Lebanon: Regional Climate and Resilience Senior Officer (MENA), Lebanese Nationals

Oct 3, 2020 | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its 192member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC’s work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality), policies and by Strategy 2020, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade. The IFRC Secretariat has a decentralized structure: five regional offices (each with several CCST and country offices reporting to it) covering the globe and responsible for frontline delivery through National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, backed by the Secretariat HQ based in Geneva. The MENA regional office based in Beirut; Lebanon supports 17 national societies in the region. The MENA Disaster and Climate Crises prevention, response and recovery (DCPRR) unit within the MENA regional office and works with one regional plan as well as provides the technical support & quality assurance to country cluster support teams and country offices. The MENA DCPRR unit has articulated its alignment with the IFRC global 4 Strategies for Implementation and the relevant Areas of Focus.

Job Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Head of DCPRR – MENA region and the technical management of Climate and Resilience team in Geneva, the Regional Climate and Resilience Senior Officer will be responsible for achieving the results identified for DRR and Climate Action in the IFRC Plan & Budget and to ensure the adaptation of the relevant climate change, disaster risk and resilience frameworks, strategies, guidance and tools of IFRC to the context and needs in the MENA region with a particular focus on but not limited to consequences of climate change and urban risks as well the hazards in Fragility, Conflict, and Violence settings. S/he will also work closely and support coordination with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and other relevant reference centres.

S/he supports the IFRC network to ensure high quality, coherent and well-coordinated risk informed assessments, programme design and implementation, capacity development and knowledge sharing including peer-to-peer support.

S/he will focus on developing and strengthening community capacities to better reduce risks, anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from shocks/adversities/disasters through integrated and sustainable approaches.

The post holder will be also serving as an outreach technical surge capacity (up to 4 weeks per mission) to be deployed on short technical missions to country cluster offices and country offices to deliver specific Climate and Resilience ToRs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical support:

  • In close collaboration and coordination with the MENA DCPRR Unit members and other regional Units provide the required technical support to ensure cross-sectoral approach and synergy to holistic climate risk management, Disaster risk reduction and resilience strengthening.
  • Adapt and promote the Global IFRC Resilience, climate change and disaster risk reduction Frameworks, strategies, tools at regional, country and National Society levels in the MENA region.
  • Lead on the ongoing risk watch exercise for MENA region and link that with a clear and robust early warning system with the MENA national societies.
  • lead the operationalisation of the Movement Ambitions to address the Climate Crisis, the IFRC Framework for Community Resilience and Framework for Climate Action towards 2020 and support the MENA National Societies to scale up community resilience work.
  • Lead the integration between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation across the membership in the region.
  • Lead on the work on Ecosystem- Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Nature Based Solutions.
  • Lead the rolling out and mainstreaming of Community Early Warning Systems and link it with humanitarian anticipation (FBA/FBF).
  • Providing technical support to integrate disaster risk reduction, Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) and climate risk management into the planning, programming and deliverables of MENA national societies.
  • Support the MENA and National Societies in the development of EWEA related public messaging, tools and materials including low-cost low-tech activities and resources to improve understanding of weather and climate information.
  • Provide tailor-made technical support on climate-related aspects to the MENA National Societies based on specific requests.
  • Promote the use and development of climate innovations and provide regular updates on climate related news, policy and science.
  • Provide systematic technical support in risk-informed sectoral and integrated programming and management.
  • translate IFRC commitments and guidelines into concrete actions in the IFRC planning and programmatic processes, including but not limited to the Framework for Community Resilience, the framework for climate action and the One Billion Coalition (1BC) for Resilience initiative.
  • Advise, support and promote the development/adaptation of risk-informed, multi-hazard and resilience strategies, guidance tools in countries of Fragility, Conflict, and Violence settings.
  • To develop, roll-out and collaborate with other movement partners the concept and the programming methodology of DRR in Fragility, Conflict, and Violence context/s.
  • Ensure the systematic mainstreaming of climate, gender and diversity, beneficiary accountability into the DRR, CRM and Resilience programming.
  • Together with movement partners to lead on the efforts to highlight the urban risks and provide technical support to MENA NSs and movement partners in terms of addressing those risks.
  • Provide guidance to National Societies on volunteer and youth engagement in climate risk management drawing on tools like Y-ADAPT and working with the Climate Centre

Coordination, Cooperation, Networking and Partnership:

In close cooperation with the IFRC MENA regional, cluster and country offices:

  • In the spirit of the overall SMCC process, support effective coordination, collaboration and networking within RCRC Movement on all technical issues related to climate risk management and resilience strengthening.
  • Strengthen the communication, cooperation and coordination with other regions and the global technical teams in and work closely with the IFRC Reference Centres, such as the GDPC, Climate Centre etc.
  • Contribute to building stronger partnerships, coordinate activities, support better positioning of IFRC, identify areas of collaboration with external key stakeholders in his/her respective role.
  • Through networking and effective cooperation, contribute to strengthening of auxiliary roles of MENA National Societies with their respective governments specially in the areas of climate risk management (positioning and accessing adaptation fund), disaster risk reduction and resilience building.
  • Represent IFRC MENA in a relevant technical meetings, conferences, seminars, trainings and forums.
  • Lead on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction, resilience and climate risk management, across the continuum and in all areas of focus.

Knowledge Management, Public Awareness and Public Education:

  • In close cooperation with the IFRC MENA regional, cluster and country offices:
  • Ensure regular identification, documentation and sharing of good practices in climate risk management, disaster risk reduction and resilience strengthening - both internally (RCRC) and externally.
  • Identify, document and share lessons and innovative ways to implement the climate risk management, disaster risk reduction and resilience agenda in the MENA region in close collaboration with movement partners.
  • Identify opportunities with the academic sector to promote knowledge management, research and internships.
  • Lead on the digital transformation advice to national societies in the field of climate risk management, disaster risk reduction and resilience.
  • Capture the evidence of climate risk management and resilience strengthening and investment through annual mapping, cost-benefit analysis, case studies, reviews, evaluation etc. And share these evidences as relevant.

Resource Mobilization and Reporting Management:

  • Support fundraising efforts by identifying areas of potential interest with relevant donors in close coordination with the IFRC MENA PRD team. This includes but not limited to contribution to annual donors mapping and identifying areas of interest for MENA region.
  • Support the regional, cluster and country teams and National Societies to prepare a resource mobilization strategy for risk informed and climate smart community-based programmes.
  • Contribute to the overall fundraising, planning, budgeting and reporting of the team and the department.

Duties applicable to all staff

  • Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation 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
  • As a result of decentralization to be ready to deploy in any office of MENA Region or in other Regions for a shorter or long period

Education

  • University degree in Disaster Management/ community development or equivalent experience and knowledge - required

Experience

  • Experience of working in an international organization – required
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in a NS, in the RC/RC Movement - preferred
  • Experience in climate science, climate services and early warning early action – required
  • Experience of working in both emergencies and developmental contexts preferable – required
  • Exposure to community mobilization and, social development linked to health and disaster preparedness programmes – required
  • Experience in training and use of participatory methodologies – required
  • Experience in conducting and analysing baseline/end line survey and commitment to participatory approaches at all stages of the project cycle – required
  • Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching – required
  • Awareness of gender issues and ability to facilitate the development of practical strategies – required
  • Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organisations – required
  • Experience in project cycle management (Project writing, Log Frames, Financial management, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation) – required

Knowledge, skills and languages

  • Sound knowledge of and commitment to a holistic approach to resilience including disaster risk reduction, with an understanding multi hazard approach – required
  • Acquaintance with Federation DM tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, PECT, VCA and others) – preferred
  • Technical training in design, implementation and monitoring of resilience programming – required
  • Technical training in climate risk management – required
  • Proven skills in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting on resilience including urban DRR and DRR in FCV settings – required
  • Understanding of the key issues relating to delivering resilience at scale and skills to address them – required
  • Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically while under pressure – required
  • Experience working in insecure environments will be an asset – preferred
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills – required

Languages

  • Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic - required
  • Good command of French - preferred

Competencies and values

  • VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
  • FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Empowering Others
  • CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Pro-activity; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust