Sint Maarten (The Netherlands): Junior Shelter Delegate

The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) helps to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience by responding to disasters and crises and by supporting community and institutional risk reduction and preparedness. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

In close cooperation with the authorities of Sint Maarten, The Netherlands Red Cross developed a “House repair program” to support the affected population with the recovery following the devastating impact of hurricane Irma on September 6^th 2017. The overall goal of the “House repair programme” is to support the most vulnerable households with the repair of the damages on roofs, windows and doors. The implementation modality is the owner driven approach, giving the control of the repair activities to the beneficiaries. With this owner driven approach, we aim to enhance the capacities and resilience of the families and communities. Informed by a damage assessment, the Red Cross will provide the required materials whilst the beneficiaries organises the repair activities, mobilising the required craftsmen.

The Junior Shelter Delegate will team up with the Red Cross project staff to actively participate with the implementation and coordination of the House repair programme within the communities. The Junior Shelter Delegate will work closely with the community councils, the beneficiaries and will manage our Foremen, the Cash For Work teams and the training- and sensitisation activities.

Position title: Junior Shelter Delegate

Duty station: Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

Time period: 3 – 6 months

Starting Date: July 2018

Status: Unaccompanied posting

Rationale

On September 6th, 2017 hurricane Irma, category 5, struck the island of Sint Maarten. Irma had a devastating impact on the island. Many buildings suffered extensive damage, leaving large parts of the populations without a safe roof to live under. As recommended in the shelter strategy report , the different levels of destruction and security of tenure within the affected population requires a project approach that is practical, and addresses the sensitivities around, and the variety of, the tenure status of the affected population. Agreed with the government is the principle that the population will be as much as possible assisted within their own communities, and avoid as much as possible relocation in centralized mass sheltering solutions.

The Junior Shelter Delegate is expected to manage the implementation of the House repair program within the communities. Supported by a Foreman, the Junior Shelter Delegate will oversee the quality of the program and report on the progress and identified challenges. This includes assessments and drafting Bill of Quantities, the progress and quality of implemented repair works, the potential need for additional sensitisation and training activities

Summary statement and responsibilities

The Junior Shelter Delegate will carry out the following key tasks:

• Support improvement of communities’ ability and technical skills to prioritize and implement collective action

• Coordinate and conduct community meetings, community action planning and trainings in selected topics (e.g. on hurricane resistant building, DRR, or prioritized community needs);

• Implement the technical aspects of the application, verification and registration of beneficiaries for the house repair program, resulting in the identification of vulnerable families eligible for shelter assistance according to established selection criteria;

• Support household focal point to develop accurate Bills of Quantities for house repair

• Promote humanitarian principles and key cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, environmental awareness and disaster risk reduction;

• Promote and share ideas for improvement and necessary changes in the activities;

• Help strengthen links with relevant ministries (VROMI mainly) of Government and shelter coordination bodies when relevant;

• Closely coordinate with the relevant Social Officer during the verification phase and flag social frictions or issues with the social officer or the direct line manager;

• Make detailed plans for community level infrastructure improvements

• Support and provide technical guidance to households before and during the house repair

• Ensure repairs are complying to technical guidelines and are of good quality;

• Line manage project assistants and when needed/ relevant, manage technical volunteers and/or CfW people;

• Provide regular operational reports on activities, progress and achievements in the designated areas of responsibility.

• Contribute to the various program processes such as refining plan of action, development of project proposals and evaluations;

Position in the organization

The Junior Shelter Delegate will be working for the International Department of the Netherlands Red Cross and will be employed as a junior delegate based on Sint Maarten. The Junior Delegate falls under the security umbrella of the NLRC Country representative. The Junior Delegate is line managed by the Shelter Coordinator and is coached /mentored by the NLRC shelter delegate in country.

Requirements/Qualifications

The candidate should at least have:

• A Degree/Masters in architecture or construction engineering (HBO/WO)

• Completed the IFRC “Shelter Technical Training” (preferable)

• Maximum 4 years’ experience in construction; preferably on site

• Capacity to work with beneficiaries, community representatives and other stakeholders.

• Experience in community participatory development and mobilisation skills. (preferable)

• Experience in project cycle management (preferable)

• Due to the dynamics of the repair works, the candidate should be flexible and willing to work during weekends and early evenings.

Key competencies

• A good command of the English language both verbally and in writing.

• Strong communication skills.

• Preferable experience with or interested working in multicultural Caribbean context and willingness to work in post disaster settings is desirable.

• Ability to coach/train others as well as be open to learning from others. Willingness to different opinions and learning

• Organized and able to respect timelines.

• Character qualities: High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct, as well as pro-active, a quick learner and flexible, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

Please send your resume and letter of motivation in English with reference to Rob Vugs, before June 29^th 2018 using our online application tool: https://werkenbij.rodekruis.nl/en/Vacancy/Apply/104074/junior-shelter-delegate.html

For more information about the position, you can contact Frans Nieuwenhoven: (FNieuwenhoven@redcross.nl) and/or Felix de Vries (FdeVries@redcross.nl) While we appreciate all responses, only candidates under consideration will be contacted**.**

An initial assessment of candidates short-listed is part of the selection procedure.

For more information of the work of the Netherlands Red Cross, please visit www.rodekruis.nl and www.rodekruis.tv. NLRC on Facebook: Facebook.com/rodekruis, the Red Corss branch on Sint Maarten: www.facebook.com/redcrosssxm/ and Twitter: Twitter.com/rodekruis.