RTI is seeking a Cross-Cutting and Local Engagement Lead for the USAID Ethiopia DRM Activity. The Cross Cutting and Local Engagement Lead will be responsible for leading efforts to systemize, institutionalize, and scale up community engagement and accountability, and strengthen the capacity of local organizations to engage in the DRM system.

This position will be based in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, and will report to the Chief of Party.

Responsibilities
Lead in strengthening the woreda disaster risk assessments and annual DRM planning processes and capture a thorough understanding of the context, communities’ needs and priorities, to strengthen the decentralization of the DRM system.

Lead in the activity actions that support the strengthening of local organizational technical and financial capacities in line with the USAID’s Localization Agenda, Local Capacity Strengthening Policy and New Partnerships Initiatives.

Provide strategic leadership and direction on the contextual adoption and applications of community engagement strategies to facilitate decentralization of DRM and development system.

To collate community DRM training needs, identify learnings and successes for documentation and sharing community engagement best practices, support the development or adaptation of tools and guidance documents, identify and support markets-related research activities, lead stakeholder and technical knowledge-sharing events, and liaise with relevant stakeholder networks, and local partners/institutions.

Lead in the primary engagement with all local organizations, communities, and private sector partners at woreda level, and lead the establishment of community facilitation networks that partner with activity partners to co-develop Community DRM Investment Plans.

Drive the creation of partnerships between woreda, community and private sector actors, including attracting and incentivizing the public and private sector to invest in DRM initiatives and interventions.

Responsible to assess the existing capacity of private sector insurances and enterprises in the target areas including their training needs and propose actions to build their management capacities.

Conduct assessments and research regarding community-based service delivery, product appropriateness, institutional arrangements, markets for financial services, accessibility of services and new opportunities and models, among other responsibilities, across the DRM financing in the project areas.

Actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E);

Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed;

Work with relevant staff to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behaviour is disseminated among programme stakeholders including the private sector and communities.

Ensure community representation in the after-action reviews (AAR) and that cross-cutting issues of Gender & Equity; Protection; DRR; Climate Adaptation; and Environment, are part of emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree and 12 years of experience in development studies, social Sciences, Organizational Development or related field, Master’s degree and 10 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

Strong leadership skills with sensitivity in dealing with government authorities on critical issues.

Strong management skills and ability to motivate others and promote accountability among staff.

Trained in emergency quality standards such as Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), Accountability to Affected populations (AAP), SPHERE, Red Cross Code of Conduct, etc.

Experience in execution of capacity building Train of Trainers (ToT) in the various emergency quality standards.

Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills (attention to detail is required); flexibility and capacity to multi-task.

Verbal and written fluency in English is required.

Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.