Emergency Response Officer (ERO) DRC-based in Goma

2 year contract

CAFOD’s Mission is to promote human development and social justice in witness to Christian Faith and gospel values.

Job Description

Job purpose: To provide humanitarian expertise, emergency response capacity, support and advice to CAFOD’s programme staff and partners in DRC. To contribute to the delivery of effective and high quality humanitarian assistance, resilience and protection through CAFOD programmes. Central to CAFOD’s humanitarian response is working with and alongside CAFOD partners in providing support, expertise and building long-term capacity.

Job scope: Working within the Humanitarian Department and the DRC Country team the post holder will work to an annual work plan which will detail specific tasks and objectives for the year. The annual work plan will be based on the Country and Global Humanitarian Strategies which defines three core areas of work before, during and after emergencies:

1)Ensure CAFOD and partners prepare and respond effectively to humanitarian need (including strengthen partner emergency preparedness capacity)

2)Increase resilience of communities vulnerability to risk by promoting Disaster Risk Reduction

3)Raise awareness of injustice and speak out on behalf of suffering people’s with confidence, whilst maintaining access to affected populations and the safety of partners and programmes

Accountability: The post holder will report to the West Africa and Great Lakes Regional Emergency Coordinator (based in London) and the DRC Programme Manager based in Goma (matrix management).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Emergency response

  • Provide core response and standing capacity to respond to new and ongoing humanitarian work.
  • Working with country programme staff and partners to develop and support the implementation of humanitarian programmes.
  • Provide technical support and guidance to CAFOD programme staff and partner organisations on the delivery of high quality assistance in relief, recovery and rehabilitation phases of humanitarian response and preparedness, as well as in disaster risk reduction.
  • As part of the humanitarian team, and in liaison with CAFOD’s DRC Team, monitor and report on humanitarian crises throughout DRC, and when required be a part of CAFOD's humanitarian department emergency response and surge capacity outside of DRC.
  • When required, provide field level operational support, including needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation, programme leadership and management to CAFOD staff, partner organisations and interagency response teams responding to humanitarian crises, if necessary at very short notice and for extended periods.
  • Support the development, monitoring and reporting of humanitarian project budgets in accordance with CAFOD financial systems and procedures.
  • Assist CAFOD staff and partners in the production of high quality project proposals and reports on humanitarian projects, often to tight deadlines.

Programme quality, systems and standards

  • Support the implementation and maintenance of organisational systems and procedures for ensuring good practice and meeting sectoral standards on accountability and programme quality, including the Red Cross Code of Conduct and the SPHERE standards.
  • Promote compliance with HAP-I standards on accountability to beneficiaries.
  • Work with climate change and DRR advisors and the Sustainable Livelihoods/Early Recovery Programme Officer in coordinating and providing technical support in Early Recovery, livelihoods, DRR and climate change adaptation.
  • Engage with policy staff in CAFOD, in particular the Humanitarian Policy Adviser to ensure CAFOD’s humanitarian policy and advocacy is coherent and effective, and informed by our experience and that of our partners.
  • Liaise with the DRC HIV & AIDS, Accountability and Child Protection focal point to mainstream related components within humanitarian programmes.
  • Liaise with the DRC Gender focal point to integrate gender analysis components within humanitarian programmes.
  • Liaise with the Peace & Reconciliation Programme Officer to identify potential advocacy opportunities and to integrate psychosocial support and peace-building initiatives into humanitarian programmes as appropriate.

Representation and communication

  • Represent CAFOD (whenever possible along with the Goma based DRC PM) in NFI / Emergency Shelter sector meetings, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) meetings and at other interagency events for the purposes of coordination of response and sectoral policy development.
  • Develop supporter communications and work with the media, writing and undertaking interviews both on radio and television.
  • Provide support within a Caritas Internationals/confederation humanitarian response.
  • Build and strengthen relationships with sister agencies and agencies of strategic importance.
  • Work flexibly within the team environment of the Humanitarian Department and the Country Office, supporting other tasks by agreement with line management.

International travel and work

  • Be willing to undertake fieldwork for up to four months per year (possibly more in exceptional circumstances) and undertake the above tasks in project locations throughout DRC and at times outside of DRC, sometimes in insecure environments and at short notice.

A commitment to CAFOD’s Vision, Mission and Values is essential for all staff.

Youmay be required to carry out other reasonable duties and responsibilities from time to time in agreement with your line manager

Child Protection

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children and young people and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children, seeing these interests as paramount. This post involves responsibility for people who will have contact with children or young people and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to child protection issues. The post holder is required to obtain a Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Person Specification

Emergency Response Officer
ERO
Person Specification Template / 2- Important / 3- Very Important / 4- Highest Priorities

Organisational Competencies

Behaviours at the heart of our organisation’s success / a- Understands and actively supports CAFOD’s Vision, Mission and Values / X
b- Looks outward; Takes account of other people’s priorities / X
c- Shows an understanding of the Catholic Church and is able to work effectively with it / X
d- Supports a culture of mutual respect, trust & transparency, where partnerships flourish / X
e- Willing and able to contribute to the long development of CAFOD / X

Professional Competencies

Behaviours which are important in all organisations / Self Management / f- Manages time and resources efficiently / X
g- Manages own personal growth and development continually / X
h- Manages emotions and stresses positively / X
Thinking and Understanding / i- Analyses and diagnoses problems with depth and insight / X
j- Displays sound judgement and decision making / X
k- Provides creativity and innovation; take risks within context of overall strategy / X
Working
with others / l- Helps others to achieve goals / X
m- Resolves conflict successfully / X
n- Builds rapport and communicates effectively / X
Achieving / o- Shows drive and initiative / X
p- Willingly takes ownership; is openly accountable / X
q- Adapts easily to change / X

Team Management Competencies

Behaviours important to those managing a team / r- Delegation: Hands over tasks to others efficiently and effectively / X
s- Team Development: Constantly builds the capacity and potential of the team / X
t- Leadership: Inspires the team to perform to the best of their ability / X
u- Stewardship: Manages resources prudently / X
2- Important / 3- Very Important / 4- Highest Priorities

Job Specific Competencies

Specialist, technical and functional expertise / Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification and experience. / X
Significant experience of development, complex emergencies and humanitarian programming / X
Proven experience of delivering operational emergency programmes and working in support of community based organisations. / X
Experience in the use of assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools to improve existing programmes and develop new ones. / X
Able to work comfortably with partners (secular, church and other faith based), working in development and humanitarian response work, especially networks or federated structures. / X
Able to work with and build the capacity of local partner organisations/ national NGO’s. / X
Experience of working and liaising with international bodies and consortium (Caritas, DFID, EU, UN and UK NGOs). / X
Knowledge and understanding of financial management tools necessary for the implementation of humanitarian programmes (financial controls: budgets, etc). / X
Understanding of institutional donors, notably ECHO and UN agencies / X
Able and willing to travel extensively, sometimes at very short notice and to potentially insecure environments. / X
Have a sound understanding or humanitarian policy, best practice and international humanitarian policy debates - such as UN reform. Experience and skills to engage with policy and work with programme staff, HPA and PPU in developing policy and advocacy. / X
Relevant technical or vocational qualifications in a specialist area such as livelihoods, food security, engineering, or public health. / X
Understanding of gender, HIV/AIDS and diversity issues in humanitarian work. / X
Experience of working with and a commitment to humanitarian standards e.g. Humanitarian Charter, SPHERE, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct and IHL instruments. / X
Understanding of approaches to ensure accountability in humanitarian work towards intended beneficiary communities and commitment to HAP-I. / X
Makes effective use of ICT for communications and management information, particularly for distance communication. / X
Fluency in written and spoken English. / X
Fluency in written and spoken French / X

Terms and Conditions

Contract / A 2 year contract, including a 6 month probationary period.
Salary / Grade 7: $23,843.3 (gross salary)[1] per annum with 5 annual increments of $476.87, up to $26,227.64 (equivalent $1,834.10 per month gross salary)
Notice period / Local law (see detail on the signed contract)
Holidays / 19 days per year plus 6 days at Christmas and Easter decided upon by CAFOD – 9 days public holiday, so be it 34 days
Pensions / There is an optional contributory pension scheme (10% employer and 5% employee contribution). Alternatively, CAFOD will make a similar contribution to a Personal Pension Plan
Other benefits / Medical insurance will be provided for the staff member and spouse plus children 100%.13th month bonus paid
Location / The CAFOD Office in Kinshasa is situated in Av.Katako kombe no 7, Macampagne, Commune Ngaliema.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to child protection.

Additional information

CAFOD

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. In more than 40 countries across the world, we bring hope, compassion and solidarity to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice.

Our vision is a world transformed to reflect the Kingdom of God: a world where

  • the rights and dignity of every person are respected
  • all have access to basic needs in life
  • women and men share equally in shaping their societies and our world
  • the gifts of creation are nurtured and shared by all for the common good and
  • the structures that shape people’s lives are just and enable peace.

International Division

This post works with the International Division, whose purpose is, in collaboration with our partners, to have a lasting impact on poverty and injustice through development programmes, advocacy, and humanitarian response. The International programme will promote learning, strengthen and empower communities and people in need regardless of their race, gender, religion or politics, and build links between CAFOD supporters and partners overseas.

Team

The Kinshasa office, covering our programme work in DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, forms part of the West Africa & Great Lakes Team (WAGL). The WAGL team also work in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, & Liberia, and Niger with offices in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and a presence in Niamey.

The team in the region consists of;

- A Regional Representative (based in Kinshasa),

- The Team in Kinshasa including; a DRC Programme Manager, a PDFO, an ABG Programme Officer , a Programme administrator and an Administration officer, a Conflict transformation Coordinator, an Office Manager (all based in Kinshasa);

A DRC Programme Manager, an Emergency Response Officer, a livelihoods/Eraly Recovery Programme Officer, an advocacy Programme officer (All based in Goma).

- The team in Kigali including; a Psychosocial Programme officer and a programme administrative Assistant.

Programme

CAFOD’s work in the Great Lakes region focuses on longer term social development programmes in the area of psycho-social trauma, and livelihoods (agro-pastoral activities, youth). In addition to longer term programmes, CAFOD also funds specific programmes in the area of conflict (peace and reconciliation, Sexual and Gender Based Violence including the Governance and Transparency programme), and emergency (caused by conflicts, wars, natural disaster). In order to support CAFOD’s corporate Campaigning work, our advocacy work is a particular focus in the region.

Additional Information

International Division purpose: In collaboration with our partners, to have a lasting impact on poverty and injustice through development programmes, advocacy, and humanitarian response. The division will promote learning, strengthen and empower communities and people in need regardless of their race, gender, religion or politics, and build links between CAFOD supporters and partners overseas.

Africa Department

The Africa Department under the leadership of the Head of International Programmes/Africa is divided into teams managed by Regional Directors. There is currently 82 staff in the Department, 8 based in the UK and the remaining working in our international offices in Africa – Nairobi, Harare, Addis Ababa, Kinshasa, Khartoum, Jos, Freetown and Maputo. Nairobi and Harare offices form regional hubs for East Africa and the Horn, and for Southern Africa. In addition, there are a few programme accompaniers based in other countries.

The International Division’s Strategic Framework 2010-2015 sets out the key areas of focus for the Africa Department over the next five years and seeks to promote programmatic approaches build staff and partners understanding, capabilities and skills in core sectors:

  • Livelihoods: promoting economic and social well-being through sustainable development and community building, ecological sustainability and justice
  • Conflict: peace building, reconciliation, reconstruction, and integrating relief and development in post-conflict situations;
  • Economic Advocacy: economic justice, pro-poor policies, PRSPs, trade, access to markets, good governance and rights;
  • HIV/AIDS: mainstreamed, comprehensive approach at programme level, capacity strengthening and explicit learning;
  • Gender: promoting better understanding of the implications of gender in development processes; supporting the full participation of women and women’s empowerment across programme work;
  • Disaster preparedness and response: strengthening our capacity and that of partners to ensure preparedness and timely and effective response in times of crisis; and,
  • Capacity building: working with partners to strengthen the organisational and implementation capacities to become more effective development and relief agencies

CAFOD is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to child protection

Application forms to be returned by email to:

with copy to

Closing date for applications: 08 April 2011 (from 17 March2011)

Assessment test and Interviews: 15-16 April 2011

1/10date

[1] Including the 13th month bonus