Disaster Preparedness Officer – Livelihood Support

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

• Employment type: Fixed-term contract
• Working time: 40 hours per week
• Duty station: Biu LGA, Borno State, with frequent travel to project communities and other target LGAs
• Remuneration: Attractive and negotiable; no amount is stated
• Application deadline: 14 September 2026 at 23:59 Africa/Lagos time

ROLE PURPOSE

The Disaster Preparedness Officer – Livelihood Support will strengthen disaster-risk reduction, preparedness, early-warning, anticipatory-action, emergency-response and livelihood-resilience activities in Borno State. The officer will work with government authorities, consortium partners, humanitarian actors and community structures to localise preparedness systems and integrate climate and disaster risk into livelihoods and productive assets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Disaster-risk reduction and preparedness

• Facilitate community and local-government hazard, vulnerability, capacity and risk assessments, including EVCA processes.
• Support communities and authorities to develop or update contingency plans, preparedness plans, evacuation arrangements and relevant standard operating procedures.
• Establish or strengthen community early-warning mechanisms, community preparedness and response teams, local emergency-management committees and volunteer structures.
• Help ensure preparedness measures are practical, inclusive and linked to local government and humanitarian coordination systems.

Early-warning systems and anticipatory action

• Support the localisation and operation of early-warning systems and Early Action Protocols.
• Coordinate with NiMet, NIHSA, NEMA, SEMA, LEMA or LEMC structures and community focal points to obtain, interpret and communicate risk information.
• Monitor agreed triggers and support timely anticipatory action when thresholds are reached.
• Develop and disseminate clear, accessible risk messages through appropriate community channels.

Capacity strengthening and community mobilisation

• Train government officials, partner staff, traditional and religious leaders, preparedness committees, early-warning groups, volunteers, women and young people on disaster preparedness and response.
• Facilitate awareness sessions, Community Action Plans, simulations and drills.
• Promote meaningful community ownership of preparedness measures and encourage participation by groups at heightened risk.

Emergency response and livelihood resilience

• Support rapid needs assessments following a disaster or activation trigger.
• Contribute to crisis-modifier and lifesaving assistance covering shelter, WASH, non-food items and livelihood protection where authorised.
• Integrate climate and disaster risks into livelihood planning and activities.
• Promote measures that protect productive assets, agriculture and livestock and strengthen household adaptation and resilience.
• Apply conflict-sensitive and environmentally sustainable approaches.

Coordination, monitoring and reporting

• Coordinate closely with government agencies, humanitarian actors, consortium partners and community structures.
• Represent the project in relevant meetings and technical forums when delegated.
• Monitor field implementation, document progress and prepare timely activity reports.
• Facilitate after-action reviews and use lessons learned to improve future preparedness and response.
• Work with MEAL colleagues to track results, data quality and learning.

Protection, inclusion and accountability

• Apply safeguarding, gender, disability inclusion, conflict sensitivity and accountability-to-affected-populations standards throughout the work.
• Promote active participation by women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
• Ensure communities can safely access and use feedback and complaint mechanisms.
• Follow ZOA's security, safety, access, safeguarding and operational procedures.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in disaster or emergency management, environmental sciences, development studies, social sciences, agriculture, geography or a related discipline.
• At least three years of relevant experience in disaster-risk reduction, disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, emergency response, livelihoods, resilience or humanitarian programming.
• Practical experience with EVCA or similar risk-assessment approaches, community mobilisation, training, contingency planning and simulation exercises.
• Knowledge of early-warning systems and community-based disaster-risk management.
• Previous experience with an NGO, government agency or humanitarian programme is an advantage.
• Experience in Borno State or another complex humanitarian environment is desirable.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards, the Core Humanitarian Standard, accountability to affected populations, protection and conflict sensitivity is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required; Hausa or Kanuri is highly desirable.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong communication, facilitation and community-engagement skills.
• Effective teamwork, coordination and relationship management.
• Analytical thinking, planning and practical problem-solving.
• Ability to work in challenging field conditions and travel frequently.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion and accountability.
• Initiative, reliability and ability to meet deadlines.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete ZOA Nigeria's official online application form before the deadline. Applicants should provide accurate information and submit all documents requested on the application portal.