Regional Technical Assistant

1.       Background on Tasking Order #19: Technical Assistance Support to Improve the Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance in Drought Affected Areas of Ethiopia 

The Building Resilience in Ethiopia – Technical Assistance (BRE-TA) programme is part of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO – previously DFID) bilateral humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia. The BRE Technical Assistance (BRE-TA) component is co-financed with the United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID).^[1] The overall goal of BRE-TA support is to support the Government of Ethiopia to ‘Establish a fully functional DRM system and develop associated capacity to manage humanitarian and climate shocks.’

To achieve this overall goal the DRM workstream is organized around three building blocks: DRM Coordination and Leadership, DRM Mainstreaming, and DRM Information and Knowledge. This ToR speaks to building block 1 and 3 and complements on-going longer-term capacity building support BRE-TA is providing to the EDRMC for DRM policy reform and Early Warning for Early Action.

The request for TA support was made in January 2022 by the Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) to help enhance the humanitarian drought response, given current capacity gaps.

2.       Technical Assistance Request for Regional Technical Assistants

To facilitate and support the implementation of the ToR Regional Technical Assistants (RTA) will be deployed to Somali, Oromia and SNNP regions.

§  Description of Assignment

a.       General Objective :Deployed RTAs will provide emergency drought management and recovery response to regional directorates and the authorized accountable drought response coordination body, with a primary focus on drought assessments, response planning and coordination.

b.      Directorate of Assignment: The RTAs will be assigned to the relevant directorate in the regions in consultation with the EDRMC and the regional DRM Bureaus.

c.       Specific objectives: The RTAs will provide drought assessments, response planning and coordination support, including:

§  Support for the collection, collation and analysis of stakeholder monthly drought-response information and production of high-quality monthly analysis that will be shared with the Government-led humanitarian platforms to support enhanced decision-making,

§  Support for the organisation of monthly coordination meetings for stakeholders involved in the drought response to share their operational experience, avoid duplication, and fill gaps,

§  Contribute to the development and up-dating of regional humanitarian response plans for improved drought coordination and response,

§  Capacity building and skills training and development as appropriate and required.

d.      Required outputs / deliverables:

e.       Accountability measures: Performance reviews, based on the above deliverables, will be conducted on a quarterly basis by representatives from the Regional Bureau, EDRMC and DRM workstream Lead

3.       Expert’s Profile

a.       Full time: Maximum 260 paid days per year as fixed term RTA in  Oromia.

b.      Minimum number of years relevant or equivalent experience required: at least Six (6) years’ work experience at technical or advisory role on a similar project.

c.       Required level of education: A Master’s degree in rural development, agricultural economics, disaster risk science, sustainable development, or another suitable subject.

d.      Specific skills required: Excellent analytical and report writing skills are required; statistical skills and good knowledge of IT/Warehouse management soft wares are an advantage.

e.      Language skills and proficiency: Fluency in speaking and writing of the local language of the area assigned is mandatory, fluency in English and Amharic.

4.       Location and Duration

a.       Start date and expected duration of assignment: The RTA assignment is a full-time position beginning approximately September 2022.The initial assignment will be for 5 months, renewable for one more year upon satisfactory performance and ongoing need.

b.      A probation period of 60working days will be applied, followed by first performance review conducted, by the Bureau head and DRM workstream Lead representative.

c.       Location of assignment: The RTAs will be based in the appropriate directorates of regional DRM bureaus (Oromia)

d.      The job may require frequent travel in the region. The RTA will make travel plans monthly and get approval of the same from the Bureau head and the DRM workstream representative. Approved travel costs will be reimbursed by BRE-TA.

5.       Reporting Responsibilities

a.    Type(s) of reports required: To support the Region of assignment produce quality EWS and drought response reports. In addition, the RTAs will produce short internal reports that will be shared with the DRM workstream representative/coordinator.

b.    To whom are reports submitted: All EWS and drought response reports will be submitted to the Bureau head and copied to the DRM workstream Lead/Coordinator. All internal progress reports will be submitted to the DRM workstream Lead/Coordinator.

6.       Management Oversight

a.       Working with counterparts: The RTA will act as a counterpart to Bureau Livelihoods Experts and will report directly to the Bureau head.

b.      Joint management over sight: Will be provided by GoE and BRE-TA. The RTA’s performance will be evaluated quarterly basis, at which time performance against the RTA’s work plan and deliverables will be assessed.

c.       Payroll services and administrative over sight: Is provided by BRE-TA.

Requirement skills and Competencies

Required:

§  Postgraduate degree in DRM, Public Policy, Economics, Development studies or an equivalent professional training,

§  At least 8 years of relevant work experience in the development sector, with at least 5 years’ experience working on DRM in government institutions,

§  Familiarity with the DRM and Climate Change issues in Ethiopia and Government modalities and delivery of programs and projects,

§  Understanding of sub-regional, regional, and global DRM initiatives, frameworks and country commitments,

§  Familiarity with different government policies and strategies,

§  Excellent inter-personal and communication skills with a proven track record of developing and sustaining collaborative relationships with partners.

§  Fluency in English, Oromifa and Amharic,

§  Strong computer skills: MS Office, MS Excel