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Save the Children International is looking a Short-Term Project Officer for The Fire Prevention project in Refugee Camps

TEAM/PROGRAMME:  DRR Team              LOCATION: Mae Sot Office, in Mae Sot, Tak province and working station in Mae Hong Son province.

CONTRACT LENGTH:  4 months with possibility to extend the contract.

Reports to: DRR Project Coordinator, Save the Children International based in Bangkok

Background

Refugee camps along Thai-Myanmar border is one of Save the Children’s the operational sites in Thailand implementing education and child protection projects and emergency response  in the border areas. In terms of emergency response, fires are regular hazard in nine refugee camps. Flammable building materials such as bamboo, thatch and eucalyptus and cooking practices can be factors influencing on huge fire in the camps.

Regarding the statistic from various sources of information, it found that in February 2012, a huge fire in Umpiem camp destroyed around 1,000 houses. In April 2013, 36 refugees died in a tragic fire that destroyed Ban Mae Surin refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province. Moreover, In December 2013, around 750 refugees were left homeless in Mae La camp when more than hundred houses were destroyed by a fire. The next day one refugee woman died in a fire in Ban Mai Nai Soi camp. Also, in 2014-2015, fire in refugee camps damaged burned hundred houses and caused thousands of people were homeless. As a result, fires did not only destroy houses in the refugee camps, but education continuation of children in the camps was also disrupted.

Refer to key findings from fire risk assessment conducted by Operation Florian, it was found that apart from natural fire, majority of fire occurred at homes which cooking practices and using candles are potential risks causing fire. It is recommended to build existing capacities such as training Emergency Response Team (ERT) and equipping them with mini fire-fighting stations in the camps. Also, changing cooking behavior can be done to create safe cooking practices which can reduce fire risk.

In order to reduce fire risk in refugee camps and strengthen capacity of ERT, Save the Children seeks for a Project Officer who will be independently implement a fire prevention project in refugee camps both at community and school levels starting from January to April 2016.

Scope of work

The Project Officer will play coordination roles with support from Child Safety & DRR programme to implement and conduct Fire Prevention related activities along Thai-Myanmar boarder areas as following tasks:

- Be responsible to establish good relationship with target communities, schools, youths and local stakeholders in consultation with camp committees to:

   - Establish and maintain DRR sub-working group network in refugee camps whose tasks are related to fire prevention and capacity building to camp committees in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces.

   - Organize DRR working group meetings in collaboration with local agencies.

   - Share and update information to both camp committees and DRR-sub working group members to ensure effective communication among key stakeholders and ensure mutual agreement in implementing fire prevention in refugee camps.

   - Maintain relevant information and database on program activity and share to SCI programme as well as SMT members.

-At community level, the Project Officer will be responsible to;

   - Design training process and identify local facilitators to train camp committees and volunteers on fire prevention in refugee camps.

   -Coordinate with DDPM, DRR sub-working group and local stakeholders to design fire evacuation drill process, identify facilitators and their roles & responsibilities in the fire drills.

   - Distribute fire prevention leaflet in English, Burmese, Karen and Karenni language to targeted communities and schools in the refugee camps.

   - Coordinate with DDPM, local authorities and NGOs for needs assessment on fire prevention and procurement of fire suppression equipment to be installed in the communities.

-At school level, the Project Officer will be in charge of

   -Coordinate with local stakeholders such as NGOs and Youth group, Youth clubs to organise fire prevention activities in refugee camps.

   - Distribute fire prevention leaflet in Burmese, Karen and Karenni language to schools, libraries and children-related agencies in the refugee camps.

- Be responsible to directly supervise a project assistant for Fire Prevention project in Refugee Camps to implement the project as designed and agreed with local stakeholders such as DRR-sub working group members, camp committees, local authority and DDPM.

- Assist Child Safety&DRR Programme and MEAL team in project monitoring and evaluation to ensure program quality and accountability.

- Ensure good relationship with local organisations, communities and schools.

- Ability to perform a variety of repetitive and routine tasks and duties related to program support.

Key deliverables

 - DRR Working Group meetings in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces

 - Trainings for Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Evacuation Drills in refugee camps

 - Community-based fire prevention plans

 - Fire prevention activities in target schools and/or Youth club 

 - Monthly Progress Narrative Report and Final Narrative Report including activity photos and lists of participant

 - Identified fire suppression equipment based on community needs and technical assessment done by DDPM, local authority and/or related NGOs

 - Fire suppression equipment or water stations to be installed or equipped in the target communities

Key qualification

 - Bachelor degree in Social Science or any related field

 - At least two years of experience in the same role preferably in non-government organisations

 - Good command in Thai, Karen and Burmese, ability to communicate in English will be an advantage

 - Competency in project management and supervision will be an advantage

- Well-organised, strong interpersonal skill and able to work well with others; especially, along Thai-Myanmar boarder areas

- Computer proficiency in MS Office; MS word, Excel and Power Point

Save the Children offers competitive remuneration package.

Deadline for submission of application is on 31 December 2015

To apply, please send your application and CV to HR & Admin Manager at email address: jaem.prachoommark@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for – Project Officer for The Fire Prevention project in Refugee Camps_(Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”