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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
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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: |
I have been working in the humanitarian & emergency response sectors for over 15 years, with cumulative broad experience in integrative disaster risk reduction, including funding applications, grant management and programme coordination in the context of humanitarian interventions relating to WASH, health, shelter, food security, livelihoods, environmental awareness, gender empowerment and education. I am actively seeking a new role working in programme coordination for grassroots projects and community development in the humanitarian sector.
My initial field experiences involved working with grassroots NGOs in South America, including providing a mobile school to informal settlements in Venezuela and coordinating reconstruction projects in the immediate aftermath of a massive earthquake in Pisco, Peru. I have since worked in a range of UK based projects including the training & capacity building of remote mappers for the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) and Tanzania Development Trust and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as well as working in the training department of the Independent School Inspectorate in London, preparing training materials for school inspectors and undertaking a range of legal compliance tasks (police background checks, processing data protection requests & compiling reports). Subsequently I worked as Humanitarian Programme Manager, focusing on capacity building for a Peruvian search and rescue NGO, helping them incorporate international standards and norms into their programme as well as building staff, volunteer and partner organization capacity around these themes and helping them apply for funding and external support.
Most recently, I have just completed a two year contract as Programme and Operations Manager for Otra Cosa Network, an international NGO, based in Northern Peru, where I coordinated a range of projects in informal settlements, identifying and responding to the needs of the target population. Projects included helping reduce barriers to education and boosting livelihood prospects for beneficiaries, many of whom were IDPs, fleeing disaster and climate change related incidents as well as political refugees from Venezuela. I worked with a range of local, national and international partners and stakeholders, including being country coordinator for Global Girls Leading Our World (Global G.L.O.W), an international NGO focusing on gender empowerment through literacy and value orientated after school education, including instilling a love of reading and the creation of several community libraries. I was responsible coordinating Otra Cosa and Global GLOW’s Programmes and Operations in Peru, managing a team of local and international staff (managing 7 direct reports and 12 indirect reports) and in turn I reported directly to the Directors and Board who were based in Europe. I undertook weekly one-on-ones, performance reviews and identified and facilitated relevant training to boost staff performance.
I led their fundraising team, identifying relevant funding opportunities, coordinating needs assessments, creating concept notes and proposals, writing applications and preparing budgets as per donor requirements. I managed donor communications to ensure compliance with their funding parameters and created and submitted regular financial and narrative reports in a time-sensitive manner. Under my leadership we received and renewed many grants to support a wide range of programming, including Coronavirus contingency funding from The Fore RAFT Transition Fund, The LUSH Charity Pot and various other UK based Charitable Trusts as well as The British Embassy in Lima and the US based Global G.L.O.W. Foundation.
I am currently an honorary Board Member of two DRR and sustainability NGOs in Peru: GRIDES and SEDYS, working with them on educational content to address the Coronavirus pandemic and the provision of educational, health and wellbeing materials for children in the are
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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: |
Additional Training:
Present: Nature Based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience PEDRR, UNEP, EC, SDG Academy & EdX
Present: How to facilitate effective DRR and Climate Adaptation meetings Red Cross, Crescent Climate Centre
2020: First International Conference on Disasters and Emergencies: COVID19 CEUNO- Centro de Estudios Universitarios del Nuevo Occidente
2020: Sphere in Practice The Sphere Project
2020: FIELD Managers in Emergencies Learning & Development/Cross Cutting Themes: Equality, Diversity, Inclusion; Safeguarding; Staff Care & Wellbeing. Save the Children & World Vision
2020: FIELD Managers /Leading & Managing People in Emergencies: Recruitment & Induction in Emergencies; People & Performance Management. Save the Children & World Vision
2020: FIELD Managers /Logistics: Humanitarian Logistics; Field Office Setup; Transport and Distribution; Procurement; Warehousing; Telecommunication; Inventory Management; Strategic Planning and Logistics Needs Assessment. Save the Children & World Vision
2020: Managing Gender Based Violence Programmes in Emergencies United Nations Population Fund
2020: Drawdown Initiative: Climate Change Response Strategies La Alianza de Pachamama
2019: Safeguarding Essentials Kaya Connect
2019: Managing Stress in Humanitarian Workers Antares Foundation
2018: PMD Pro 1: Project Management, Module 1 Lingos
2018: Basic Security in the Field 2.0 United Nations (Interagency)
2018: Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster HarvardX
2018: Building Blocks for Humanitarian Practice Humanitarian U
2018: Emergency First Aid SAR Peru
2018: Incident Command System (ICS) USAID and SAR Peru
2018: Principles of Disability Inclusion in Humanitarian Response ADCAP
2018: Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Aid Transparency International
2018: Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Aid InterAction
2018: Soft Skills: Crisis Management for Responders with Psychological First Aid UN Emergency Preparedness Support Team & DisasterReady
2018: Research Methodology for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response Oxford Uni & CHUK Disaster & Medical Humanitarian Response
2016: Humanitarianism, Sphere Project, Log Frames, Monitoring and Evaluation, Proposal and Report Writing, Travel Safety and Security, Disaster Simulation REDR UK Summer School
2015: Human Rights Amnesty International and EdX
2015: Sustainability Auditor (IEMA) NUS Green Impact Program
1999: Active Nonviolence and Conflict Resolution Training Facilitator Peacemaker Training Institute & CRC, Fellowship of Reconciliation
2014: Emergency First Aid, Moving and Handling Patients (Independent Home Living)
2013: Health and Safety, Mental Capacity, Data Protection (Yorkshire Ambulance Service)
2012: Advanced Safeguarding: Children and Adults (Primecare Healthcare Services)
2012: Pathways Emergency Medical Call Handler (Primecare Healthcare Services)
2011: NVQ 2, Customer Service
2005: Advanced ECDL, European Computer Driver’s License: Word
2005: Advanced Training, Quickbooks
1999: Active Nonviolence and Conflict Resolution Training Facilitator, Peacemaker Training Institute & CRC, Fellowship of Reconciliation
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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:
United Kingdom
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LinkedIn Profile:
uk.linkedin.com/in/sophs74
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