The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is inviting applications for the position of Anticipatory Action Coordinator based in Abuja, Nigeria. The role presents an opportunity for experienced humanitarian professionals to lead innovative anticipatory action initiatives aimed at preventing displacement before humanitarian crises escalate.

The successful candidate will coordinate the implementation of the Scaling Anticipatory Action for Displacement (SAAD) project, a two-year initiative funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The project seeks to transform humanitarian response by shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive prevention through the use of machine learning, early warning systems, and conflict-sensitive planning.

Applications for the position will remain open until 17 July 2026.

Leading Humanitarian Innovation in Nigeria

The Anticipatory Action Coordinator will serve as the primary technical and coordination lead for the SAAD project in Nigeria. Working under the supervision of the Head of Programme in Nigeria and receiving technical guidance from DRC’s regional and global anticipatory action leadership, the coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of anticipatory action strategies designed to reduce displacement caused by conflict.

The position supports DRC’s broader commitment to strengthening humanitarian preparedness by combining predictive analytics, protection monitoring, community-based early warning systems, and peacebuilding initiatives.

The selected candidate will play a central role in ensuring that humanitarian interventions are activated before violence and displacement reach critical levels, helping vulnerable communities receive timely support.

About the SAAD Project

The Scaling Anticipatory Action for Displacement (SAAD) project will run from July 2026 to June 2028 and focuses on improving humanitarian preparedness through data-driven forecasting and community engagement.

In Nigeria, the initiative will build on DRC’s existing protection monitoring and peacebuilding programmes to anticipate localized conflict dynamics associated with:

Farmer-herder conflicts
Transhumance-related tensions
Competition over natural resources
Community and armed group friction
Displacement along conflict corridors

By linking displacement forecasting models with existing early warning systems, the project aims to activate pre-agreed humanitarian measures before violence escalates and displacement occurs.

Key Responsibilities

The Anticipatory Action Coordinator will lead both technical implementation and stakeholder coordination throughout the project lifecycle.

Core responsibilities include:

Developing and operationalising conflict-sensitive Anticipatory Action Plans (AAPs)
Designing trigger mechanisms for anticipatory humanitarian interventions
Coordinating machine learning displacement forecasting models
Leading integrated context analyses and community consultations
Facilitating collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations, humanitarian partners, and academic institutions
Managing anticipatory action activations and documenting evidence of project impact
Supporting donor reporting, project management, and financial oversight
Contributing to policy development and national advocacy on anticipatory action
Promoting knowledge sharing through case studies, learning briefs, and policy papers

The coordinator will also represent DRC in Nigeria’s National Technical Working Group on Anticipatory Action and strengthen collaboration with protection, peacebuilding, and emergency response actors.

Required Qualifications and Experience

DRC is seeking candidates with substantial humanitarian experience and strong technical expertise in anticipatory action and displacement programming.

Applicants should possess:

At least five years of experience in humanitarian programming within conflict-affected settings
A minimum of two years of experience in anticipatory action, early warning systems, disaster risk management, or rapid response mechanisms
Demonstrated experience working in Nigeria or the wider West African region
Strong understanding of displacement dynamics, humanitarian coordination, and conflict-sensitive programming
Experience designing anticipatory action projects and preparedness systems
Excellent stakeholder coordination and facilitation skills
Strong analytical, communication, and project management abilities
Full professional fluency in written and spoken English
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and monitoring and data analysis tools
Willingness to travel up to 30 percent of the time, including to conflict-affected field locations

Experience in peacebuilding, social cohesion programming, sub-grant management, and humanitarian monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) approaches will be considered an advantage.

Educational Requirements

Candidates should hold an academic qualification in a relevant discipline, including:

International or Humanitarian Affairs
Political Science
Peace and Conflict Studies
Geography
Environmental Studies
Sociology
Anthropology
Forced Migration Studies
Other related social science fields

Employment Details

The Anticipatory Action Coordinator position offers both expatriate and national contract options, depending on applicant eligibility.

Key employment details include:

Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria
Area of Operation: Nigeria
Contract Duration: One year, renewable
Expected Start Date: August 2026
Employment Band: G (Non-Manager)
Contract Type: Expatriate or National

DRC notes that international employment contracts cannot be offered to Nigerian citizens assigned to Nigeria.

About the Danish Refugee Council

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian non-governmental organisation and one of the world’s leading agencies specialising in forced displacement. Operating in nearly 30 countries with more than 6,000 employees, DRC works to protect refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities through humanitarian assistance, advocacy, and sustainable development initiatives.

The organisation is recognised globally for its leadership in anticipatory action for displacement and currently designs and implements forecasting and anticipatory response mechanisms across multiple countries. DRC also co-leads the Global Working Group on Anticipatory Action for Displacement alongside the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Interested applicants are required to submit an updated curriculum vitae of no more than four pages and a cover letter in English through the DRC careers portal before the 17 July 2026 application deadline.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.