Program Specialist - Disaster Risk Reduction / Protection at Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI)

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI in Nigeria started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin. The COOPI Nigeria Field Office is located in Sokoto State, in order to cover intervention LGAs in Sokoto State and to provide direct assistance to the IDPs and their hosting communities, through a multi-sectorial program covering Food Security, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social protection, Early Recovery, and Livelihoods, Nutrition and Child Protection interventions. COOPI's capacity to respond to the humanitarian situation in the country is confirmed by its experience in providing humanitarian aid in more than 27 other Countries around the World, in over 50 years of operations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Specialist - Disaster Risk Reduction / Protection

Location: Sokoto (Supporting activities in area of implementation)
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Technical Support Department
Reports To: Head Of Programme Nigeria
Position Type: Contract (annual, renewable)

Context

• Nigeria faces critical humanitarian challenges in the Northeast and Northwest regions, including severe food insecurity driven by conflict, displacement, and climate issues.
• Healthcare access is minimal with inadequate facilities, supply shortages, and insufficient mental health support for those affected by violence.
• Gender-based violence, child abductions, and other protection concerns demand urgent intervention. Limited access to clean water and sanitation exacerbates disease risks while overcrowded shelters in displacement camps remain inadequate. Education is severely disrupted, with many schools destroyed and limited learning opportunities, especially for girls. Both regions also grapple with high unemployment and restricted livelihood options, requiring urgent efforts to foster recovery and long-term economic stability.

Job Summary

• COOPI is seeking a highly skilled Program Specialist in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and protection to enhance its multisectoral integrated programming in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL).
• This role involves providing technical support, ensuring adherence to COOPI’s quality management standards, and leading the development of programs within our coordination team. The Specialist will also be responsible for context evaluation and assessment to ensure programs are relevant and effective.

Key Responsibilities
Technical Support:

• Provide technical guidance on Protection and DRR strategies and implementation, ensuring alignment with organizational standards, international policies, and best practices.
• Support the integration of Protection and DRR considerations into WASH and FSL programming through collaboration with sector teams.
• Offer technical assistance to field staff and partners in implementing Protection and DRR interventions.
• Identify funding opportunities and provide technical support for proposal development and fundraising for Protection and DRR initiatives.
• Facilitate decision-making on project implementation, particularly related to planning, budgeting, and operational issues.
• Contribute to strategic planning, achievement of targets, and modification of objectives as needed.
• Conduct field visits to project sites to provide hands-on support and quality assurance.
• Ensure that Protection and DRR strategies and interventions align with national and international standards and guidelines.
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), best practices, guidelines and checklists to enhance program quality and consistency.
• Support the reporting process for specific projects by contributing technical input and ensuring timely, accurate, and comprehensive updates

Program Development:

• Assist the Program Coordinator (ProgCo) with planning and development of (emergency) appeals processes related to Protection and DRR expertise.
• Provide extensive input and technical support in the design of proposals, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and organizational priorities.
• Contribute to the development of innovative and context-specific program strategies that integrate Protection and DRR principles.

Coordination and Partnership:

• Collaborate with the coordination team to ensure effective program implementation and integration across different sectors.
• Represent the organization in relevant technical forums/clusters and working groups on protection, DRR, WASH, and FSL.
• Develop relevant technical partnerships
• Support with the establishment of MoU/agreements with technical deconcentrated services, Ministries, Local authorities, etc.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate with the M&E team and Program Coordinator (ProgCo) to develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) and tools for needs assessments, baseline surveys, and other programmatic studies.
• Ensure tools and methodologies align with Protection and DRR principles, are context-appropriate, and promote inclusivity.
• Provide technical input and quality assurance during the design, implementation, and analysis phases of assessments and surveys.
• Facilitate After-Action Reviews (AARs) and evaluations for Protection and DRR-specific projects to assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and enhance program quality.
• Collaborate closely with the M&E team to document and analyse lessons learned, including findings from AARs and evaluations, ensuring they inform future program planning and implementation.
• Ensure participatory approaches in evaluations, involving key stakeholders, including community members, to strengthen accountability and learning.
• Support the development and dissemination of case studies, success stories, and best practices to highlight program impact and innovations.
• Facilitate learning sessions or workshops with staff and stakeholders to promote knowledge sharing and integration of lessons learned.

Capacity Building:

• Conduct training and workshops for staff and partners on protection, DRR, and the integration of WASH and FSL.
• Mentor and support junior staff in their technical development and understanding of protection and DRR issues.
• Develop and update technical tools, guidelines, and training materials related to protection, DRR, WASH, and FSL integration.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Disaster Management, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant in DRR and multisectoral experience in protection, WASH and FSL programming.
• Experience in a technical support role is an asset.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of protection and DRR concepts and best practices.
• Experience in integrating WASH and FSL programming with protection and DRR.
• Excellent technical writing and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural team environment.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Proficiency in analysis software/tools

Personal Attributes:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Commitment to the missions, values, and principles of the organization.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within the reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Application Closing Date
27th May, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: The application is on rolling basis