Country Anticipatory Action Coordinator

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

Who Are We

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization with operations in over 28 countries, committed to assisting, protecting, and finding solutions for refugees, internally displaced persons, and other conflict-affected communities. DRC is a pioneer in anticipatory action for displacement, specifically in fragile and conflict-affected settings, currently designing and implementing displacement forecasting and anticipatory action mechanisms across seventeen countries. As co-lead of the Global Working Group on Anticipatory Action for Displacement with IOM, DRC acts as a global convener on displacement-centric anticipatory action.

DRC Colombia has operated in one of the world's most protracted displacement crises for over two decades, delivering humanitarian protection, rapid response,  early recovery, and solutions programming across regions affected by armed conflict, climate shocks, and Venezuela’s mixed migration. DRC Colombia leads the  SHARP, a protection-centered Localized Rapid Response Mechanism to sudden displacement, confinement, and mobility restrictions caused by armed violence or natural disasters.

About The Job

DRC is seeking a National Anticipatory Action Coordinator to lead the implementation of the Scaling Anticipatory Action for Displacement (SAAD) project in Colombia. SAAD, funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York . SAAD aims to shift humanitarian crisis management from reaction to prevention by combining machine learning displacement forecasting with community-based early warning systems, protection monitoring, and conflict-sensitive anticipatory planning.

In Colombia, the project will strengthen and adapt DRC's existing humanitarian infrastructure by embedding displacement forecast triggers within DRC’s programming, including the SHARP, to enable earlier mobilization of humanitarian and protection response in areas exposed to climate-conflict interaction. By adding a structured foresight layer to an established response mechanism, SAAD will reduce the impact of predictable shocks, shorten response time, and mitigate displacement-related protection risks, contributing to local stability and protecting development gains in a politically complex environment.

The National AA Coordinator is the primary technical and coordination lead for SAAD in Colombia. Under direct management by the DRC Colombia Head of Programme and technical supervision and support by the Regional AA Coordinator (West Africa and Americas) and the Global Lead on Anticipatory Action, the Coordinator is responsible for AA development, programmatic integration, stakeholder coordination, pooled fund activation, evidence generation, and donor reporting.

Responsibilities:

Technical Implementation and AAP Development

• Lead the integration of displacement forecast triggers within DRC's Rapid Response Mechanisms, embedding a structured foresight layer within the existing coordination platform and adapting activation protocols to enable anticipatory mobilization.
• Lead the development and operationalization of conflict-sensitive Anticipatory Action Plans (AAPs) for Colombia, including trigger design, pre-agreed intervention packages, and clear institutional roles and responsibilities.
• Coordinate the refinement and localization of DRC's machine learning displacement forecasting model for Colombia, integrating protection monitoring data, climate-conflict compounding risk indicators, and community-based early warning signals.
• Lead the Integrated Context Analysis (ICA) process for Colombia, including community consultations, key informant interviews, and mapping of existing early warning systems, displacement drivers, and protection risks across SHARP coverage areas.
• Facilitate co-design processes with civil society organizations, protection actors, peacebuilding stakeholders, and government institutions to develop and validate AAP triggers and intervention packages.
• Ensure AAP design is conflict-sensitive and protection-centered, reflecting the interaction between armed conflict dynamics, climate shocks, and displacement patterns specific to Colombia.
• Provide operational oversight of AAP activations, ensuring timely delivery of anticipatory measures and robust evidence capture.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent DRC in the National Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action, ensuring coordination with government duty bearers, UN entities, Red Cross, INGOs, and local civil society and protection actors.
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with local civil society organizations, peacebuilding actors, and academic institutions supporting AAP co-design, sub-grant implementation, and local knowledge production.
• Coordinate closely with DRC Colombia's SHARP team, Protection Monitoring staff, and emergency response colleagues to align anticipatory action with existing country systems and ensure operational coherence.
• Support institutionalization of anticipatory action within national disaster risk management and early warning architectures, including engagement with relevant government counterparts at national and sub-national levels.

Data, Analysis, and Learning

• Work with DRC's global and regional data analysts to monitor displacement forecasts, refine trigger thresholds, and ensure forecasting models reflect current field realities in Colombia.
• With the support of the MEAL manager, oversee the implementation of the SAAD MEAL framework in Colombia, including impact assessments of displacement mitigation and cost-effectiveness.
• Coordinate the project's academic partnership with a Colombian university, supporting joint research design, longitudinal monitoring, and data collection during AAP activations.
• Document and systematize evidence from AA activations, including trigger-to-action intervals, intervention outputs, and after-action review findings.
• Contribute to the South-South learning exchange between Nigeria and Colombia, sharing evidence, methodological adaptations, and lessons from contrasting implementation approaches.
• Contribute to global, regional, and national knowledge-sharing through case studies, learning briefs, and policy papers.

Business Development and Advocacy

• Contribute to SAAD's national advocacy strategy on anticipatory action for displacement in conflict-affected settings.
• Support DRC Colombia's broader business development efforts by contributing to AA-related proposals and donor engagement.
• Represent DRC's anticipatory action approach at national and regional forums, contributing to positioning DRC as a thought leader on anticipatory action in conflict-affected settings in Latin America.

Reporting, Communication, and Project Management

• Ensure quality and timely technical and financial reporting in line with SAAD project requirements and Carnegie Corporation of New York donor standards.
• In close collaboration with the DRC National Protection and Conflict Analysis Specialist, manage sub-grants to local partners, overseeing implementation quality, financial compliance, and after-action documentation.
• Maintain regular communication with the Regional AA Coordinator, global project team, and country management on progress, challenges, and emerging risks.
• Manage field travel budget and contribute to workplan and budget monitoring throughout the project cycle.

Experience and Technical Competencies:

To be successful in this role, we expect you to combine technical depth in anticipatory action or humanitarian preparedness with strong coordination skills and a grounded understanding of Colombia's conflict and humanitarian landscape.

Required

• At least 5 years of experience in humanitarian programming in conflict-affected settings, with at least 2 years directly working on anticipatory action, early warning, rapid response mechanisms, or disaster risk management.
• Demonstrated experience working in Colombia or the Latin America region, with strong contextual understanding of armed conflict dynamics, displacement drivers, and humanitarian coordination systems.
• Experience designing and implementing anticipatory action projects or preparedness systems, including trigger development, anticipatory action planning, and participatory co-design processes is a clear asset.
• Familiarity with rapid response mechanisms (RRM), protection monitoring, and conflict-sensitive programming in complex displacement contexts is a clear asset.
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills, with demonstrated ability to convene and sustain multi-stakeholder processes involving government, civil society, and humanitarian partners.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and work under pressure in complex, politically sensitive environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of time, including to field locations in conflict-affected areas.
• Full professional fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) and professional proficiency in English is required.
• Proficiency in MS Office and working knowledge of data tools for monitoring and analysis.

Desirable

• Familiarity with rapid response coordination mechanisms.
• Experience managing sub-grants to local partners.
• Experience with quasi-experimental MEAL methods in humanitarian settings.
• Experience with climate-conflict interaction analysis.

Education:

Academic background in International / Humanitarian Affairs, Political Science or Peace and Conflict Studies, Geography or Environmental Studies with a conflict/displacement focus, Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology) with a displacement or forced migration specialization, or related field.

Languages:

• Full professional fluency in Spanish required (approximately 80% of professional communication).
• Professional proficiency in English required (approximately 20% of professional communication).

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of
• Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. 

We offer:
• The opportunity to join one of the world's leading NGOs.:
• Type of Contract:Type of Contract: National contact (obra o labor) or expat contract (fix term)
• Band: G - No Manager
• Duty Station: Bogotá, Colombia
• Start date: August 2026 ( depending on availability of funds)
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Colombian Laws in National Contract. In the case of an expatriate contract, they will comply with Danish law.

Applications close on July 13, 2026 at 11:59 am (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date Will not be considered.

Note 1: The applicant who applies to this selection process authorizes DRC to validate the personal information provided in the CV. Your identification will be checked in public and private databases for the exclusive use of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, money laundry and terrorist financing policies.

Note 2: The applicant who freely and voluntarily wishes to take part in the selection process to occupy the position of this publish, must observe strict adherence to the rules that apply to the matter (suitability in the titles presented, execution of tests in a personal and individual and truthfulness in the information) adhering to the manuals and anti-fraud policies of DRC, under penalty of disqualifying the applicant who incurs in any irregularity in the opinion of the organization, even by 
suspicion, and even in possible criminal conduct under Colombian law.

 

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