Project Officer - DRR

Founded in 1994, Acted is a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Paris, France. Independent, private and not-for-profit, Acted respects principles of strict neutrality and impartiality in its decisions and operates according to non-discrimination and transparency principles. Acted endeavors to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential. With a budget of 236 million EUR in 2017, Acted is active in almost 37 countries and implements more than 500 projects a year reaching over 14 million beneficiaries with 300 internal staff and 4,300 national staff worldwide

In Pakistan, Acted has been active since 1993 and has provided assistance across all provinces to an estimated 6.9 million people. The assistance has included emergency response to meet the immediate and life-saving needs of natural disasters and complex emergency-affected households, as well as recovery and development support in the form of education and livelihoods promotion and assistance.

JOB PURPOSE

The Project Officer - DRR, under the operational guidance of the Project Manager/Deputy Project Manager/Senior Project Officer and technical guidance of the Head of Programs and Projects Coordinator, is responsible for ensuring proper implementation of ACTED’s project in Sanghar & Jacobabad District. The Project Officer - DRR oversees field operations and ensures effective and timely completion of DRR activities, delivery of quality outputs and achievement of outcomes with maximum impact for beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE

To ensure the project is implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to objectives, goals and indicators, in line with donor requirements and based on beneficiary needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Project Manager and technical guidance from the DRR & DRR Advisor, the Project Officer - DRR is required to perform the below-mentioned responsibilities for the anticipated 3-Year BHA-funded intervention in Sindh. The project is anticipated to start from 1st May 2024.

• Provide support to field teams to develop capacities related to their roles and responsibilities in the climate-adaptive DRR.

• Organize and attend regular meetings with government counterparts, contractors, and other local actors to analyze and evaluate climate-resilient designs, processes, facilities, and outcomes to ensure the achievement of objectives and attainment of sustainability and/or take corrective action when vital to meet project objectives.
• With the Civil Engineer, assist in preparing all technical designs, estimation, and construction management for the climate-responsive DRR facilities.
• Improve program efficiency and effectiveness through an evidence-based approach and implementation follow-up.
• Contribute to training and orientation materials development. Document results and lessons learned from DRR program implementation to promote knowledge sharing with counterparts.
• Conduct village-based training sessions on the importance of DRR resilient DRR interventions.
• Lead in the development and implementation of processes, methodologies, and tools to ensure quality implementation of climate-responsive DRR and DRR interventions.
• Establish modalities to ensure the sustainability of facilities and lead the delivery of DRR services to QC standards and/or the national DRR standards, depending on the context.
• Provide guidance and support to communities and field staff on all water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion-related issues, to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and impact soundness in their implementation.
• Ensure that the DRR Monitoring System data collection and reporting is carried out systematically, properly, and timely with quality information.
• Report regularly on Climate responsive DRR activity implementation, while maintaining accurate records of all relevant DRR performance indicators.
• Contribute detailed implementation plans and project documents.
• Take full responsibility in the implementation of DRR component DRR and NRM Construction.
• Make sure to develop a village (VDRMP/ village disaster risk management plan) in all targeted villages.
• Community-level mock exercises on early warning systems, safe evacuation, First aid, and search and rescue training.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated skills in carrying out technical designing and evaluation of DRR projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in an independent capacity and as a member of a team.
• Strong report writing skills.
• Ability to travel for work assignments in targeted union councils.

Skills:

• Pro-active, well organized with sound planning, organizational, prioritization and problem-solving skills as well as effective verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrate attention to detail while keeping a strategic view, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work both independently and cooperatively with team members and local government stakeholders, and will be prepared to spend extensive time with field teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and fluent in English, Urdu and other local languages.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Of milestones completed on time as per the original plan 
• Project completed on time without the need for an NCE
• Project completed within budget flexibility (not requiring a budget amendment for project lines)
• Of contractual performance indicators achieved 
• Project records and documents (beneficiary lists, donation certificates, attendance sheets, payment sheets) available for all project activities
• Positive monitoring and evaluation reports (internal and external)
• Number of complaints received related to the project 
• Ineligible expenses on project budget lines
• The retention rate of project staff throughout project's lifetime. 

PSEAH Obligation:

Acted has zero tolerance approach on PSEAH matters and as an Acted employee It is my utmost duty to ensure full compliance of PSEAH policies in Acted and outside Acted as well. I will not engage in any PSEAH violations and will ensure team working under my supervision will also follow the same protocols. I shall not be involved in any sexual exploitation or abuse. I shall ensure to comply with the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. Any incident of SEA shall be reported to Acted. Any failure by myside to take preventive measures against sexual exploitation or abuse, or to investigate allegations or take corrective action, shall constitute grounds for termination of the Agreement. For the purposes hereof, the following definitions shall be used.

Sexual exploitation means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Note: “ACTED is committed to protecting beneficiaries and staff within our programs from sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). ACTED has a Code of Conduct and organizational policies, which outline the expected behavior of all staff, consultants and other stakeholders and reminds ACTED’s zero-tolerance approach. Any candidate offered a job with ACTED will sign those documents as part of their work contract and is expected to abide by them.” “ACTED is commitment to zero tolerance to all forms of violence against children, beneficiaries and staff. ACTED is equal opportunity employers. Females and minorities are encouraged to apply. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Final selection will be based on security clearance of the candidate.”