Program Specialist - Disaster Risk Reduction / Protection at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Context

• Nigeria faces critical humanitarian challenges in the Northeast and Northwest regions, including severe food insecurity driven by conflict, displacement, and climate issues.
• Healthcare access is minimal with inadequate facilities, supply shortages, and insufficient mental health support for those affected by violence.
• Gender-based violence, child abductions, and other protection concerns demand urgent intervention. Limited access to clean water and sanitation exacerbates disease risks while overcrowded shelters in displacement camps remain inadequate. Education is severely disrupted, with many schools destroyed and limited learning opportunities, especially for girls. Both regions also grapple with high unemployment and restricted livelihood options, requiring urgent efforts to foster recovery and long-term economic stability.

Job Summary

• COOPI is seeking a highly skilled Program Specialist in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and protection to enhance its multisectoral integrated programming in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL).
• This role involves providing technical support, ensuring adherence to COOPI’s quality management standards, and leading the development of programs within our coordination team. The Specialist will also be responsible for context evaluation and assessment to ensure programs are relevant and effective.

Key Responsibilities
Technical Support:

• Provide technical guidance on Protection and DRR strategies and implementation, ensuring alignment with organizational standards, international policies, and best practices.
• Support the integration of Protection and DRR considerations into WASH and FSL programming through collaboration with sector teams.
• Offer technical assistance to field staff and partners in implementing Protection and DRR interventions.
• Identify funding opportunities and provide technical support for proposal development and fundraising for Protection and DRR initiatives.
• Facilitate decision-making on project implementation, particularly related to planning, budgeting, and operational issues.
• Contribute to strategic planning, achievement of targets, and modification of objectives as needed.
• Conduct field visits to project sites to provide hands-on support and quality assurance.
• Ensure that Protection and DRR strategies and interventions align with national and international standards and guidelines.
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), best practices, guidelines and checklists to enhance program quality and consistency.
• Support the reporting process for specific projects by contributing technical input and ensuring timely, accurate, and comprehensive updates

Program Development:

• Assist the Program Coordinator (ProgCo) with planning and development of (emergency) appeals processes related to Protection and DRR expertise.
• Provide extensive input and technical support in the design of proposals, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and organizational priorities.
• Contribute to the development of innovative and context-specific program strategies that integrate Protection and DRR principles.

Coordination and Partnership:

• Collaborate with the coordination team to ensure effective program implementation and integration across different sectors.
• Represent the organization in relevant technical forums/clusters and working groups on protection, DRR, WASH, and FSL.
• Develop relevant technical partnerships
• Support with the establishment of MoU/agreements with technical deconcentrated services, Ministries, Local authorities, etc.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate with the M&E team and Program Coordinator (ProgCo) to develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) and tools for needs assessments, baseline surveys, and other programmatic studies.
• Ensure tools and methodologies align with Protection and DRR principles, are context-appropriate, and promote inclusivity.
• Provide technical input and quality assurance during the design, implementation, and analysis phases of assessments and surveys.
• Facilitate After-Action Reviews (AARs) and evaluations for Protection and DRR-specific projects to assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and enhance program quality.
• Collaborate closely with the M&E team to document and analyse lessons learned, including findings from AARs and evaluations, ensuring they inform future program planning and implementation.
• Ensure participatory approaches in evaluations, involving key stakeholders, including community members, to strengthen accountability and learning.
• Support the development and dissemination of case studies, success stories, and best practices to highlight program impact and innovations.
• Facilitate learning sessions or workshops with staff and stakeholders to promote knowledge sharing and integration of lessons learned.

Capacity Building:

• Conduct training and workshops for staff and partners on protection, DRR, and the integration of WASH and FSL.
• Mentor and support junior staff in their technical development and understanding of protection and DRR issues.
• Develop and update technical tools, guidelines, and training materials related to protection, DRR, WASH, and FSL integration.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Disaster Management, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant in DRR and multisectoral experience in protection, WASH and FSL programming.
• Experience in a technical support role is an asset.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of protection and DRR concepts and best practices.
• Experience in integrating WASH and FSL programming with protection and DRR.
• Excellent technical writing and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural team environment.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Proficiency in analysis software/tools

Personal Attributes:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Commitment to the missions, values, and principles of the organization.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within the reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.