Volunteer Disaster Aid Response Team member

What will you be doing?

The role can involve responding to emergency situations and supporting longer-term development projects. We are not a first responder organisation but we provide aid as part of a secondary response. Typical international deployments are for two weeks and DARTs are normally deployed in teams of two. DUTIES

Travel abroad in response to disasters. Assess the situation and needs of survivors. Liaise with NGO’s and Government officials. Manage and distribute emergency supplies. Manage and monitor effectiveness of projects including budgets. Coordinate and support the work of other volunteers. Produce reports and feedback on deployments. Act as an Ambassador for the organisation at home and abroad.

REQUIREMENTS

Legally allowed to perform volunteer work within the UK and abroad for a UK charity. Unrestricted passport. Driving licence. Strong empathy for victims of disasters and desire to help. Sensitive to local cultures. Adaptable to changing circumstances. Excellent communication and net-working skills. Strong work ethic and ability to work under stress. Confident, enthusiastic and committed. Able to work under own initiative and as part of a team. Self- reliant, physically able and comfortable working in harsh conditions. Amongst other things: climate, lack of amenities, foreign languages, culture and food. Recognition of inherent dangers whilst deployed, including further disasters and disease. Access to necessary medications for travel. MS Office skills. Able to commit time for short notice two-week deployments. Willingness to act as an ambassador for Disaster Aid in the UK by presenting to Rotary Clubs a minimum of 4 times per year to assist with fund raising. Project management. Pass selection, interview, in person and online training.

DESIRABLE

First Aid qualification. Additional language skills. Ability to volunteer at fundraising events.

          CHECKS

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Doctors report may be required confirming ability to fulfil role. Current vaccinations

What are we looking for?

The duties of a DART on deployment are shown below. In addition to these whilst in the UK they will be expected to perform PR and fundraising duties such as public speaking.

Travel abroad in response to disasters. Assess the situation and needs of survivors. Liaise with NGO’s and Government officials. Manage and distribute emergency supplies. Manage and monitor effectiveness of projects including budgets. Coordinate and support the work of other volunteers. Produce reports and feedback on deployments. Training in disaster preparedness Act as an Ambassador for the organisation at home and abroad.

As part of the recruitment applicants will be expected to show experience or skills in the following areas -

Project Management Logistics Fundraising Public speaking Managing Finances Safeguarding Training

What difference will you make?

Sensitive to criticism that the humanitarian aid movement is sometimes slow to act when disaster strikes, we have our own Disaster Aid Response Team (DARTs).  Their raison d’être is to get the group’s survival systems to those in most need, soonest, safely, via its team of highly trained and experienced professionals and volunteers.  We do not aim to be the first on the ground to establish evacuation centres but to provide a meaningful response as soon as families are able to be safely located within their communities. When help is sought or we are alerted to an impending or actual disaster, the first assessment is whether the situation is likely to benefit from Disaster Aid International’s specific area of expertise:  to provide either refuge; potable water; other non-food aid or training for families within their communities so that they can be supported in building a sustainable future for the longer term. Once this assessment is made a DART is rapidly brought together using group selection criteria.   The DART conducts a reconnaissance and gathers intelligence.    Many factors are taken into consideration, for example, the social, legal, economic, political, technological aspects of the locale and then more specifically, logistics, warehousing and security.  Need assessments, incorporating consideration of water, sanitation and health conditions are conducted.  Site assessments are then carried out and distribution plans put in place.  All this is done in liaison with other aid agencies wherever possible.   The rewarding job of delivering aid is seen through by the the DART to completion.