Eastern HUB – FSL Coordinator (M/F) – Northeast Syria and IRAQ

Desired start date: 15th April 24
Duration of the mission: 6 months with possibility to extend
Location: Hassakeh or Erbil

ABOUT US

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.

ABOUT THE MISSION

To enhance technical support for our field teams and better respond to the evolving context**, Syria and Iraq mission have merged** and decentralized programmatic support under the Eastern Hub. This hub oversees operations in northeast Syria (NES) and Iraq and is managed by a Hub Director, with support from a Deputy Hub Director responsible for Programs.

SI programmatic strategy is tailored to the specific needs of the two main areas within the Eastern Hub: NES and Iraq.

NES. The strategy consists of three main components. The first axis aims at providing emergency lifesaving assistance to populations affected by new shocks. This includes a range of basic emergency activities: water trucking, installation of emergency WASH infrastructures, emergency MPCA, distribution of WASH/Shelter emergency NFIs. The second axis of NES strategy provides assistance to IDPs and host communities affected by degraded living conditions. Under this axis, SI aims at improving communities’ living conditions (through rehabilitation of private shelter, ensuring better access to safe water storage and sanitation), ensuring communities’ basic needs (through safe water supply, WASH and shelter kits distributions, food vouchers and multi-round MPCA), and improving their access to livelihoods (through support to small-scall food and livestock production, MPCA with a contiguum approach, IGA, WASH infrastructure maintenance). Building resilience amongst com munities to enable them to adapt to water scarcity, climate change and economic crisis stands as the third axis of this strategy. It encompasses activities aiming at adapting to water scarcity (through maintenance of water infrastructures, agro-ecology, installation of alternatives energy sources for more sustained water-supply systems, conduction of studies on soil and water, etc.), fostering resilience to economic crisis (through supporting and developing private businesses, rehabilitating community asses and support micro-economy initiatives), and building the resilience to new shock (development of DRR approaches, development of local governance capacities, improving surveillance systems). To support this strategy, SI intends to develop further its local partnerships and supports to technical departments, while continuing to be highly active in various humanitarian coordination platforms.

Donors currently supporting SI response in NES are the following: ECHO, BHA, FPI, CDCS, GIZ.

Iraq’s humanitarian context has evolved significantly in recent years. The global trend has shifted towards longer-term and sustainable solutions for IDPs, returnees, refugees and host communities. SI is adapting to this shift by incorporating climate change considerations into its strategy, particularly focusing on strengthening communities’ resilience by improving integrated water and natural resources management, as well as economic support to strengthen populations’ resilience at risk against severe consequences of climate change. Under this axis, SI works at community level with local civil society organizations and provides support for capacity sharing between organizations. This approach is complemented by activities aiming at strengthening communities and individuals’ resilience and economic security by improving their access to sustainable and climate smart livelihoods. SI implements livelihoods activities through catchment/watershed areas based a pproach, and intends to start agroecology activities in the near future through local partnerships. Eventually, SI Iraq’ strategy aims at developing and mainstreaming DRR activities and improving preparedness and response capacities within communities to strengthen their resilience to shocks and disasters.

Donors currently supporting SI response in Iraq are the following: AFD, CDCS, Belgium MOFA.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

• The FSL Coordinator for Northeast Syria (NES) and Iraq, as technical advisor of the “Eastern Hub” of the Syria-Iraq mission, contributes to the development of the Hub strategy by proposing a sector-based strategy in the field of Food Security and Livelihood (FSL).
• He/she specifically guarantees the quality and suitability of proposed technical approaches and ensures the appropriateness of FSL activities and general SI objectives to the needs of the local populations.
• He/she coordinates the project cycle and more particularly the operational monitoring of FSL programs implemented in the intervention country.
• He/she contributes to the process of capitalization and the improvement of Solidarités International methods and techniques in the field of FSL

The main challenges:

• 3 Field Offices with a wide range of activities to support on FSL from a purely technical perspective.
• Different FSL perspectives and opportunities between NES and Iraq
• New Hub structure, with communication channels and roles and responsibilities to be adapted along the way.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Ensure the close follow up to IRAQ livelihoods projects and implementation of LLH activities.
• Update and initiate the new referral mechanism across the NES bases in collaboration with PMs.
• Support the bases in the kickoff of new projects and ensure good implementation of new activities (such as VSLA – not to be mentioned)
• In close collaboration with the bases, lead the development of projects responding to agriculture and water scarcity challenges.

MID-TERMS PRIORITIES:

• Support PM in the implementations of the projects (BHA, CDCS and GIZ in NES, CDCS in Iraq). This is specifically the case for Iraq, where a close follow-up is expected. This includes technical follow-up & validation (tools, assessments, workplan), providing guidance to PM, conducting training and build their capacities.
• Strategic design.Together with Iraq Country Representative and Deputy Hub Director for Programs, conduction of workshops to develop LOI, clear outcomes / outputs, review BOQs, and strongly support proposal writing process.
• Representation. In coordination with Deputy Hub Director for Programs and FCs/Iraq Country Representative, ensure an excellent representation of SI to all relevant FSL coordination platforms. Start also engaging with local authorities and technical departments, as well as main suppliers both in NES and in Iraq.
• HR. Support new recruitments and start engaging with relevant colleagues to design a nationalization plan for key FSL positions (mid/long term, NES).

Responsibilities and main activities:

• Strategic orientation
• Relevance and quality of project
• Coordination, technical support and operational monitoring
• Capitalization
• Personnel management
• Reporting / communication / representation

YOUR PROFIL

Education / academic background:

• University degree (Master’s Degree preferred) in a relevant field such as Agricultural Sciences, Nutrition, Food Security, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Additional certifications / training in Natural Resources Management is appreciated.

Specific skills and experience:

• Experience in developing projects is essential.
• Experience in shifting from emergency / protracted programmatic programming towards longer-term / sustainable solutions is appreciated.
• Experience in the Middle East is highly appreciated and
• Experience in representing his/her organization to high level technical platforms, as well as with governments/local authorities’ technical bodies.
• Flexibility, and capacity to adapt their level of support to the different skills and capacities of the field teams.
• Strong communication skills, with the willingness to adapt communication channels to the newly created Hub structure.
• Representation: capacities to bring SI positioning to high-level technical platforms, and to identify new opportunities with other agencies / organizations; and
• Excellent abilities to coordinate with people of different sectors/departments.

Language:

• Excellent analytical and writing skills in English

• Knowledge of Arabic would be appreciated

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried position:

According to experience, starting from EUR 2860 gross per month (2600 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 700 for HSK or 750 for ERB as per the position location.

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.

Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

• The candidate will be based either in Hassake or in Erbil. Hassake requires quite strict security rules. Both in Erbil and in Hassake, there are opportunities to socialize, go out. Living conditions are comfortable. The candidate will have his own room, and well-equipped common areas.

SECURITY CONSTRAINT:

• Security inside NES is volatile and justifies specific arrangements for accommodation and displacements in the areas of intervention. While the context of Iraq is less volatile than in NES, restrictions of movement in Iraq may occur punctually and can lead to delays in some activities, in particular in Ninewa governorate.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!

Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.

Thank you for your understanding.

To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org

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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme – qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.

Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.

Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.

Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.