Senior Officer - Epr

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC Bangladesh’s strategic vision is to protect, empower and meet the needs of the most vulnerable women, children and youth through technical expertise and partnerships in the areas of integrated protection, health, education and economic wellbeing before, during, and after displacement caused by conflict and climate-induced disaster. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host communities in Cox Bazar and Southern parts of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Role

Under the supervision of Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, the Sr. Officer-EPR is responsible to support in effective implementation of emergency preparedness and response interventions across the IRC’s operational areas in Cox’s Bazar and Southern Bangladesh.

Highlights of Major responsibilities

• Assist in the development and implementation of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan to context-specific hazard and climate risks to ensure the organizational strategy and compliance;
• Conduct needs assessment for development of emergency response and disaster preparedness planning;
• Support in implementing special needs plans and programs to ensure readiness of emergency response;
• Support in organizing emergency/disaster preparedness training and simulation drills and awareness sessions for the Mobile Medical Teams, Protection Emergency Response Unit, field staff, incentive workers, and partner’s frontline staff on how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters
• Monitor context-specific hazards and disseminate early warning information
• Assist in preparing Training modules on emergency preparedness and response and DRR mainstreaming.
• Assist in the preparation of the communication and awareness material regarding community mobilization on Disaster Risk Reduction along with the Communication team and other sectors.
• Quarterly update the list of emergency response team and emergency response equipment as per sectoral response plan
• Work closely with the Supply chain and warehouse team to ensure proper arrangement of emergency medical supplies, ambulance services, critical needs, and logistics.
• Assess  the facilities and emergency response equipment, such as , MMT equipment and medical supplies, in order to determine their operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations;
• Assist in timely update of all resource materials associated with humanitarian response plans, facility level response plans in coordination with sectors;
• Work closely with the Program, Safety, Security, and Access and Field Operation team to respond to future shocks and to integrate preparedness, risk reduction, and early action into all phases of the program and operation;
• Conduct facility risk assessment and implement the facility risk assessment  action points of all IRC and partner led facilities at regular intervals Maintain work plan, spending plan, MEAL, and procurement plan of emergency preparedness and response project
• Provide technical support to the partner’s field-level implementation team.
• Other duties as assigned by the Manager-Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Coordination and Representation

• Attend field-level coordination meetings related to emergency management in order to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management experts;
• Maintain close coordination with local level stakeholders including partner, camp level sector focal, site management, CiCs, local governments, disaster management committee and other institutions in order to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency;
• Support in liaison with relevant stakeholders in pursuing approval and legal documents for project needs
• Support operational functions in their roles in effectively crafting and delivering preparedness and response, particularly on prepositioning and timely procurement;
• Represent IRC at relevant local to national level platforms;

Reporting & Documentation

• As required, compile or develop assessment and project reports and case studies;
• Compile and disseminate data, reports, briefings, etc. (IRC’s or other agencies’) relevant to IRC preparedness and response activities in a timely manner;
• Contribute to the design and development of program briefing materials;
• Assist in generating SITREP;

Major Challenges/Difficulties of this role:

• Coordination with internal and external sectors/partners requiring persistence and patience
• Quickly changing role and work environment

Deliverables:

• Quarterly Update the list of Surge Mobile Medical Team, needs assessment team, and PERU team
• Ensure arrangement of emergency medical supplies, logistics, and ambulance services for emergency response
• Ensure emergency preparedness at facility level
• Ensure all fire safety equipment is in working order every month
• Ensure all IRC facilities are in good working condition according to context
• Updated Humanitarian Response Plan/ Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) including contingency plan (CP) – Cox Bazar and strategic priority areas of Bangladesh;
• Implementation of Disaster Risk reduction intervention throughout the program Cycle management across all IRC sectors in Bangladesh; 
• Compilation of field level loss and damage report for SITREP
• IRC is adequately visible and actively contributes in relevant coordination platforms at national and sub-national levels;  
• Stronger presence of IRC, preferably through partners in areas at risk and with crisis-affected communities to ensure timely humanitarian response;   
• IRC’s Rapid response to future emergencies in Bangladesh.