Aiming Change for Tomorrow (ACT) International is a humanitarian and development organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities through sustainable development, emergency response, and social protection programmes. ACT works closely with institutional donors, government authorities, and corporate partners to deliver transparent, accountable, and high-impact interventions across Pakistan.

Project Background

ACT International, with support from the Donor, is implementing Output 3 of the “DRM through Anticipatory Action in Punjab” project to strengthen district and community emergency preparedness and response in the flood- and climate-vulnerable districts of Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur. These districts, located along major river systems and canal networks, face recurrent riverine floods, flash flooding, and related hazards that regularly damage housing, crops, community infrastructure and livelihoods, particularly among poor rural households, women and other marginalised groups. Although DDMAs exist in each district, their operational readiness is constrained by limited trained response teams, under-resourced District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs), and weak linkages with community-level structures, resulting in delayed, reactive responses when disasters strike.

Building on ACT’s prior experience in community-based DRM and Donor Funded project-supported emergency and cash programming in South Punjab, Output 3 focuses on forming, training and equipping District Emergency Response Teams (DERTs), strengthening and operationalising DEOCs, and establishing Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in high-risk villages in partnership with DDMAs, Rescue 1122 and other line departments. Through intensive capacity building, provision of district and community response kits, regular coordination meetings and simulation exercises, the output aims to ensure that districts can coordinate timely early response and that communities have organised, trained and equipped structures capable of undertaking first response actions such as warning dissemination, basic search and rescue, first aid and safe evacuation.

Purpose

Coordinate Output 3 implementation at district level, ensuring functional DERTs, DEOCs and CERTs and strong linkage between district structures and communities.

Key responsibilities

• Facilitate formation, notification and regular meetings of District Emergency Response Teams (DERTs) under DDMA leadership.
• Coordinate five-day DERT trainings (participants, venue, logistics) and support follow-up drills and monthly review meetings.
• Support assessment and upgrading of DEOCs, development of DEOC SOPs, staffing and coordination protocols with line departments.
• Supervise district Social Organizers and Admin/HR & Log Officer; ensure timely implementation of community-level CERT formation and training.
• Serve as focal point between DDMA/DEOC and community CERTs for early warning, reporting and deployment during emergencies and simulations.
• Coordinate and collaborate with DDMA and Rescue 1122 for district-level trainings, simulations and use of standard tools and curricula.
• Provide district progress reports and indicator data to the Project Manager and ME team.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s/Master’s in Social Sciences, Public Administration or DRM
• Strong facilitation and coordination skills; good relationships with district line departments.
• At least 5 years’ experience in district-level coordination for DRM, humanitarian or development projects.
• Proven relationship with district line departments and experience in chairing multi-stakeholder meetings.

Key competencies

• Strong facilitation and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple events and field teams.
• Good documentation and basic data-analysis skills.

Core Values & Safeguarding

ACT International is committed to integrity, accountability, inclusion, and safeguarding. The post holder is expected to uphold ACT’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and ethical standards at all times.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, with one position available in each district: Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur.