Building Resilience in Ethiopia (BRE):

The Building Resilience in Ethiopia (BRE) programme is co-funded by UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and USAID over three years (2019-2022) and is intended to assist Ethiopia to ‘become more resilient to climate and humanitarian shocks.’ Under the BRE programme, OPM is the Managing Agent for the delivery of technical assistance (TA) across three work streams: health, disaster risk management (DRM) and finance.

With regard to the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) BRE‘s focus is supporting effective leadership and coordination of an effective and accountable humanitarian response. While the overall objective is as stated above, the current COVID-19 pandemic has created an acute health emergency crisis such that the potential social, economic, political and security impact will require an urgent need to improve the multi-agency preparedness and coordination under the leadership of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission in line with National Disaster Risk Management Policy and Strategy.

As the BRE is designed to be flexible to responding to emerging needs as they arise, OPM is looking to recruit Emergency Preparedness and Response Specialists (4) that can support the NDRMC and the regions in their response to this complex crises particularly in emergency preparedness, coordination between the different federal government ministries, between the federal and the regions and at the various administrative units and clusters.

Rationale:

The COVID-19 outbreak has the potential disrupt the routine work of the NDRMC as they engage in the short term response to this complex emergency which in turn will have a knock on effect of interrupting the technical assistance that BRE has been providing in developing shock resistant preparedness and response systems.  The BRE program will recruit short term emergency and preparedness and response technical specialists to assist with the preparedness and response which will provide a real time opportunity to assess and identify gaps in the systems to support shock responsive systems which support an emergency response. The BRE team will ensure that this role fills a gap that is specifically identified as a short term need by the NDRMC. The BRE Deputy Team Lead in the Addis Ababa office will monitor the work of the expert on a weekly basis to ensure that the emergency preparedness and response specialists are fulfilling the needs identified by the NDRMC and if this is not taking place effectively BRE will terminate the short term technical assistance. The BRE Team is actively communicating with the NDRMC, EPHI, the PHEM Partners Working Group and OCHA to communicate the gaps that are being identified by the BRE Government partners and communicating possible areas where technical assistance is being provided to reduce the risk of overlap.

The Role of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Specialists:

BRE is seeking to recruit experienced professionals with expertise in Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Logistics and Social Protection to support the emergency activities of the NDRMC and other line ministries as it relates to the current national health emergency response to COVID 19 and the impacts it will have socially, economically and related sectors.

Purpose:

The purpose of the support will focus on strengthening multi-sectoral preparedness and responses capacity of the NDRMC with attention to primary and secondary impacts of the COVID 19 as they arise, and ensuring clear responsibilities and functions between the various coordination structures including,

·         compiling/ consolidating and disseminating information, assist in preparing reports,

·         liaising with line ministries in support of the Ministry of Health in strengthening the COVID-19 response,

·         liaising between the NDRMC and the regional DRM Coordination offices  in the different regions,

·         advise on long term resilience issues  with particular reference to the overall objective of BRE progamme

Responsibilities:

The responsibility of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Specialists involves, 6 months assignments in the 1st phase of emergency with the possibility of extension as the situation evolves.

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Specialists will provide support to NDRMC in the four areas indicated above and will be working closely with other BRE team members based in Addis Ababa and in the regions. They will perform tasks and undertake responsibilities as follows:

1.       Support coordination and effective response planning between the NDRMC and Sectoral ministries; between NDRMC and the regional DRM Units,

2.       Advise or lead remotely to assist regional, country management and technical teams to respond to emergencies,

3.       Immediately deploying to assess preparedness and responses to primary and secondary impacts, providing rapid on the ground support when requested,

4.       Provide rapid analysis, consolidation and synthesize report as part of surge support. Contribute towards developing tools, kits and guidance notes to assist staff in emergency response.

5.       Advise on building resilience & DRR as part of the long term programme, and support the NDRMC with preparedness measures for predictable emergencies and linkages to development programs

6.        Monitor emergency intervention developments at Federal level and in the regions and network extensively with other stakeholders, including UN agencies, and, local and international NGOs.

7.       Establish and maintain excellent working relations with federal and regional government partners, ensuring BRE’s technical assistance meets its needs,

8.       Monitor processes at Federal level that support delivery of multi hazard and multi-agency emergency response and, with a view to identifying areas for further support

Qualifications:

• Education:
  • BSc in the field of Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change and Forestry, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or other related fields or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  • Desired: MSc degree in Disaster Risk Management, Environmental science or other related fields
• Experience Required:
  • At least 5 years of experience in supporting DRM/Climate Change Adaptation, or related activities Knowledge and experience of in working with regional DRM offices
  • At least 5 years’ practical experience in humanitarian response (including at least 3 years in large scale or complex emergency work  with particular reference to health, sanitation, hygiene promotion)
  • Proven experience in responding to and leading scale up of large scale and/or complex emergencies,

·         Proven ability to build and establish strategic and professional relationships with the Federal Government, Regional Government Authorities, development partners and NGOs.

·         Demonstrated understanding of working with communities in emergency response, incorporation of gender and diversity, and proven commitment to integrating these concepts in programme implementation.

• Excellent communications, interpersonal, and networking skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize work.
• Fluent written and spoken English