Senior Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Baku, Azerbaijan

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R - response, resilience and respect - to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate - our raison d'être - of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The IFRC Country Delegation in Azerbaijan supports the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRCS) in strengthening institutional capacity, disaster preparedness systems, anticipatory action mechanisms, and community resilience programming. Azerbaijan faces a range of natural hazards including floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, and extreme weather events. Strengthening early warning systems, anticipatory action, and community-based disaster risk reduction is a key priority for reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience.

The SAFER-AZ programme, funded by European Union (EU) supports Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (EVCA), early warning dissemination, anticipatory action mechanisms, community preparedness planning, and capacity-building initiatives including First Aid (FA) and Psychological First Aid (PFA).

Job Purpose

The purpose of the position is to support the IFRC and the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society (AzRCS) in strengthening community resilience and disaster risk reduction capacities under the SAFER-AZ Programme, funded by EU, with a particular focus on community-based disaster risk reduction, EVCA, early warning dissemination, and preparedness planning. The incumbent will lead the field implementation of DRR activities, including participatory risk assessments, development and rollout of community preparedness plans, establishment and training of Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs), and delivery of public awareness and capacity-building initiatives in the assigned regions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Field Implementation

• Lead and coordinate the implementation of Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (EVCA) assessments in assigned communities, ensuring participatory and inclusive methodologies
• Coordinate preparation of EVCA reports and community risk profiles.
• Oversee the development, validation, and launch of community-based DRR and resilience plans.
• Ensure DRR plans integrate early warning dissemination mechanisms and anticipatory action elements
• Support the establishment, training, and equipping of Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs).

Early Warning & Preparedness Implementation

• Coordinate branch-level and community-level dissemination of early warning messages.
• Ensure that early warning systems are tested through simulations and field exercises.
• Support translation of national EWEA guidance into operational procedures at community level.
• Coordinate closely with IFRC technical sectors in the Country Cluster Delegation and Regional Office, including PGI, CEA and IM

Capacity Building & Training

• Plan and facilitate delivery of capacity-building sessions for AzRCS staff, volunteers, and CSOs
• Ensure integration of First Aid (FA) and Psychological First Aid (PFA) modules into DRR and preparedness activities.
• Facilitate trainings of CDRT members in anticipatory action, response, and safety protocols.
• Strengthen volunteer management and safety systems in coordination with branches.

Supervision, Monitoring and reporting

• Supervise DRR Officer and ensure timely implementation of activities
• Monitor progress against project indicators (EVCA completed, DRR plans launched, CDRTs trained, awareness sessions conducted).
• Ensure proper documentation of field activities, including attendance sheets, training reports, multimedia evidence, and monitoring data.
• Contribute to narrative and financial reporting in compliance with IFRC and EU standards

Compliance and safeguarding

• Coordinate closely with AzRCS HQ and branch leadership to ensure ownership and sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with IFRC policies (safeguarding, Code of Conduct, PGI, financial procedures).
• When introducing policies, guidelines, tools and trainings, the incumbent has the responsibility to explore and consult any existing documentation and practice within the IFRC network
• Ensure visibility and acknowledgment of EU support in all field activities and communication materials.

Education

Required:

• University degree in humanitarian, environmental sciences, public policy or related field

Preferred:

• Technical training in disaster preparedness, response and recovery

Experience

Required:

• 5 years of relevant professional experience in disaster risk management or early warning systems
• Demonstrated experience in participatory facilitation and community engagement

Preferred:

• Minimum of 3 years' work experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement or other humanitarian organisations
• Experience working with volunteers or civil society organizations
• Experience in delivering training activities

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Knowledge of RC/RC Movement
• Demonstrated experience in leading field teams and supervising multi-location implementation
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC's mission and values.
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluent spoken and written Azerbaijanj

Preferred:

• Proven experience in delivering or coordinating training activities (FA, PFA, DRR)
• Proven experience in participatory methodologies (EVCA or similar)
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust