Focal Person, Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) (3 positions)

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) is the leading National Humanitarian Organization in Uganda and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC). Uganda Red Cross implements lifesaving services across the country and would wish to invite applicants that meet job requirements for vacant positions in our organisation.

Applications from suitable persons to be considered for appointment in the outlined positions are hereby invited. All applicants should adhere to the Red Cross Principles. URCS is an equal opportunities employer and mindful of gender balance in its establishment.

The full job description and application form can be viewed and downloaded from here

Please send your filled application form and attach your academic transcripts and certificates. The filled application forms, academic transcripts and certificates should be e-mailed to; vacancies@redcrossug.org or hand delivered, and or by post to:

The Secretary General,

Uganda Red Cross Society,

Plot 551/555 Rubaga Road,

P.O. Box 494, Kampala, Uganda.

Email: vacancies@redcrossug.org

Closing date for receipt of the applications is 15th August 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

Due to large volumes of applications; only short listed candidates shall be contacted. Canvassing shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Please specify your preferred location

N.B: URCS Service volunteers are encouraged to apply

Job Purpose:

The Focal Person, Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR) will support the Branch Manager to handle day-to-day operations on the DG ECHO-funded Pilot Programmatic Partnership (PPP) action by Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) in conjunction with partners including The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) with the aim of ensuring Communities and individuals at risk, and local actors, are taking action through innovative and integrated strategies, to anticipate, prepare for, withstand, respond to and recover from humanitarian and health crises. The EPR FP will monitor early warnings for floods, drought, wild fires, disease outbreaks, refugee influx, and other hazards threatening the districts. The EPR Focal Person will support emergency response actions by assisting with recruitment, training and deployment of Red Cross Action Teams (RCATs) and other emergency response volunteers, as well as participating in District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and consortium partner agency coordination mechanisms, supporting consortium project implementation and compiling reports.

Key responsibilities:

1. Support URCS Branch Manager in the emergency coordination, post-disaster evaluation and response mechanisms and activities;
2. In collaboration with District DDMCs, conduct emergency needs assessments, and evaluation of relief requirements in communities affected by natural or manmade calamities, including participation in Inter-Agency assessment activities;
3. Provide ongoing operational support to the Disaster Preparedness & Response activities of the URCS, Netherlands Red Cross and other partners in the areas of operation, including development of district disaster contingency plans, planning and running simulation exercises, profiling and disseminating floods early warning systems, facilitating emergency response actions through distribution of core relief items, Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) etc;
4. Collect, synthesize, analyze and disseminate emergency information and the collaborative humanitarian response efforts of URCS and consortium partners;
5. Collaborate with District Local Governments officers, consortium partners and other emergency responders in the areas of operation to develop contingency plans, adopt and implement emergency operations guidelines and activities;
6. Analyze requests for emergency assistance from DDMCs, align with trigger thresholds of respective contingency plans, formulate emergency actions and advise of activation of crisis modifier support to contribute towards the contingency actions;
7. Lead on the implementation of emergency activities (i.e. formulation of relief distribution plans, recruitment of local volunteers, beneficiary registration, and liaison with implementing partners, preparation of activity reports, mid-term and final reporting, among others);
8. Monitor and profile hazards developments in disaster-prone areas within the operational districts;
9. Support DDMCs’ response preparedness efforts through regular disaster monitoring and issuing notifications/monitoring updates based on available scientific and traditional early warning systems;
10. Deploy as necessary to provide direct support to emergency response teams;
11. Provide capacity building to URCS volunteers and to stakeholders on emergency needs assessment, community contingency planning, relief management, post-distribution monitoring, emergency coordination and recovery actions;
12. Liaise with consortium partners’ technical officers in the district and Sub-regional offices and HQ to ensure technical quality in the project activities and emergency response actions;
13. Contribute to the promotion of a positive corporate image and overall credibility of the URCS; notably through the strict application of and adherence to the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross movement, and humanitarian Code of Conduct;
14. Assist in mobilization of resources for response through liaison with local donors’ representations and corporate bodies as required;
15. Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed above are representative of the nature and levels of work assigned and are not necessarily all- inclusive.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Minimum qualifications, working experience and competencies:

Download application template from here