Project Officer – Strengthening Institutional Disaster Preparedness in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Red Cross Society Oromia Regional Branch Office invites qualified applicants: who meet the following qualification and experience requirements to apply for the position

Location: Oromia Ethiopia

Duration:11 months (February 2026 – December 2026)

Reports To: Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) Oromia Regional Branch Head,

Contract Type: contract-based

Overview of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was founded in 1935 and is among the oldest and largest humanitarian organisations in Ethiopia. ERCS offers services to communities affected by natural and man-made disasters through emergency responses, ambulances and first aid, family reunification, essential medicines, water and sanitation, and other humanitarian efforts. ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programmes aimed at building resilience in households and communities. Currently, ERCS has a structure comprising 14 Regional Offices, 40 Zonal Branches, 180 District/Woreda Branches, 599 Woreda Red Cross Committees, and 5871 Kebele Red Cross Committees.

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) is implementing a disaster preparedness project funded by the Netherlands Red Cross/ MoF. This initiative aims to enhance coordination on disaster preparedness and anticipatory action, and early response at both national and regional levels. It also focuses on building the capacities of local actors, including the ERCS, to better prepare for and respond to disasters. The ultimate goal is to mitigate the impacts of disasters on communities in targeted regions, such as Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and Afar regions.

ERCS works in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and partnering National Societies, members, volunteers, and the communities we serve.

III. Project Background:

The project “Strengthening Institutional Disaster Preparedness in Ethiopia” aims to enhance the institutional capacities and coordination mechanisms for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Ethiopia, focusing on Anticipatory Action (AA) and Early Response (ER). This project is implemented in collaboration with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) and the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC), at targeted ERCS regional and zonal offices in Tigray, Oromia, Somali, and Afar regions.

Purpose of the Position

The Project Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation, coordination, and monitoring of project activities at field level, in line with the approved budget, workplans, and technical guidance.

The position ensures that community-based preparedness, early warning–early action, anticipatory action, crisis modifier activations, trainings, simulations, and response activities are delivered with quality, timeliness, accountability, and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Project Management & Coordination:
   • Lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities in collaboration with ERCS, NLRC, and local stakeholders in all targeted regions.
   • Manage project resources, including budget oversight, to ensure activities are delivered within scope, time, and budget.
   • Work closely with the ERCS national level project coordinator and the region branch head to ensure seamless implementation of the planned activities of the project.
   • Participate actively in biweekly and monthly meetings to provide timely and accurate progress of the project and other issues of the project.
2. Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building:
   • Participate actively in regional anticipatory action technical working group meetings to share experiences, present the progress of the project and also learn from others.
   • Mobilize technical experts from ERCS headquarters and from the region to support the capacity building of ERCS staff and other stakeholders as per the plan of the project.
   • Work with the project coordinator to mobilize relevant stakeholders at the regional and woreda levels to participate in the ERCS project-related activities.
3. Monitoring & Evaluation:
   • Participate actively in monitoring and evaluation tasks of the project.
   • Meticulously organize visits for ERCS HQ visits and also for the donors.
4. Technical Support & Knowledge Management:
   • Work with the relevant teams within ERCS to facilitate knowledge exchange and experience-sharing sessions with key stakeholders, promoting best practices and lessons learned.
   • Provide trainings where possible for ERCS staff and other stakeholders on topics required in the project.
5. Crisis Modifier Activation:
   • Lead staff and volunteers at regional and woreda levels to implement the activities activated through crisis modifiers.
6. Cash preparedness initiatives

• Work closely with the ERCS Cash coordinator and Danish Red Cross project manager to ensure timely implementation of the planned activities of the cash preparedness component of the project.

Community Engagement & Accountability

• Mobilize and work closely with:
  • Community Early Warning Committees
  • Community preparedness groups
  • Local leaders and volunteers
• Support development and dissemination of inclusive awareness materials for early warning and preparedness.
• Apply Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) approaches throughout project activities.
• Ensure meaningful participation of women, people with disabilities, older persons, and other at‑risk groups.

Early Warning & Anticipatory Action Support

• Support the Early Warning Officer in:
  • Disseminating early warning information to communities
  • Triggering agreed early actions once thresholds are reached
• Assist coordination of anticipatory action activities triggered by forecasts or risk information.
• Support needs assessments and market assessments related to crisis modifier activation.

Field Implementation & Activity Management

• Implement project activities in assigned regions and branches, including:
  • Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (EVCA)
  • Community preparedness planning workshops
  • Early warning–early action community trainings
  • Simulation exercises with communities and local stakeholders
  • Anticipatory action interventions and emergency response activities
• Support implementation of readiness and preparedness actions identified through branch-level assessments.
• Ensure activities follow approved workplans, budgets, and implementation timelines.

Qualifications:

• Education: Second/First Degree in Disaster Risk Management, International Development, Humanitarian Assistance, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 6/8 years of experience in project management within the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on disaster preparedness and response. Experience working with DG ECHO funded project is an added advantage.

Skills:

• Proven expertise in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and building institutional capacities.
• Strong knowledge of DRM frameworks, Anticipatory Action, and Emergency Operations approaches.
• Experience in managing complex budgets and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Proficiency in data analysis and M&E methodologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.