When NRC include emergency response programming in a country, an emergency role is needed to be able to coordinate the emergency initiative – largely rMPCA in coordination with the CWG and Local Authorities. Increasing shelling, evacuations and hardships often require an immediate response.

North Area Office has been increasing its capacity and capabilities to respond to emergencies in both Chernihiv and Sumy regions. Through the process of transition, the North Office will be closing by the end of 2026. This position – plays a key part during the transition, ensuring that there remains capacity of NRC to respond to rapid emergencies – with a focus on Sumy oblast – particularly Shostka area.

The purpose of the Emergency Response Coordinator is to coordinate and lead the different emergency response initiatives in Ukraine North Area Office. This role is responsible to lead the rMPCA programme in the North Area Office, particularly focusing on Shostka in response to shelling, evacuations, and other rapid onset emergencies that arise as a result of the war.

Generic responsibilities

1. Adhere to, and follow technical guidance and relevant SOPs for rMPCA, ensuring compliance with the policies and tools that NRC has developed.
2. Support comprehensive monitoring and reporting of emergency activities within the Area, including the preparation of situation reports, success stories and other reports necessary for donor reporting and advocacy purposes.
3. Undertake analysis of the needs and gaps in the North Area Office, focusing on holistic ways of response that compliment on-going Core Competency activities and interventions.
4. Establish and maintain constructive relationships with peer NGOs, local authorities, UN agencies and other actors involved in rMPCA (Rapid Multi Purpose
   Cash Assistance) response in the North Area of operations.
5. Maintain close contact with the Cash Working Group, ensuring that NRC is included, and prioritised in the rotation mechanisms, particularly for Shostka area.
6. Ensure that key learning is extracted from the emergency response implementation, and incorporate them in future improved response actions.
7. Maintain an adequate level of capacity within the broader Core Competency Team, identifying collaboration and capacity opportunities through CWG initiatives, as well as those available in NRC’s own Cash Team.
8. Liaise with local authorities, and the Humanitarian Access and Security Team to ensure that activities could be implemented in Hard to Reach (H2R) Areas abiding by the local context specific security guidelines and recommendations.

Specific responsibilities

• In collaboration with Field teams, AMs, and support staff, play a lead role in overseeing rMPCA interventions in the North Area Office, ensuring activities are implemented effectively and address the needs of the most vulnerable.
• Closely monitor events in humanitarian issues in the North of Ukraine, in order to update management and programme staff of changes in context, and provide analysis of rMPCA responses.
• Responsible for context analysis and development of different scenarios for potential rMPCA and MPCA distributions within the North Area Office.
• Work with Core Competency Teams, MEAL and the Area Programme Manager to ensure high quality programming, fulfilment of donor reporting requirements, tracking achievements and supporting evidence-based decision making.
• Forge close collaboration with NRC’s Cash Team, focusing on deduplication, harmonised selection criteria and general guidance to ensure the efficient roll out of rMPCA initiatives, ensuring the project participants are provided with timely assistance.
• Build a culture of response within the North Area Office Team – ensuring that NRC is able to rapidly respond to assistance requests in a timely manner, in line with Core Humanitarian Standards, and NRC values.

Professional competencies

• Tertiary university degree with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a humanitarian context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts, ideally in the North of Ukraine, with a proven track record of leading an effective emergency response
• Humanitarian coordination experience
• Experience in coordinating and networking with local authorities
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence others
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency (both written and verbal) in Ukrainian, Russian, and English.
• Past working experience in an N/INGO is a strong and desired asset
• Knowledge of the context in Ukraine, including understanding and experience of rapidly changing contexts and there implications
• Knowledge of the CWG rotation mechanism as well as operational capacities of
  local authorities
• Knowledge of rMPCA and MPCA guidelines and best practises
• Good understanding of the Programme Cycle Management (PCM) and its tools.
• Good networking, negotiation and representation skills with the ability to advocate
• Proactive problem solving skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to H2R areas, working flexibility and willingness to learn