Country Manager IRAQ

If you are passionate about making results, working with national partners, and jointly bringing about change for those most in need, then you might be the one we are looking for as the Country Manager for Danish Red Cross (DRC) in Iraq. Come lead a great team in support of the IRCS. The Iraq context being challenging sometimes but equally rewarding for someone who want to set and reach tangible results. You will be part of both the DRC regional and the global management team, where your context understanding, strategic thinking and field experience will significant contribute to the implementation of our DRC Ready to Act: International Strategy 2022-2025.

The Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been present in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) since 2002 and in Iraq since 2013. Initial support focussed on building the capacity of the Iraq Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to implement Psychosocial Support (PS) activities, mainly for Syrian refugees in KRI. In 2014, the support was extended to include an emergency relief project to provide WASH and PS services to internally displaced people (IDPs) in KRI and in 2015, the partnership was consolidated through a programme to improve the health of displaced Iraqi populations, Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities. In 2019, the programme initiated emergency cash interventions and provided dedicated support to ensure buy-in for further cash programming and building the technical capacity for cash in the IRCS. In October 2021, DRC established and lead a CVA consortium with GRC and BRC aimed to build the technical capacity of IRCS in the sector, supported by a cash coordinator, and in 2023 IFRC and IRCS joined the consortium. The consortium members continued providing technical support to IRCS through a cash technical advisor.

DRC’s medium size programme in Iraq, funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Novo Nordic Foundation and British Red Cross focuses on areas where humanitarian needs are greatest, with an emphasis on PS, primary healthcare including NCD and MCH, youth employability/ livelihood and cash-based-assistance and Climate Change/ Anticipatory Action, increasingly seeking to contribute to durable solutions and building communities’ ability to cope with the consequences of the conflict, the poverty and the critical effects of the climate crisis. DRC will continue to develop IRCS’ capacity to provide essential assistance in areas of acute need, while supporting the organizational development. By meeting people’s needs through improved access to health care, ensuring basic needs and addressing and improving their psychological well-being, vulnerable people will be supported to develop stronger coping mechanisms and build their resilience to future shocks.

Purpose:
The Country Manager (CM) is overall responsible for ensuring that the DRC-supported Country Programme and partnerships are implemented in line with the DRC International Strategy and Country Strategy, Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) standard operating procedures (SOPs), and donor requirements and guidelines.

The Iraq Country Manager is based in Baghdad at the Headquarters of the IRCS, and is responsible for:

• Strategic direction of DRC engagement in the country, management of the partnership with the IRCS, and support to its continuing capacity development.
• Overall country budget, management, and development of DRC projects in the country, including monitoring implementation and removing impediments;
• Leading and managing the DRC Country Team, based in Baghdad, consisting of a Health Delegate, a Programme Coordinator, a national Finance Officer (based in Dohuk), and a national Project Officer.
• Supporting DRC communications and fundraising for implementation of the DRC International Strategy, and the Country Strategy in Iraq and MENA Region.
• Creating synergies between emergency and recovery programming and exploring more durable solutions through programming. (Building resilience; livelihood-focused interventions, climate change/ anticipatory action, etc).
• Representing DRC and developing the relationships with the RCRC Movement partners, and other key stakeholders such as MFA, ECHO and EU representatives.

The position requires leadership, management, coordination, representation and the provision of programme management and technical assistance to DRC in-country delegates and the Host National Society. This will include formulation, operationalisation, implementation, and overall supervision, monitoring and evaluation of various projects, initiatives and actions as well as further development of the partnership with IRCS and other partners.

Main Responsibilities:

• Maintain and further develop the partnership with IRCS, through regular communication with its senior management and project managers.
• Identifies, seeks collaboration and develops relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support DRC’s goals in Iraq.
• Navigates political interests, establishes position mapping and look for beneficial compromises in any difficult issues.
• Build bridges between stakeholders with different perspectives and cultural frames of reference.
• Represent DRC and DRC principles toward all in-country stakeholders.
• Supervise agreements with IRCS, ICRC and other partners, including in-country PNS and IFRC, if relevant – and promote new movement modalities for cooperation.
• Coordinate with / inform all partners, including local donor representatives, on programmatic and other relevant DRC activities.
• Oversee that baseline and end-line studies, assessments and evaluations for projects are undertaken.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that DRC’s projects enhance IRCS’ Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) in Iraq.
• Monitor HNS accounting systems and practices and support their compliance with DRC SOPs and donor requirements, particularly the submission of quarterly financial and narrative reports, and facilitate the annual audit of project accounts.
• Ensure that all projects have a clear phase-out or transition plan, in close consultation with the IRCS.
• Oversee all stages in the recruitment process of in-country team members, ensuring that it maintains sufficient momentum.
• Ensure an efficient and well-planned onboarding and offboarding of delegates (and national staff, if appropriate).
• Ensure a well-functioning and productive DRC team, a healthy work environment, and clear delegation of responsibilities and coordination of tasks (utilizing planning tools, result-based contracts, and the employee feedback mechanism).
• Drive the strategic development of DRC engagement in Iraq, and prepare supporting documents, such as the Country Strategy.
• Build a solid Country Strategy and annual Results Based Contract together with HoR, DRC HQ and suggest ongoing improvements.
• Drawing on DRC technical matrices and in-country competencies, ensure support to IRCS to develop its staff skills / capacity in the areas of healthcare, cash-based assistance and PS services, PGI, gender and diversity.

Experience and Qualifications

• University Degree in project management, or a relevant technical field such as health, a social science, international development, or similar.

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in development and/or humanitarian project management and programming.
• A minimum of 8 years of actual field experience in direct project implementation in conflict-affected or post-crisis countries.
• Senior and proven experience with team leadership and human resources management.
• Significant Project Cycle Management (PCM) and financial management experience.
• Knowledge of donor interests, application and reporting procedures, particularly of ECHO, DEVCO/EuropeAid and national MFAs.
• Experience in capacity-building of local partners, ideally of Red Cross / Red Crescent National Societies and local branches.
• Documented experience of proposal and report writing.
• The ability to work in Arabic would be an advantage.
• Work experience in the Middle East and Iraq, would be an added value.

Employment Conditions
This is initial a 24-months contract, with possibility for extension and 3 months probationary period. The duty station is Baghdad t in IRAQ with frequent field travels.

The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms and Conditions for Delegates. Attractive salary package, depending on qualifications and experience.