Global Anticipatory Action Specialist

Location: Nairobi, Kenya; Juba, South Sudan or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Deadline:  16 Jul 2026

Job Description

About DRC

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization with operations in 40 countries dedicated to assisting, protecting, and finding solutions for refugees, internally displaced and other conflict-affected communities. To stay relevant and meet the needs of the people we serve, we are exploring new, innovative ways of responding to displacement crises.

For the past years, DRC has increasingly engaged in anticipatory action for both climate- and conflict-induced displacement. We have developed innovative tools to forecast displacement from hazards to enable humanitarian actors to get ahead of crises. In East Africa and the Great Lakes region, DRC’s AA portfolio currently encompasses five countries and expanding regional partnerships with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and leading agencies within the AA community of practice

Overall purpose of the role:

The Danish Refugee Council is looking for a highly experienced Global Anticipatory Action (AA) Coordinator to provide technical leadership over an assigned anticipatory action portfolio covering countries in East Africa and the Great Lakes. The AA Specialist will support expanding regional AA programming portfolio, including the Anticipatory Humanitarian Action for Displacement (AHEAD) project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the inter-agency Greater Horn of Africa – Scaling coordinated, multi-hazard and conflict-sensitive Anticipatory Action for improved disaster preparedness and humanitarian response (SCALAA) project funded by DG ECHO.  The technical support encompasses input into the design of AA mechanisms for displacement, including the development of AA data models and approaches using local and global data for local-level analysis to help inform humanitarian actors’ decisions when deploying humanitarian assistance and to enable timelier, more dignified, efficient and sustainable assistance.

Under the technical supervision of the Global AA Coordinator (EAGL), the Global AA Specialist will support with technical management of the AHEAD and other AA project’s implementation in assigned countries. This will entail the provision of technical support to the project’s country office-based focal points, and advice and assistance with projects and anticipatory action plan (AAP) activations.

Responsibilities:

Management and Coordination

• Working with the Global AA Coordinator, Assume responsibility as the technical focal point for all AA activities in assigned countries, supporting countries with project delivery across the AA portfolio and coordinating between countries.
• Assume grant and project management responsibilities of regional projects covering the East Africa and Great Lakes region.
• Support the Global AA Coordinator with institutionalising AA for displacement in national and regional government structures, including national AA roadmaps, contingency plans, and government-led AAPs.
• Contribute to technical working groups both internal and external, and participate in partner discussions and forums, creating technical and operational synergies with other AA-implementing stakeholders with the aim to scaling coordinated action.

Implementation and Technical Support 

• Working with the Global AA Coordinator, support countries in direct delivery of anticipatory action projects, including the development of conflict and protection analyses and contingency plans with communities, preparedness activities, trigger development and trigger release actions.
• In close collaboration with the Global AA Coordinator, work with country teams in the development of frameworks and policy-level discussions at local and national government levels to ensure AA planning is part of the country humanitarian preparedness plan.
• Provide input into programmatic guidance, capacity strengthening tools, and policies on AA in response to conflict- and climate hazards.
• Work with DRC’s broader Innovation, Data and Analysis team regarding the use of data and displacement forecasting models in AA and support the team in capturing evidence, lessons learned and formulating recommendations for other humanitarian actors and policy makers.

Business Development and Advocacy

• Support the Global Lead on AA with business development activities to expand the AA portfolio, working with countries to develop proposals and engage with prospective donors.
• Contribute to external advocacy and representation of DRC in relation to AA.
• Work closely with the DRC’s global advocacy team on policy engagement related to expanding uptake of AA in humanitarian sector.
• Support the further positioning of DRC as thought leader on AA for displacement, especially in conflict-affected and fragile settings.

Reporting and Communication

• Working with Global AA Coordinator, support to establish and maintain clear lines of communication with AA project staff at the country levels.
• Support the project’s grants staff or focal points to ensure AA project staff are submitting quality and timely technical AA reports in line with donor and DRC requirements.

Experience and technical competencies:

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years of experience in a similar senior technical role overseeing AA projects or initiatives, coordinating across countries and engaging with external stakeholder

Required 

• At least 5 years’ experience with anticipatory, early action or rapid response programming/projects in conflict setting. Alternatively, at least 5 years’ experience with conducting (rapid) conflict analysis, peacebuilding in emergency work, setting up/modifying emergency interventions in conflicts or similar relevant experiences will be considered.
• Experience directly implementing AA projects.
• Experience with conflict situations and an understanding of conflict, protection and emergency programming in displacement contexts.
• Able and willing to travel for up to 35% of time and operate in a physically demanding working environment.

Desirable

• Demonstrated abilities in problem solving as well as taking a flexible and innovative approach to working.
• Experience with anticipatory action for conflict impacts (e.g. displacement).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as part of a team and to form close working relationships with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Strong understanding of using, analytics in programming and response.
• Highly motivated and hard working with strong attention to detail.
• Experience with programming related to peacebuilding, preparedness, emergency and/or resilience-building.

Education: 

University Degree in Peace, Conflict, Security, Development Studies, War Studies, Political Sciences, Data Science, Environmental Science/Climate Change, or similar qualifications

About you:

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Language:

• Excellent verbal and written English

Key stakeholders: 

Global Lead on AA Lead, Global AA Coordinator and global project team
Assigned Country AA teams
HQ Hub
Relevant external stakeholders at the country, regional, and international levels

Conditions

Contract: One-year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment.
Availability:  August 2026
Duty station: The position will be based in either Nairobi, Kenya; Juba, South Sudan or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

HOW TO APPLY

Application and CV:

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.

DRC only accepts applications sent via our: >>> online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.  Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 16th July, 2026

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels.  In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.