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

Mobilise communities and support the formation, training and functioning of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in high-risk villages.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct community mobilisation and participatory meetings in selected villages to explain the CERT concept and agree on membership, ensuring inclusive representation of women, youth and vulnerable groups.
• Form CERTs in 20 villages per district and maintain updated lists and contact details of members and focal persons.
• Coordinate with Rescue 1122/DDMA/ERT trainers to organise CERT capacity-building sessions and drills; facilitate attendance and follow-up.
• Assist in distribution, orientation and proper use of community emergency response kits; support inventory and handover procedures.
• Promote community-based early warning dissemination, first-aid, evacuation planning and simple preparedness measures through regular village sessions.
• Hold monthly CERT meetings to review preparedness actions, update response plans, and strengthen coordination among members and local authorities.
• Collect data on CERT activities, simulations and real responses, and share with the District Coordinator and M&E team.

Qualifications and experience

• Intermediate or Bachelor’s degree
• 2–3 years’ experience in community mobilisation, preferably in DRR/DRM or emergency response.
• Strong communication skills in local languages
• Comfort working with both male and female groups in conservative communities.

Key competencies

• Strong community engagement and communication skills.
• Sensitivity to gender, protection and inclusion issues.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the district.

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 04 social organizers per district (02 male & 02 female)