Regional Emergency Coordinator - Nairobi, Kenya (CARE)

[Admin]

The Regional Emergency Coordinator (REC) provides critical coordination and support to CARE International’s emergency preparedness and response. In-between emergencies she/he works with country offices (CO), lead members’ management, and CI and lead members’ emergency units, on strengthening capacity for preparedness, emergency response, integration of emergency programming within CARE’s program approach, strengthening DRR, humanitarian policy, and other related priority areas, in order to strengthen CARE’s humanitarian capabilities across the region. She/he also represents CARE externally at regional level in the humanitarian field with key forums, partners and donors, develops a contextual understanding of the region, and undertakes appropriate humanitarian policy and analysis. During major emergencies, the REC will often be the first rapid response staff member to deploy from outside the country office and would support initial response start-up by the country office. The REC represents all of CI, liaises with various CI offices and members, and should ensure consistency with CI global humanitarian approaches and standards.

Areas of Responsibility:

Represent the region internally on behalf of CEG and in crisis coordination meetings/calls, ERWG (Emergency Response Working Group – CI ) and other CI conference calls, and with lead members as appropriate; ensure information flow among country offices, CEG, lead members (line management and emergency units), and with other CI members.
Support and advise country and regional offices on emergency preparedness planning (EPP). This includes development of region-wide preparedness work plans; guiding country offices in their establishment and skill building of emergency response teams, application of CARE EPP guidelines, and integration of humanitarian considerations within country office strategic planning, programming and program support functions.
Support country offices initiate responses to emergencies, in consultation with CEG and the lead member (line management and emergency units), including advising on start-up, assessments, and mobilization of resources. In rapid onset and/or major emergencies, the REC will be expected to rapidly deploy to the country office to directly support the start-up of the response in an appropriate role, such as leading assessment and/or start-up of an emergency response, or other roles as needed.
Promote and guide quality in emergency programmes throughout the region. This includes promoting and guiding country offices in their adherence to minimum standards, including CARE’s Humanitarian Accountability Framework (incl.program principles and its humanitarian mandate, policies, procedures & guidance as contained within CARE’s emergency toolkit) incorporation of gender approaches and integration with CARE’s program approach, as well as SPHERE standards, the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct, and the UN-led cluster approach.
Represent CARE International in regional forums and meetings in the humanitarian area including with regional entities, UN humanitarian agencies, other NGOs, partners, region-based emergency donors, inter-agency working groups, etc., and coordinate with CEG and CI members as appropriate.
Monitor and develop understanding of ongoing regional contexts and vulnerabilities and produce occasional updates/sit reps and support country offices to develop their own updates/sit reps when needed.
Support humanitarian policy advocacy and media relations efforts at the regional level in close coordination with country offices, CEG, lead members (line management and emergency units), and other CI members as appropriate.
Work with country offices, CEG’s HR coordinator, lead members’ HR departments and technical specialists to support the staffing of the CARE Emergency Roster.
Serve as CARE’s focal point in the Horn of Africa region for the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project. The Horn of Africa Consortium includes Oxfam GB, CARE, CRS, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Concern Universal, Concern Worldwide, and UN HABITAT. Countries include Kenya, Uganda and Somalia.
Required Qualifications:

Masters degree, or relevant combination of qualifications and experience, in a relevant field

Required Experience and Background:

5-10 years experience in humanitarian preparedness, risk reduction, response, and poverty reduction
Experience and knowledge of the region.
Experience in programme design, management, monitoring and evaluation, including SPHERE standards, donor relations, security and protection considerations
Excellent training, coaching and mentoring skills
High level of writing and communication skills
Willingness to spend high proportion of time travelling away from home (approx 60%) and be deployed with limited notice period.
Language skills: English and French (Swahilli and Arabic would be an advantage)

Required Competencies:

Team building
Managing relationships across units, country offices, and CI
Self awareness
Interpersonal skills
Stress tolerance
Customer orientation
Planning and organizing
Proactive problem solving
Operational decision-making
Resilience, adaptability and ability to self-manage

A detailed job description maybe requested. Interested candidates should send their CV and letter of application to cegrecruitment@careinternational.org before July 15, 2011. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted