Emergency Response Officer – Mekele, Ethiopia

About HELVETAS: 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an independent development organization based in Switzerland and it has been operating for the last 65 years worldwide. HELVETAS is registered in Ethiopia as foreign organization with the Agency for Civil Society Organization to operate in the areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resource Management, Support to CSO and Local Governments, Skill Development & Education and Emergency Response. See also. www.helvetas.org.

Helvetas Ethiopia is providing humanitarian assistance to conflict affected communities in North Gondar of Amhara region and preparing to start humanitarian assistance in Tigray region of Ethiopia with funding from SwS and other foundations.  For this action, Helvetas is looking for a competent and experienced Emergency Response Officers who can be able to manage the implementation of the emergency projects in the two locations.

Main Responsibility: 

• The Emergency Response Officer is responsible for leading the planning and implementation of SwS funded multipurpose cash transfer and provision of agricultural inputs North Gondar of Amhara region and Southeast and Northwest zones of Tigray region to ensure access to basic needs. Reporting to the Senior Expert- Emergency Preparedness and Response, the role will lead on the planning and implementation of emergency cash transfer and emergency agricultural inputs in the operation areas, will involve collaboration, strong stakeholder management and project management skills to deliver the planned actions. S/he will maintain a professional working relationship with all relevant actors in order to ensure efficient delivery of the programmes and provide timely reporting on activities.

• Lead the Planning, design and implementation of cash transfer and emergency agricultural inputs in the areas, represent Helvetas in emergency coordination forum, play key role in ensuring NEXUS programming within Helvetas’s projects.

Major/key Responsibilities

• Lead community based targeting and verification of the beneficiary’s program participants.
• Maintains and adapts as required a Master database for all beneficiaries of the programs in project location.
• Prepare Purchase Requests for program supplies/activities and liaison with field support and finance team to undertake field procurement as designated and authorized.
• Maintains individual databases for individual transfer programs including Issues verification and payment lists.
• Maintains records of payments and follow-up for all beneficiary lists but also for individual beneficiaries.
• Develop cash distribution and emergency agricultural inputs distribution plans, supervise and evaluate the on-spot cash distribution process.
• Set up and strengthen beneficiaries’ compliant feedback mechanisms with relevant internal partners.
• Provide cash transfer and agricultural inputs distribution sensitization sessions for targeted households and other partners.
• Maintains adequate communication and coordination within team (FSL, gender and protection, Wash and other team members).
• Ensure and put in place the vital compliant management and response mechanisms in collaboration with MEAL staff.
• Coordinate with relevant partners in the operation areas.
• Ensure timely reports, such as assessment, distribution, PDM reports.
• Prepare periodic progress reports and other documents as required.
• Ensure and support M&E activities in the field location.
• Monitor expenditures, budgets, and track activity expenses; ensure that appropriate action is taken in a timely fashion.
• Support the RRM Emergency Coordinator in the documentation and lessons learned to capture program performance.
• In coordination with the Senior Emergency Expert, represent Helvetas in coordination meetings with local authorities and NGOs in the operation areas.
• Monitor displacement trends and give flash updates.
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned.

 Partner Support (if applicable)

• Provide technical support to partners in implementation of cash and agricultural inputs provisions.
• Support in social mobilization around technical issues when applicable.

Administration

• Compile project reports highlighting project impact against indicators.
• Contribute to field based reports to Helvetas/or external donors.

Staff Development

• Ensure capacity building of relevant team members on technical things.
• As delegated by the supervisor liaise with M&E Officers to ensure sharing of lessons learned, tools and systems.

Qualifications and Experience:

• First degree in social science (economics, agriculture economics or postgraduate degree preferred.
• Minimum 3 years for 1st degree and 2 years for post graduate Degree in Agri-economics, Economics, Marketing, Rural Development, Banking, Project Management or similar with meaningful experience of the position demand.
• Proven abilities on cash based program (specific abilities or skills required)
• INGO experience is required.

Personal Qualities:

• Works well in and promotes collaboration, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to work under pressure well.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English, Amharic required for Tigray and English and Tigrigna for Tigray.

Competencies:

• Proven commitment to accountable practices.
• Knowledge of working in challenging environments.
• Proven ability to manage large varied workloads and deal constructively with stress and periods with long hours.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision
• Proactive, stable and robust character and a good team player.
• Excellent communication skills, calm and a good sense of humor.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations at all levels.