German Red Cross
The German Red Cross (GRC) is part of a worldwide community assisting victims of conflicts and disasters and people affected by social or health related crises. The Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement provides vulnerable people with assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The German Red Cross assists in disaster response, rehabilitation and capacity building projects on appeals of their sister organisations within the Movement.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or the Federation) is the World’s Largest Volunteer-Based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. As one of the five decentralized parts of the IFRC Secretariat, the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) leads the support to National Societies of 38 countries through Country Offices (CO) and Country Cluster Support Teams (CCST) spread across East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific geographical areas. APRO, led by the Regional Director, is organized in units – among them one responsible for Disaster and Crisis Preparedness, Response & Recovery (DCPRR).
The Regional Urban Risk Management (URM) Coordinator is a member of the IFRC Asia Pacific Disaster and Crisis Unit and the position forms part of the Programmatic functional area working collaboratively with other functional areas and units in APRO as well as with Geneva, CO and CCST counterparts to ensure a collaborative approach for the implementation of urban risk management a cross initiatives and operations.
The Regional URM Coordinator will be contracted by the German Red Cross (GRC) as Staff on Loan and continue the work of the current coordinator, who held this position for two years. The GRC has extensive experience in the field of URM and employs several experts to co-lead the topic within the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement. The Regional URM Coordinator will work with other IFRC technical units, with the urban unit at GRC, and Red Cross Red Crescent reference centres (Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Centre, Global Disaster Preparedness Centre and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre) as well as other humanitarian actors in the Asia Pacific Region.
Duration: until 31.12.2024, starting preferably March 2023, with possible extension
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with regular regional travels
Job purpose
The Regional URM Coordinator facilitates strategic planning and tailored technical support on URM approaches, methodologies and tools, for the implementation of humanitarian action in urban areas. The position will strengthen engagement of the RCRC in Asia Pacific Region with affected communities and respective stakeholders in urban areas through exchange platforms as well as enable international exchange of innovations and experiences. Furthermore, the position will contribute to the RCRC community of practice in URM and humanitarian action in urban areas as well as support policy advocacy at country and international level.
Main duties & responsibilities:
Leadership and networking:
- Lead the development and implementation of regional work plans for URM and provide technical support and guidance for planning and implementation of humanitarian action in urban areas.
- Participate in the ‘Movement Urban Resilience Working Group’ in a technical capacity, providing aggregated regional perspectives, highlighting regional needs and contributing to the Principles for Action.
- Engage, advise, coordinate and or support regional urban forums, networks including the Asia Pacific Urban Community Resilience Hub to enhance the profile and support of urban programming in the region.
- Collaborate with partners and other stakeholders to advance IFRC network targets in the urban settings, identifying opportunities for in-country and regional collaboration to increase urban resilience and facilitate support for urban context and capacity assessments (via the application of IFRC Urban Resilience and GRC tools) on field level.
- Lead the analysis of urban trends and innovations, mapping of relevant initiatives and network, and manage the development of a communication campaign and advocacy strategy for URM/Humanitarian Action in Urban Areas.
Technical Support:
- In close collaboration and coordination with the relevant IFRC thematic leads, technical units and offices, provide timely technical URM support (technical reviews, guidance) for new and ongoing initiatives and emergency operations
- Support the national societies and the IFRC CO/CCSTs in developing urban resilience strategies and/or frameworks, aligned with the mandates and priorities of the NS and other key guiding documents already adopted (e.g. DM strategy, PER, etc.)
- Through/together with regional, country cluster and country teams, assist National Societies in successful introduction and adaptation of innovative approaches to humanitarian action in urban areas.
- Support IFRC and GRC urban projects, in the areas of Health, Population Displacement, Disaster Risk Reduction, Anticipatory Action in urban areas. Support will include project and proposal development, project implementation and reporting
- Guide and assist the NS, IFRC CO/CCSTs and technical teams in bringing together urban resilience-related ongoing and future initiatives that are relevant for their contexts and sectors, such as ECHO PPP, Zurich Floods Alliance, BHA/American Red Cross extreme heat and coastal cities program, etc.
- Promote and support an evidence-based approach to determining capacity gaps of National Societies, designing, and implementing measures/activities and strategies to enhance their capacities to deliver innovative humanitarian action in urban areas in line with the National Societies’ mandates.
- Contribute to the development and roll-out of appropriate urban risk management capacity strengthening activities, including virtual and in-person trainings for urban preparedness, as well as relevant urban context support in the areas of DRR, Health and Anticipatory Action along with relevant communication and awareness raising.
- Contribute to, and support, regional flagship programming and priorities.
Support learning, knowledge management and exchange:
- Support knowledge management and sharing on humanitarian action in urban areas, including through the organization of trainings, meetings, webinars, at regional and national levels, and provide timely updates and advice on scientific and technical developments, trends, good practices, areas for improvement and lessons learnt.
- Leverage and contribute to existing platforms such as the Urban Collaboration Platform, Asia Pacific Urban Community Resilience Hub, Making Cities Resilient 2030, Regional Heatwave Network and Asia Pacific Youth Network to promote and disseminate success stories, lessons learned, tools, trainings, and media highlights.
- Actively engage in the network of colleagues working on urban resilience globally to promote and support global and inter-regional exchange and learning on issues of common interest and benefit
- Identify and document innovative approaches to humanitarian action in urban areas and lessons learnt from RCRC programs to share them within the RCRC and the wider humanitarian community.
- Contribute to the lessons learnt processes on improving the relevance and effectiveness of approaches to humanitarian action in urban areas, and documenting achievements, case studies and lessons learnt from RCRC programs and operations in the region as well as outside the region.
- Lead research activities and ensure the capturing of evidence and lessons learned on humanitarian action in urban areas. Facilitate exchanges between different stakeholders and sharing of knowledge and expertise amongst RCRC and partner networks in the Asia Pacific region and across regions.
Management and reporting:
- Manage technical consultants and support staff.
- Regular reporting and planning, including inputs to monthly management highlights (MMH).
Duties applicable to all staff:
- Actively work towards the achievement of the IFRC Secretariat’s goals.
- Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
- Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.
Required Competencies & Skills:
Education:
- Relevant post-graduate university degree
Technical Experience:
- At least 3 years of relevant experience in the field of emergency relief and/or development programs including Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Management, community-based approaches, working in urban settings etc.
- Minimum 3 years of coordination experience; either technical or operational
- In-depth understanding of and proven experience in integrated programming, community-based approaches and their mainstreaming
- Experience in strategy development processes
- Profound understanding of humanitarian action in urban areas and fragile contexts
- Ability to translate global and national policies into the operational level
- Ability to document lessons learned, case studies etc. and use best practices to inform the policy level
- Proven programmatic, administrative, financial and organizational understanding and skills
- Proven experience in monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance
- Knowledge of Asia-specific hazards/frequent risks in Southeast Asia
Management and Partnership:
- Strategic thinking, hands on mentality and in depth understanding of the humanitarian system
- Highly developed networking and diplomatic skills
- Previous experience of working for the RCRC Movement is a strong asset
- Profound understanding of ‘localization’ and partnership work / partner driven cooperation
- Experience in working with local partners, including in an advisory and coaching role, and engaging in high-level strategic discussions
- Ability to work result oriented, independently and as a team member
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills and the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds.
Languages:
- Fluently spoken and written English
What we offer you:
You will be part of a highly motivated professional and multicultural team. We offer you a compensation package according to the collective employment agreement of the GRC, an expatriation allowance during your mission as well as a personal allowance to cover your accommodation. In addition to a full insurance package GRC is covering a home flight within a 12-months period of assignment. You will benefit from a comprehensive training package and receive briefings and coaching prior as well as during and after your mission. Medical check-ups and Psychosocial Support Service are included in your assignment.
How to apply
Kindly apply by submitting your application by using the GRC online application system until 10.01.2023.
Please note that due to the travel and visa regulations and the guidelines of our partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement certain vaccinations are required for this delegate position. Candidates on the short-list for this position will be asked to disclose their vaccination status.
We point out that the selection and nomination processes for this international delegate position may demand that information concerning your person be shared with involved Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners (IFRC, ICRC, National Society). This may include transmission into countries that do not apply data protection standards comparable to those of the European Union.
Closing date: 10 Jan 2023