Bangladesh: Program Management Consultant for Disaster Readiness Program

Work Location : Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Contract: 3 months

Reports to : Country Representative, American Red Cross, Bangladesh

Following the significant population movement of people from Rakhine from Myanmar into Bangladesh since late August 2017, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) is scaling up its efforts for providing immediate and mid-term support to the affected populations in Cox’s Bazar district. These include both populations from Myanmar and host communities. In line with these efforts, American Red Cross Country Office in Bangladesh is scaling up disaster readiness and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) efforts for affected displaced and host communities in the district of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. American Red Cross is seeking an experienced consultant to help setup and manage Program in Cox’s Bazar. The consultant should have strong background in community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) and overall disaster preparedness. S/he will be responsible for the management and delivery of American Red Cross’ support to the RCRC Movement response in Cox’s Bazar and will provide surge support to the American Red Cross country team.

Given the dynamic and fast-paced environment and ongoing humanitarian operations by international agencies in Cox’s Bazar, the candidate must demonstrate proven experience working with government, UN, INGOs, and local actors in emergency and/or refugee environments. An ability to convene partners and communicate effectively is essential. This position will responsible for overseeing implementation of the DRR activities, with integration of relevant sectors (Protection, Gender, & Inclusion; Community Engagement and Accountability, etc.) under the supervision of American Red Cross Bangladesh Country Representative and in coordination with other partners. In addition, this position will support capacity development of RCRC Movement partners, particularly BDRCS, and other relevant stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management

• Support in setting up American Red Cross programs in Cox’s bazar and develop detail implementation plan, workplans, logical framework, M&E plans.
• Support recruit qualified project staff in close coordination with BDRCS and IFRC.
• Lead American Red Cross’ disaster readiness program in close coordination with American Red Cross sub-office team for the people from Rakhine living in camp settlements, and ensure alignment with disaster preparedness systems used by host communities where possible.
• Make recommendations as needed to ensure vulnerable populations are reached by appropriate and timely interventions.
• Provide technical support, conduct assessments in project sites, and seek feedback from key stakeholders.
• Support the program team in preparing and collating project documentation such as training documents, manuals, presentations, volunteer databases etc.
• Provide recommendation on improving program quality, documentation systems, and staffing structures as necessary.
• Ensure activity documentation and sharing of weekly progress reports to Country Representative.

Representation, Relationship Management, Coordination:

• Represent American Red Cross, IFRC, BDRCS, and the overall RCRC Movement to external partners (inter-agency coordination meetings, UN, corporate or private donors, government representatives) as applicable contributing to disaster readiness and emergency preparedness in Cox’s Bazar.
• Identify further areas where American Red Cross can provide added value to the disaster readiness efforts in Cox’s Bazar.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government, UN, and INGO actors for strategic and programmatic purposes, complementing relationship management approaches taken in Dhaka.
• Maintain close coordination with Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) and other partners to proactively strengthen community-based awareness and early warning initiatives.
• Manage close working relationships, communication, and coordination with American Red Cross program team, RCRC Movement partners, IFRC response, BDRCS, and other stakeholders involved in the RCRC response, ensuring coherence between American Red Cross programs and wider RCRC approaches (i.e. ‘One Window Approach’).

DELIVERABLES

• Program documentation, including implementation plan, activities and detailed workplan developed in coordination with CPP and camp coordination agencies of UNHCR and IOM, and logical framework.
• Providing a mapping of stakeholders and possible opportunities for partnership for BDRCS and American Red Cross.
• Provide weekly program updates to the Country Representative in close coordination with implementation team.
• Provide coordination meeting updates to the Country Representative on a weekly basis.
• Deliver Report highlighting program development and improvement opportunities and action taken towards it.
• Prepare reporting and documentation formats to support program team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, humanitarian assistance, organization development or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five years’ experience working within international development, including direct experience managing disaster management, DRR, coastal resilience and/or emergency response projects.
• Experience in refugee or emergency settings an advantage; understanding of UN/international coordination structures essential.
• Capacity to engage effectively at operational level with government, UN, INGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Understanding of good practices in humanitarian response to population movement or with stateless populations.
• Demonstrated ability in managing projects, including project design, proposal development, planning, budget preparation, financial tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, BvA analysis.
• Ability to convene, coordinate, and provide functional leadership in order to achieve shared goals and strategic objectives.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills; creative and innovative thinking.
• Ability to create a team environment and coordinate with other departments and the ability to manage time, prioritize tasks, respond quickly to requests.
• Previous experience working in developing countries, preferably in South Asia.
• Experience working within the International RCRC Movement preferred.
• Good communications skills, written, and spoken, in the English language. Ability to communicate in Bengali will be treated as an additional advantage.
• Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

TIMELINE

This consultancy is for 3 months beginning from mid-April 2018.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications, which should include CV, cover letter with daily/monthly rates, with “Bangladesh Population Movement Consultant” on the subject line to arc.ameeregional@gmail.com by Monday, 16th April 2018 (UTC +7).