Disaster Preparedness Officer – Livelihood Support

About the job:

The Disaster Preparedness Officer will support the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Disaster Preparedness (DP), Early Warning Systems (EWS), Anticipatory Action (AA), emergency response, and livelihood resilience activities in vulnerable communities across Borno State.

The Officer will work closely with government authorities, consortium partners, humanitarian actors, and community structures to strengthen community preparedness, risk analysis, EWS, contingency planning, simulation exercises, and anticipatory action. The Officer will also support the integration of disaster preparedness and climate risk considerations into livelihood activities, with a focus on protecting household assets and livelihoods from climate- and conflict-related hazards.

Responsibilities:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

• Support the implementation of DRR and disaster preparedness activities at community and LGA levels. 

• Support hazard, vulnerability, capacity, and disaster risk assessments, including EVCA. 

• Support the development and review of contingency, preparedness, evacuation plans, and emergency response SOPs. 

• Strengthen community preparedness structures, including CEWMs, CPRTs, LEMCs, and volunteers. 

1. Early Warning and Anticipatory Action

• Support the localization and operationalization of EWS and Early Action Protocols. 

• Work with NiMet, NIHSA, NEMA, SEMA, LEMAs/LEMCs, and communities to strengthen early warning and early action. 

• Support risk communication and dissemination of timely, understandable, and actionable early warning messages. 

• Support monitoring of agreed triggers and activation of anticipatory actions. 

1. Capacity Building and Community Engagement

• Support training of government officials, partners, community leaders, CPRTs, CEWMs, volunteers, women, youth, and other community structures. 

• Facilitate community awareness on hazards, preparedness, early warning, evacuation, and anticipatory action. 

• Support communities to develop and implement Community Action Plans. 

• Support simulation exercises, evacuation drills, and preparedness exercises. 

1. Emergency Response and Livelihood Resilience

• Support rapid needs assessments following disasters or activation of anticipatory action triggers. 

• Support crisis modifier and life-saving emergency interventions, including Shelter, WASH, NFIs, and livelihood protection. 

• Support the integration of disaster and climate risks into livelihood programming. 

• Promote measures that protect household assets, agricultural activities, livestock, and other livelihood systems. 

• Support climate adaptation, resilience, conflict sensitivity, and environmental sustainability. 

1. Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain effective working relationships with SEMA, NEMA, LEMAs/LEMCs, LGAs, NiMet, NIHSA, humanitarian partners, and community structures. 

• Represent the project in relevant LGA coordination meetings and community engagements as required. 

• Support field monitoring, documentation, reporting, lessons learned, and After-Action Reviews. 

• Prepare activity reports, assessment reports, situation reports, and other programme documentation. 

• Work closely with MEAL and programme teams to ensure quality implementation. 

1. Protection, Inclusion and Accountability

• Integrate protection, safeguarding, gender, disability inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and AAP into all activities. 

• Promote meaningful participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. 

• Support appropriate community feedback and complaints mechanisms.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Disaster Management, Emergency Management, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Geography, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in DRR, disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, emergency response, livelihoods, resilience, or humanitarian programming.
• Experience supporting EVCA, risk assessments, community mobilization, training, contingency planning, or simulation exercises.
• Good understanding of Early Warning Systems, disaster preparedness, and community-based disaster risk management.
• Experience working with NGOs, government institutions, or humanitarian organizations is an advantage.
• Experience working in Borno State or other complex humanitarian contexts is desirable.
• Knowledge of Sphere Standards, CHS, AAP, protection, and conflict sensitivity is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required; Hausa and Kanuri are highly desirable.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Good communication and facilitation skills.
• Strong teamwork and coordination skills.
• Good analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in challenging field environments.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project locations.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, safeguarding, protection, gender equality, inclusion, and accountability.
• Ability to work under supervision, take initiative, and meet deadlines.

KEY EXTERNAL CONTACTS

SEMA, NEMA, LEMAs/LEMCs, LGAs, NiMet, NIHSA, humanitarian and UN agencies, consortium partners, community-based organizations, traditional leaders, community structures, and DRR/Anticipatory Action platforms.

KEY INTERNAL CONTACTS

ZOA Country Office, Biu Field Office, Project Manager –, Project Officers, MEAL, Programme Quality, Finance, Logistics, Procurement, HR, and other relevant ZOA teams.

DUTY STATION AND TRAVEL

The position is based in Biu, Borno State, with frequent travel to project communities and LGAs. The post holder must comply with ZOA security, safety, access, safeguarding, and operational procedures.

Salary and other terms of employment:

Attractive