Our organization and the context in Mali

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with over 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the sectors of shelter, education, protection, emergency rapid response mechanism, food security, information, counseling and legal assistance (ICLA), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

NRC has operated in Mali since 2013. From our four field offices in Gao, Menaka, Timbuktu and Mopti, NRC strives to meet the basic needs of people affected by violence and displacement.
We provide education, shelter, food security, respond to protection needs and give people legal assistance pertinent to civil documentation, land, housing and property rights. We also have a dedicated emergency response mechanism that provides a quick response to multisector needs of people affected by displacement. The Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) has been used as a tool in the humanitarian context of Mali since 2016, with multiple actors that coordinate efforts to use standardized approaches in identifying needs and providing an appropriate response to save lives. More info about our mission in Mali here.

NRC is looking for an Emergency Response Specialist for our program in Mali.

Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the Emergency Response Specialist position is to develop and ensure implementation of Emergency response in line with NRC strategy 2022-2025, Rapid Response Mechanism Strategy, donor’s rules and regulations and last but not least to ensure that interventions are based on priority needs of people affected by displacements. The Emergency Response Specialist will play a leading role in coordinating RRM actors at both national and regional levels.

The Emergency Response Specialist will coordinate and lead the different emergency response initiatives in country. This role is responsible to lead the programme development of the NRC emergency response in Mali and is to ensure quality implementation, in close coordination with core competency Specialist in their respective areas of expertise. The role is also responsible to mobilize and allocate needed resources to mitigate the emergency.

The Emergency Response Specialist is responsible for external coordination, technical development of the RRM (Rapid Response Mechanism) and will enhance expertise and current partnerships, as NRC is leading technical and coordination aspects of the RRM in Mali.

The Emergency Response Specialist will reinforce the capacity of RRM stakeholders through efforts to harmonize RRM strategies and through facilitating synergies and exchange of expertise among RRM stakeholders. The incumbent will reinforce the technical capacity of the NRC Emergency Response Team, local organisations and public institutions engaged into emergency response.

In addition, the new Emergency Response Specialist will:

1. Ensure effective coordination and communication among RRM members, technical committees, programmatic and finance/support teams across partners, donors, and other stakeholders. Coordination is one of the key elements of the position.
2. Coordinate with RRM members to ensure high quality implementation of activities, compliance with donor and RRM strategy, and accountability.
3. Act Focal Point for the RRM coordination at national level. Represent the RRM to external stakeholders – donors, government, coordination bodies, and local and international NGOs.
4. Develop strategy, technical guidance and SOPs for the emergency response for approval by all RRM partners and share documentation with other NRC country programme departments.
5. Develop robust emergency set-ups based on appropriate needs analysis based on an integrated program approach.
6. Develop donor proposals, ensure quality implementation and full compliance of operations,, budgets and donor reports related to the emergency response.
7. In close collaboration with the Head of Programme, contribute to the integration of emergency response strategies and approaches into NRC core competency  strategies.
8. Ensure that key learning is extracted from the emergency response implementation,  share lessons learnt with other NRC country programme departments and incorporate knowledge gained into  emergency response and staff development processes.
9. Ensure systematic training and build capacity of technical staff, both internally and through the RRM partners.
10. Advise the NRC RRM team on how to improve the efficiency and ensure transparent and participatory delivery of quality humanitarian assistance.

More info about this role here!

We look for someone that has the following: 

• Post-graduate with minimum 5 years of experience in a humanitarian (complex and volatile) context
• Emergency response expertise
• Experience in coordinating various stakeholders (INGOs, Donors, Clusters, UN agencies)
• Strong communication, inter-personal, facilitation and diplomatic skills, including professional credibility to provide coordination and sometimes guidance to member organisationsStrong managerial and interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Fluency in English and French, both written and verbal

Preferably you also have:

• Knowledge of the Malian context (especially Central and North Mali)
• Experience with external coordination including specific responsibilities
• Experience with external representation
• Advocacy / access experience

Behavioural competencies necessary for this role are:

• Strategic thinking
• Influencing
• Initiate action and change
• Working with people
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Empowering and building trust
• Managing resources to optimize results

What we offer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

• 12 months contract-possible renewal
• Grade 9 on NRC salary scale
• Location: Bamako, Mali
• An opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause
• A chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields

Deadline to apply: 4th May 2023.

To apply as an internal candidate, click on the suitcase icon “I am an employee” on the top right of the page to be redirected to NRC’s internal career site.

Reach out to [email protected] to contact the recruitment team; quote the full name of the advert on your subject line. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Please check your application status on your NRC application profile.