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Multi-lingual DRR and humanitarian officer, experienced in disaster response, project cycle management, capacity building, grant writing and remote mapping with an MA in Disasters, Adaptation and Development from King's College, London -(distinction and Best Thesis Award). I am seeking opportunities in humanitarian response programming and available for immediate deployment. |
 Contact Sophia Robson
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Area of Expertise: |
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Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy, Political
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Disaster, Aid, Emergencies, Relief
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Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
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Fundraising, Business Development, Grants Writer
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Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
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Professional Experience: |
At present, I am working for a national level disaster response NGO, in Lima, Peru as their DRR and Humanitarian Programme Officer. My responsibilities include facilitating organizational structural changes and leading detailed thematic humanitarian training for their members. I am updating their in-house documentation and protocols to bring them in line with the requirements of international funding bodies and working on updating their web presence. I advise them on DRR and humanitarian issues in all operational areas (search and rescue, disaster response, humanitarian projects and community/specialist training) and am coordinating a schedule of funding applications grants, evaluating and designing a number of disaster response projects. I also represent the organization at external meetings with the UN coordinating body within the country and attend conferences on their behalf to boost institutional knowledge and presence.
My career has undergone a shift in focus, following fifteen years in the communications and emergency response sector, I am now trained to a postgraduate level and have multiple years experience in various aspects of DRR and humanitarian programme management. In addition to a broad range of transferable skills from those fifteen years in the emergency operations sector, I have an undergraduate degree in Modern Languages and a distinction grade MA in Disasters, Adaptation and Development which led to me being presented with the departmental Best Thesis Award.
My work in the humanitarian sector began in South America, where I undertook voluntary roles in humanitarian and sustainability projects for two years, including working as a team leader and project manager in disaster response coordination, after experiencing the 8.1 earthquake in Pisco, Peru first hand. In my time there with, I designed, implemented, assessed and refined disaster response projects in line with local community needs and capacities within the organization’s pool of volunteers. It was during this time that I realized my combination of languages, resource coordination and research abilities could be put to excellent use in disaster scenarios.
Since then I have been very involved in remote mapping projects with MSF’s Missing Maps Project and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. I have risen in the ranks from novice editor to data validator and mentor, mastering the intricacies various programmes which interface with the OpenStreetMap system, working on many varied mapping projects, from malaria prevention to establishing the requirements of IDPs in Damascus. Recently I have focused on the validation of a project to map rural Tanzania to facilitate outreach for an FGM Safehouse in the Serengeti. I worked on a short-term project with MSF, using a cutting-edge GIS process to digitize hand-drawn field maps of all the chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, to help planning a measles vaccine campaign and to enable the follow-up of contacts of potential future case
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Education: |
MA in Disasters, Adaptation & Development, King's College, London, Jan 2016 (Distinction & Best Thesis Award)
Modules in: Disasters and Development, Social Research Techniques, Environmental Actors and Politics, Community Vulnerability & Disaster Risk, Environment & Livelihoods in the Global South.
Research Internship at Tearfund: Researching the cultural applicability and potential efficacy of disaster micro-insurance for Self Help Groups across Ethiopia, recommending Sharia-compliant Takaful mutual insurance as the most suitable and beneficial mechanism for all involved.
Dissertation (Best Thesis Award): A critical evaluation of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) disaster insurance mechanism, investigating whether the efficacy of its risk modelling mechanisms and institutional policies is sufficient to produce the desired Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation outcomes.
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Previous Education:
BA (Hons): 2:1 classification, 1998, Modern Languages (German & Spanish), University of Bradford.
A-Levels: ABCD grades, 1993, General Studies, English Literature, German, Geography, Scarborough VI Form College.
GCSEs: AAAAAAAAAB grades, 1991, Biology, English Literature and Language, German, Geography, History, Home Economics, Maths, Spanish and Chemistry, Scalby School, Scarborough.
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
Current: PMD Pro 1: Project Management (DisasterReady) and Managing Gender Based Violence Programmes in Emergencies (UNFPA).
July 2018: Basic Field Security in the Field 2.0 (UN),
June 2018: Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster (Harvard and EdX),
May 2018: Building Blocks for Humanitarian Practice (Humanitarian U) and Primer auxilio en emergencias/ Emergency First Aid (SAR Peru),
Apr 2018: Sistema Comande de Incidente (SCI) / Incident Command System (USAID and SAR Peru) and The Basic Principles of Disability Inclusion in Humanitarian Response (ADCAP) and Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Aid (Transparency International Norway) and Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Aid (InterAction) and Soft Skills in Crisis Management for Responders with Psychological First Aid (DisasterReady) and Research Methodology for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster & Medical Humanitarian Response)
Jul 2016: Summer School: Humanitarianism, Sphere in Practice, Log Frames, Monitoring & Evaluation, Proposal & Report Writing, Travel Safety & Security, Disaster Simulation Day (REDR UK)
Jun 2016: Designing and Implementing Monitoring & Evaluation (Alison.com)
May 2016: Shelter and Settlements (USAID)
Feb 2016: Quantum Geographic Information Systems- QGIS (Lynda.com and MSF)
Dec 2015: Human Rights (Amnesty International and EdX)
Aug 2015: Sustainability Auditor (NUS Green Impact Program)
Oct 2014: Validator, Editor and mentoring skills in ID and Java OpenStreetMap (JOSM) programmes (Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team & Missing Maps Project)
July 2014: Emergency First Aid, Moving and Handling Patients (Independent Home Living)
Jan 2013: Health and Safety, Mental Capacity, Data Protection (Yorkshire Ambulance Service)
Jan 2012: Advanced Safeguarding: Children and Adults (Primecare Healthcare Services)
Jan 2012: Pathways Emergency Medical Call Handler (Primecare Healthcare Services)
Feb 2011, NVQ 2, Customer Service
Oct 2005, Advanced ECDL, European Computer Driver’s License: Word
Sept 2005, Advanced Training, Quickbooks
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Available for: |
- Job opportunities
- Internships / Fellowships
- Being headhunted – make me an offer
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Years of Experience:
15-20 years |
Highest Qualification:
Masters |
Languages:
English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish |
Nationality:
Peru
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LinkedIn Profile:
uk.linkedin.com/in/sophs74
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