Regional Project Coordinator (for Thai Nationals only) At CARE USA

Note: The duration of the proposed contract will be 1.5 years.

I. Job Summary:

CARE is one of the world’s leading international humanitarian and development organizations, committed to helping people in poor communities improve their lives and alleviate poverty. Founded in 1945, CARE is working across 95 countries to fight global poverty and marginalization. CARE has been active in Bangladesh since 1949 being one of the largest country offices of CARE. CARE works to help people achieve social and economic well-being, while being among the best in their fields. In CARE, we put women and girls at the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE Bangladesh is currently shifting towards a program approach, where it has developed longer-term impact visions to have more sustainable changes in the lives of the extreme poor and marginalized.

In Southeast and South Asia, there has been a shift to anticipatory actions for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Humanitarian and disaster risk management practitioners are becoming increasingly interested in the potential for ‘Forecast-based early action’ (FbEA) to reduce the impact of shocks on vulnerable people and their livelihoods, improve the effectiveness of emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts, and reduce the humanitarian burden. FbEA entails the use of forecasts of extreme weather events and other shocks to trigger funding and/or action in advance, or before acute impacts are felt. Southeast Asia is one of the most at-risk sub-regions globally regarding natural and climate-related hazards. FbEA provides an opportunity for strengthening forecasting and early warning systems in Vietnam and the wider Southeast Asia region so that these are better linked to decision-making.

A consortium led by CARE, Plan International and World Vision International) has been established. The consortium will launch ECHO HIP 2020 funded project ‘Enhancing inclusive and gender-responsive forecast-based early action for effective disaster preparedness in Vietnam and at regional level’ (AKA FBEA SEA), to strengthen the case for early action by implementing FbEA system in three flood-prone districts of Northern Vietnam**.** CARE Netherlands, the CARE Member Partner (CMP) holding the donor contract will oversee the project and liaise directly with the donor.

The consortium will work by strengthening awareness, capacity and resilience of local communities and actors, and supporting them to operationalise existing frameworks and guidelines into contextualised SOPs and anticipatory action for flooding and drought in Binh Thuan and Quang Tri provinces in Vietnam. The action will work based on two results, focusing respectively on building and strengthening the capacity of local authorities and communities within FBEA mechanism and advocating for and ensure action is taken to adapt and coordinate efforts within FBEA and rapid response. Seeking to build on and complement the achievements of previous, existing and future FBEA projects in the region, seeking particular complementarity with FAO, the Action will capitalise on the combined strengths and experiences of consortium partners to prioritise efforts at the community level, working directly with CSOs and local authorities to increase understandings of FbEA, operationalize protocols, and innovative use of seed funding.

Reporting to the DRD-PQ, the Regional Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the project at regional level, and ensuring integrated holistic approach in project implementation with consortium partners to achieve the objectives. S/he will be specifically responsible to facilitate integrated programming in joint areas of operation with a focus on: cross-learning, downward accountability, monitoring integration aspects, advocacy at micro-meso and macro level and producing consolidated reporting. The Consortium Manager provides analysis and information to all Project Managers for overall strategic direction. S/he will oversee regional budget management, performance management, M&E, partnership management, and relationships with external actors including government authorities , donor and humanitarian actors. S/he will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all consortium partners, CARE DE and Resilience Advisor (CARE UK) for successful implementation of programme.

II. Responsibilities and Tasks:

Responsibility # 1: Program Management (Plan, implement, and report)

% of Time: 40%

• Coordinate strategic directions for the programme to ensure synchronized programme implementation between the partners
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with other consortium members and technical staff. Maintaining regular communication with the members, including negotiating scope of works, addressing requisite revisions in programme work, and addressing issues that may arise
• Convene regional steering committee (RSC) and facilitate an integrated participatory approach in project management, supervision, coordination, planning, and implementation among consortium members and partners across the various locations of operation with a focus on cross-learning, accountability and monitoring integration aspects
• Ensure delivery of regional activities according to the workplan and in harmony with country-level implementation.
• In conjunction with CARE Vietnam Project Manager, support all project management, administration, procurement, financial and human resource management according to CARE and donor rules and regulations
• Coordinate and liaise with the consortium members to align their individual plans to the overall programme plans, to enable a cross organizational culture of effective learning and sharing
• Contribute to a methodology on the development of innovative funding mechanisms to allow anticipatory humanitarian action according to (seasonal) extreme weather forecasts
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst the consortium and manage mutual arbitration and conflict resolution
• Compile and develop regional program narrative and financial progress reports in coordination with the regional project stakeholders
• Responsible for gender responsiveness in all actions and decisions within consortium (i.e. Use of CARE Gender Marker, CARE Gender in Emergencies approaches, etc.).

Responsibility # 2: Compliance of different rules and regulations

% of Time: 10%

• Provide ongoing guidance to consortium to fulfill the project’s strategic goals and objectives; ensure compliance with ECHO rules and regulations both for CARE as the lead as well as consortium members and implementing partners
• Oversee that program activities are conducted in a timely and professional manner in line with the program work plan, donor compliance, and all other relevant guidelines
• Fully comply with safety and security procedures of CARE and should be accountable for it
• Responsible for ensuring visibility across all project areas as per donor’s policies.

Responsibility # 3: Project accountability, quality and learning

% of Time: 35%

• Ensuring adherence to agreed programme quality standards, M&E guidelines, frameworks for the programme and providing technical support to embed M&E and accountability in consortium implementation.
• Provide support to M&E Coordinator to ensure an accountability mechanism is in place (especially feedback and complaints mechanism), project is reviewed and project learnings are documented and lessons incorporated to improve project management
• Document lessons learned for use by other FbEA programs outside of the region, in order to develop case studies and other knowledge and advocacy products in liaison with Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator
• Organize periodic meetings in order to discuss program progress; field staff can share successes and seek to resolve challenges; follow up on the execution of agreed action points as per the work plan, log frame and contract with ECHO and between CARE and consortium partners
• Ensure joint field missions to support and assess the delivery of the integrated aspects of programming
• Coordinate and share progress with Resilience Advisor from CARE UK to utilize their technical expertise on resilience, DRR, forecasting and early action and warning system. The RPC will work with Resilience Advisor to identify opportunities for international sharing and engagement and collaborating to produce knowledge materials for evidence building.

Responsibility # 4: Government Liaison/External Relations/ Coordination and influence and advocacy

% of Time: 15%

• Maintain strong connections with ECHO, FAO regional FbEA project stakeholders in Bangkok to maximize synergy and complementarity, particularly in delivery of project research, contributions to e-learning modules, and project participation in key regional fora.
• Strengthen the consortium in their capacities and advocacy role in the field of climate change and FbEA
• Along with other CARE regional colleagues, externally represent consortium at meetings, events, conferences, and other fora, to key stakeholders, providing them with information about project objectives, risks, constraints and progress
• Facilitate and provide the opportunities for counterpart staff and agencies to be aware of and learn from the implementation of all aspects of the project
• Develop, maintain and strengthen relations with other agencies working in the same geographic or technical area
• Undertake all areas of responsibility in a professional manner and in a way that enhances the reputation of the project and the reputation of CARE International
• Develop an advocacy strategy and framework in consultation with consortium members to influence stakeholder buy-in and support for FbEA
• Develop implementation strategy for knowledge and learning component including several study of the project and ensure outcome of those knowledge products to influence and advocacy objectives of this project

III. Reporting:

The Consortium Manager reports directly to the Deputy Regional Director – Program Quality, and will maintain close collaboration with the country team, and representatives from the Consortium partners.

IV. Working Condition:

The Consortium Manager is based at CARE Asia Regional Management Unit, Bangko

V. Qualification:

• Post-graduate degree in Disaster Management, Political Science, Development or a related field
• Minimum 7 years professional experience in disaster risk management, consortia management or project management
• Excellent knowledge about Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
• Experience with donor accountability, managing diverse teams and coordinating partner organizations
• Good understanding of key natural disaster risk reduction issues
• Familiarity with the Early Warning Early Action agenda is highly desirable
• Experience in implementing and managing donor funded Consortium projects (ECHO experience will be a strong asset)
• Skills in networking, negotiation and persuasion and advocacy for mainstreaming new concepts and approaches like FbEA
• Experience of using gender and women empowerment as cross cutting approach in development, DRR and resilience projects
• Experience in developing strong stakeholder relations with government, administration and civil society actors
• Experience in managing external consultants
• Strong communication, report writing and presentation skill in English
• Ability to work tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks
• Excellent computer skills (spreadsheets, word, databases and other programmes)
• Flexible and willing to travel during the execution of his/her assignment

VI. Core Competencies:

• Integrity
• Strategic Orientation
• Leadership
• Collaboration and influencing
• Results oriented
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Relationship building
• Flexibility

VII. Authority:

The Consortium Manager is authorized to

• Manage the project budget for regional activities
• Communicate directly with Humanitarian and Resilience Team, consortium members and field project staff to coordinate the implementation of the project according to the log frame, workplan and ECHO guidelines
• Communicate with external focal persons relevant to project on a regular basis to produce best results