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 the support of the Donor Funded Project, is implementing a multi-district project aimed at strengthening Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Anticipatory Action (AA), and shock-responsive social protection systems in climate-vulnerable districts of southern Punjab, including Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

Southern Punjab hosts over 23 million people and is among Pakistan’s most climate-exposed regions, facing recurrent riverine floods, flash floods from hill torrents, droughts, and extreme heat. The districts lie along the Indus River system, River Chenab, River Sutlej, and the foothills of the Sulaiman Range, making them highly vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards. Recurrent shocks in 2022, 2024, and 2025 have repeatedly damaged crops, housing, irrigation systems, and livelihoods, disproportionately affecting women, smallholder farmers, landless laborers, and marginalized groups.

Despite the availability of early warning information at national and provincial levels, forecast-based decision-making, trigger definition, and last-mile early action remain weakly institutionalized, particularly at district level. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) face persistent capacity constraints, fragmented coordination with social protection systems (BISP, Social Welfare, Bait-ul-Mal), and limited use of hydro-meteorological and GIS-based risk analysis to guide anticipatory actions.

ACT International has successfully operationalized Anticipatory Action in District Khairpur (Sindh), where forecast-based triggers enabled anticipatory cash transfers to 2,200 households 35-40 hours before flooding during 2025, significantly reducing losses and enabling timely evacuation and food access. Building on this experience, and aligned with Donor Funded project of Anticipatory Action Framework, ACT aims to institutionalize forecast-based, gender-responsive anticipatory action mechanisms in southern Punjab, closely linked with social protection and food security systems.

To address these gaps, Outputs 1 and 2 of the ACT donor funded project focus on institutionalising anticipatory action within provincial and district systems by strengthening PDMA and DDMA capacities, developing flood Anticipatory Action (AA) protocols and SOPs, and embedding disaster‑risk layers and forecast‑based triggers into social protection design and delivery. Under Output 1, the project will train key government stakeholders on AA, lead DDMA‑driven risk analyses and trigger development, formalise DRM–social protection coordination mechanisms, and co‑create risk‑tagged budget templates to enable forecast‑based financing for AA activation. Building directly on these foundations, Output 2 will review and revise existing District Disaster Management Plans so they incorporate the new triggers, funding pathways and pre‑agreed action menus, resulting in endorsed, operational DMPs that can guide timely, predictable and gender‑responsive anticipatory responses before floods and other hazards strike.

Purpose

Provide overall leadership and management for Outputs 1 and 2, ensuring delivery of institutional capacity strengthening and updated DDMPs in line with WFP Anticipatory Action (AA) framework.

Key responsibilities

• Lead work-planning, implementation and monitoring of all activities under Output 1 (institutional capacity, AA protocols, coordination, risk-tagged financing) and Output 2 (DMP review and revision).
• Coordinate closely with PDMA, DDMAs, social protection authorities, NIDM, Rescue 1122 and other line departments for design and delivery of trainings, workshops and consultations.
• Supervise district coordinators, field facilitators, M&R Officer, Finance and Admin/HR/Log staff assigned to Outputs 1–2.
• Ensure integration of gender, protection, inclusion and environmental/social safeguards in all activities.
• Oversee quality of technical products (risk analysis reports, AA protocols, SOPs, risk-tagged budget templates, revised DDMPs) with support from AA Specialist, Hydromet/GIS Specialist and Adaptive SP Expert.
• Lead regular coordination/review meetings, ensure timely donor and internal reporting (progress, indicator tracking, lessons).
• Manage risks, adapt plans based on evolving context and ensure alignment with provincial and national DRM frameworks.

Qualifications and experience

• Master’s degree in Disaster Management, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Development Studies or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years’ project management experience in DRM, DRR, AA or social protection, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions (PDMA, DDMAs, social protection, line departments).
• Strong understanding of WFP/UN project modalities, results frameworks and budgeting.

Key competencies

• Strategic leadership and team management.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and representation skills.
• Excellent analytical and report-writing abilities.
• Ability to travel frequently to field districts.

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 position is filled.The position will be based in Rajanpur and will require frequent travel to Rahim Yar Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan.