments to countries within the region. This position represents an excellent opportunity to provide technical leadership and capacity building in exciting and challenging contexts, and to strategically develop the quality, impact and sectoral integration of DRC’s emergency responses.

This position will mainly cover the following countries in which DRC is operational: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Yemen, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, South Caucuses/Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, as well as provide support for emergency response in regional programming

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Support all countries with emergency preparedness, including maintaining an Early Warning regional overview of country risk, and ensuring all Country Offices have up-to-date Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (EPRP)
• Provide Emergency Capacity Building training to field staff as requested by Country Offices
• Support Country Offices to develop and undertake ad-hoc Rapid Needs Assessments and emergency assessments where required following shocks / crises
• Support Country Offices in the design, planning and resource mobilisation for emergency activities, following a shock, and in protracted emergency contexts, including via deployments to affected countries.
• Support existing/new operations in emergency response – including assist in staff recruitment, staff training, setting up systems, and planning and starting activities; and business development / proposal writing. Provide remote technical review and input to Emergency Programme proposal design and development.
• Conduct humanitarian response capacity assessments in countries/areas as required;
• Provide trouble-shooting in existing operations facing bottlenecks in implementation;
• Provide input and advice to strategies to transition emergency operations to Recovery, Resilience and Durable Solutions approaches;

Quality Assurance

• Ensure countries use standardised DRC Emergency and Emergency MEAL tools; provide updated tools, technical guidance and training materials to Country Offices as requested and ensure coherence of Emergency MEAL approaches across the Regions.
• In close coordination with RO and CO technical staff, ensure emergency response activities are relevant to the needs and priorities of affected populations and meet relevant programme quality standards across all sectors.
• Ensure all emergency response actions are adhering to standards and best practices including HAP/CHS standards, relevant Minimum Standards and SPHERE etc.
• Ensure that DRC mandate, policies and values in programming are upheld, and DRC’s accountability obligations are delegated and carried out in accordance with standard regulations and operational procedures e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Programme Handbook, DRC Operations Handbook

Regional Strategy and Coordination

• Lead and coordinate regionally-led multi-country emergency responses as/where needed in the Region;
• Provide RO and CO Senior Management Teams with updated information on ongoing/emerging humanitarian crises and needs within the MERO & AERO region;
• Participate as relevant in coordination mechanisms throughout the region and represent DRC as requested, including building relationships with other regional Emergency Coordinators (or equivalent) in NGOs, CSOs, donor agencies, UN etc.;
• Identification and prioritization (continuous) of geographical areas for assessment and response, both new and existing;
• In close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Safety Coordinator, assess access to new areas, or areas with limited/no access, as needed;
• In close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Head of Support Services provide support and training with respect to the implementation of emergency derogations, as per the Operations Handbook
• Support link between CO and RO teams and HQ technical advisors to facilitate technical support and consistency in donor relations/fundraising efforts
• Support link between CO and RO teams and HQ technical advisors to facilitate technical support with regards to developing and strengthening hard to reach programming integrated into emergency responses.

Other: The Emergency Coordinator, may, on temporary basis, lead a specific emergency response within one of the regions with an updated ToR for specific areas of responsibility

Experience and technical competencies:

• At least five years of INGO emergency response experience in insecure environments, including at least two years of management experience;
• Essential experience in RRM implementation/coordination/emergency response planning in similar contexts
• Relevant technical expertise/experience in some sectors of humanitarian programming such as WASH, Food Security, CCCM, shelter/NFI, Protection, including cash as a modality etc.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and management and leadership skills;
• Proven commitment to accountable practices and knowledge of quality assurance systems in an emergency response;
• Hands on experience in managing staff in insecure locations and strong human resource management skills in general. Solid experience in staff management in a cross-cultural environment required;
• Good communicator and proven diplomacy with all types of stakeholders;
• Experience of managing budgets and multiple donor contracts, particularly with OFDA, ECHO, SIDA and UN agencies;
• Fluent and articulate in spoken and written English.
• Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team;
• Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point); and
• Ability and willingness to work and live in diverse, challenging and potentially unstable environments.

Desirable:

• Previous experience the MERO & AERO region or similar context with conflict/access analysis ability; and
• Previous experience in rapid-onset emergencies, and of working in protracted emergency contexts;
• Strong working knowledge of access, negotiations and/or experience in implementing programming in hard to reach areas/areas with high access constraints

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Fluency or strong working knowledge of Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and/or Kurdish desirable

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Education:

• University degree with advanced training or technical qualification in relevant line of work/sector

We offer

Contract length: (12) Months

Position Band: This position will be placed at Non-Management (F) band

Start date: January 2024

Duty station: Tbilisi or Amman

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]