CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Scope of Work (SOW)

Context:

On behalf of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (www.crs.org), Caritas Bangladesh is seeking qualified professionals for the consideration of a full-time consultant for the SAPLING Program Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Technical Advisor (TA).

CRS is a US-based relief and development agency working in nearly 100 countries/territories to alleviate poverty and suffering. In Bangladesh, CRS supports vulnerable people through partner organization, Caritas Bangladesh.  Key program sectors include agriculture, livelihoods, food security, emergency response, disaster management, and disaster risk reduction. CRS seeks to contract a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Technical Advisor (TA) to help provide DRR support and local capacity building for the Helen Keller International (HKI)-led United States AID-funded, Development Food Security Assistance (DFSA) program, Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience and Gender Equity (SAPLING) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

Terms of Reference Summary:

The overall purpose of this position is to provide DRR Technical Leadership and guidance to partners for high quality program development and implementation of DRR activities aligned with the SAPLING Program strategy.  The DRR TA will be responsible for supporting staff and coordinating DRR efforts with program managers. The DRR TA will keep abreast of agency and industry best practices in DRR to ensure the use of technically and operationally appropriate DRR methods and tools in SAPLING-supported activities. This position needs to coordinate and ensure that all SAPLING-supported activities meet DRR requirements, and comply with CRS’ Project Management Standards (PMS), Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Planning and Procedures (MPP), as well as donor requirements.

Primary Responsibilities:

Program Management:

• Provide overall program management and technical supports to ensure high program quality in all Purpose-3 interventions. Purpose 3 focuses on strengthening systems at different levels (household, community and government) to mitigate, adapt to and recover from human-induced and natural shocks and stresses. Ensures high quality technical supports to the partners for quality implementation of P3 interventions aligned with the finalized DRR strategy.
• Accompany partners in the joint-planning, reviewing and completion of project commitments, and the timely and quality implementation of DRR committed activities.
• Support partners in developing a sustainability plan for the P3 interventions.
• Support partners in implementing Risk reduction plan and Cash for work activities.
• Lead in planning and organizing all Donor visits and having an oversight on Technical Integrity.

Financial Management:

• Support partners to develop project budgets aligned with the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).  
• Provide guidance for effective budget management and accountability, by supporting and overseeing periodic budget reviews.
• Support partners to prepare detailed budget notes especially for P3-related interventions.
• Support partners to provide quarterly and annual cash forecast aligned with DIP.  
• Seek financial managementadvice and facilitate support from the respective CRS Country Team, Caritas and HKI as appropriate to ensure timely program implementation.

Partnership:

• Develops a strong understanding and knowledge on CRS’ partnership principles and behaviors within the DRR team. Maintain positive and strengthen partnership with diverse partners, implementing SAPLING in CHT.
• Support the Disaster Risk Reduction Manager-led coordination efforts with HKI, Caritas, Bandarban-based local Implementing Partners (IPs), technical partner Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and other stakeholders at the district level.
• Work with technical partner BDRCS and direct implementation partners to support the Caritas and HKI Program Manager- for joint annual planning, develop detail implementation  plan and ensuring program quality .
• Support Caritas and IPs to mobilize support from relevant Government of Bangladesh (GoB) departments at district level.
• Support local partners in preparing itineraries and implementation sites for donor and other external stakeholder visits.

Monitoring & Learning

• Establish DRR targets for the USAID-required Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) and internal targets to ensure quality and achievement of objectives of DRR interventions.
• Monitor and track data to guide program implementation, improve management of interventions, and provide periodic updates and analysis on data trends for DM team including the senior management, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Manager and DRR officers based at district and Upazila level for their refection and decision making.
• Lead periodic reflection events incorporating IPTT and field-related data (e.g. process monitoring forms, trip reports, etc.) related to Purpose-3 activities.  Ensures that agency standards are maintained.
• Participate in field-level project review meetings to support and validate the data and suggest improvements.
• Propose any relevant changes to the SAPLING Program Theory of Change (ToC) and Logframe, and apply them accordingly in consultation with the DM-TA and district team.
• Ensure that any changes in the IPTT are also made in the Project Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS).
• Support the MEAL TA in the identification and documentation of lessons learned, good practices and results from the SAPLING-supported DRR activities.
• Support the design and timely implementation of the program mid-term and final evaluations.

Reporting:

• Draft quarterly and annual DRR reports using standard templates.
• Prepare periodic DRR-specific reports with HKI upon completing CRS internal review and responding to relevant questions and concerns regarding reporting trends and analysis and recommendations.
• Prepare brief monthly reports on program activities for internal uses and other timely reports as needed by GoB and donor.
• Share DRR-related reports with the GoB and other external agencies in consultation with HKI.
• Prepare

Advocacy and Technical Support:

• Coordinate with district level agencies (I/NGO, UN, GoB agencies and agencies implementing similar projects) and link them with IPs and Caritas for technical support.
• Provide mentoring and accompaniment to Implementing Partner (IP) staff to strengthen DRR capacity.
• Coordinate with project management staff to optimize partner capacity and development in the implementation of DRR activities.
• Develop and co-facilitate DRR workshops and training for staff and partners as needs are identified by the DM Manager.

 Emergency:

• Provide and orient SAPLING partners to the updated Situation Reporting (SitRep) format prior to the onset of disaster seasons.
• Provide necessary support to partners to collect and compile data.
• Support partners in facilitating assessments and developing the initial report.
• Draft the SitRep and share it with the SAPLING teams (Dhaka and Regional level), for their review and feedback.
• Represent SAPLING in the emergency cluster meetings organized at the regional level.
• Coordinate with CRS national team for further action.

Emergency Response:

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Manager, CRS Disaster Management TA, CRS Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) TA, Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC) TA, WASH TA, Director PM & QA

External:  Chief Of Party, Program Management Advisor, Caritas DRR & WASH Manager, HKI DM PM, and local partner DRR staff, community members, government, consultants, NGOs, donors.

Background, Experience and Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in DRR and Emergency Management/ Development or Social Studies / or related field & experience
• 5 years proven experience in managing development projects related to emergency response, DRR/ climate change adaptation (CCA), integration of DRR/CAA in rural development, livelihood, and/or related domains, preferably with an INGO
• Technical knowledge on designing and managing DRR initiatives, community based disaster risk reduction management (CBDRM), participatory capacity vulnerability analysis and CCA projects
• Technical knowledge and practical experience in emergency response programs, including Sphere and other humanitarian standards
• Practical experience in developing and facilitating DRR/CCA related trainings
• Experienced in leading participatory approaches, learning processes, to promote innovation
• Excellent written and oral English and local language skills demonstrated in writing proposals and reports
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Experience with capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for growth, development and delegation of appropriate authority and responsibility
• Excellent planning and organization skills and experience with information management systems
• Supervisory experience and management and team building skills, especially in a multicultural setting

Personal Skills and Requirements

• Ability to provide opportunities for continuous learning, motivate individual/team/department performance
• Proactive and self-motivated approach to work, with an enthusiasm for learning and openness to adapting
• Willingness to spend 40% of time traveling in the field

Agency-level Competencies: These are rooted in the mission, values and principles of CRS

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

The is a fulltime consultancy and would be renewed each year subject to satisfactory performance of the incumbents and continuity of the Project.

Interested candidates should apply by 13 January, 2019 with a detailed C.V. stating current professional fees/ salary drawn and expected fees and giving details of three references BD_HR@crs.org

The subject line should clearly specify (then name of the position)- “Application for DRR-TA”

Only short listed candidates will be notified and called for interviews.

CRS is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, caste, religion, race, HIV Status etc. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.