Economic Recovery Coordinator- Erbil

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. In 2003, following the start of foreign military operations in Iraq, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country and now operates in 11 governorates, including Anbar, Baghdad, Babel, Diyala, Duhok, Erbil, Karbala, Kirkuk, Najaf, Ninewa and Salah-al-Din.

Overall purpose of the role:

DRC Iraq is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Economic Recovery Coordinator who will provide high-quality strategic guidance, capacity strengthening, and technical leadership to DRC Iraq’s Economic Recovery portfolio, across three sub-sectors (food security, financial inclusion, and decent livelihoods) and who will promote and reinforce DRC Iraq’s leadership and expertise in building self-reliance and resilience for conflict-, climate-, and displacement-affected populations in the country. This position will provide overall technical leadership and coordination to all aspects of DRC’s economic recovery programming in Iraq, while serving as a strong representative for DRC in relevant external forums. A specific focus for the role will be related to the use of Market Systems Approaches (MSA) in support of developing decent and sustainable market-based programming models for employment and business support interventions, as well as more advanced program models such as market systems, value chains or business environment support and development interventions, including through the development of strategic partnerships with civil society actors and the private sector. This should also include climate-smart livelihoods. A secondary focus will be to support the development of integrated programming across DRC’s core sectors of intervention in Iraq. The Economic Recovery Coordinator reports to the Head of Programme and works in close collaboration with peer technical Coordinators, including across DRC’s core sectors, including protection, Humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding, and shelter and settlements.

• Designation of Duty Station: Erbil with travel across country (Non R&R location)
• Management or Non-Management: Non-Management position
• Reporting to: Head of Programme
• Direct reports: None

Responsibilities

Programme Strategy & Resilient Livelihoods Program Development:

• Support the contextual revision and roll out of the DRC Iraq economic recovery strategy, aligned with the DRC Iraq Strategic Plan and Global Strategy,
• Lead the technical design and review of concept notes, logical frameworks, budgets, and full proposals under economic recovery with sensitivity to improving age, gender, and diversity outcomes
• Lead in the development of resilient livelihood and sustainable economic recovery programming approaches through lens of system thinking, strategic partnerships, local capacities development and linking with development actors in country.
• Foster strategic private sector engagement, technically and financially, and maintain those strategic relationships with high quality engagement.
• Promote and ensure development and quality implementation through market systems approaches (MSA) across the programming, particularly looking at moving toward small and medium enterprises support through value chains approaches and local economic development plans, when feasible looking at climate-smart businesses.
• Ensure technical frameworks for SMEs development, financial inclusion, graduation approach, and skill development are all updated and aligned with development in local economic context
• Proactively engage in bilateral coordination with local and international NGOs as well as with international public organizations to refine, expand and strengthen DRC’s referral and information assistance and partner networks whilst seeking new partnerships for innovative economic recovery programming.
• Ensure that all economic recovery interventions are informed by market conditions through leading and overseeing regular labour market and skills assessments, household economy approaches, risk and vulnerability analysis.
• Propose innovative project design ideas and explore their feasibility.
• Lead in development of programming concept and frameworks for Women Economic Empowerment (WEE).
• Foster and ensure integration of Economic Recovery activities with other DRC sectors, particularly Protection
• Regularly visit programme activities and provide support and feedback to staff and implementing partners on programme approaches and methodological issues.
• Maintain technical links with DRC Regional and HQ counterparts to ensure that DRC Iraq programmatic priorities align with and respond to global priorities.

Technical Oversight and support

• Coordinate DRC Iraq’s Economic Recovery programme and provide team members with technical guidance and support, including through regular coordination meetings and field visits
• Guide the Economic Recovery teams in conducting regular market assessments, including value chains analysis, and system analysis.
• Guide the Economic Recovery team in implementing the Graduation Approach, WEE, climate-resilient, and advanced livelihoods.
• Ensure all Economic Recovery tools, SOPs and guidelines are regularly updated, provide sound and coordinated revision when needed, and ensure all staff are trained and are implementing as per the standards.
• Assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures and alignment with global strategy, through regular coordination with colleagues in support services at Area Office and Country Office level.
• Complete regular field visits to ensure technical oversight, capacity building and support, identify needs, and ensure quality programming
• Ensure that programming is integrated with other DRC sectors by closely working with other sector coordinators and relevant staff in the field
• Work closely with partnership specialist in development of partnership models and establish strategic partnership agreements with public, private actors related to economic recovery and resilience programming.
• Lead on the development of relevant and appropriate beneficiary selection criteria and beneficiary identification process and oversee compliance to agreed standards and guidelines
• Development of harmonized job descriptions and structures for economic recovery teams across all areas and support recruitment of technical staff in the same field
• Identify technical gaps and support capacity building for technical line reports, and contribute to setting performance objectives and performance appraisals of technical staff in the same field
• When necessary, and with approval of his/her line manager, provide stop-gap support in absence of PMs/TLs, in close coordination with senior national colleagues (identified by the PM before his/her absence)

Quality Assurance

• Oversight of overall program implementation progress and quality; identification, resolution and/or escalation of issues affecting implementation, with attention to ensuring age, gender, and diversity outcomes
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning department (MEAL) to develop harmonized tools and databases to monitor and track efficiency and quality of programming and improve information management within the sector focal points
• Work closely with MEAL in design, implementation, and evaluation of sector-level programming
• Coordinate with MEAL to ensure accountability mechanisms are established for programming
• Support MEAL in rolling out qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation approaches aiming to build contextually grounded learning into programme activities; as well as developing harmonized tools and databases to monitor and track efficiency and quality of programming and improve information management within the sector focal points

Programme Development, Coordination, and Oversight

• Lead technical design of project proposals, in coordination with the HoP, PDQM, and area teams
• Provide technical review of all proposals and reports, including donor budgets and other relevant sector-specific donor communications
• Map donor priorities within given sector and identify new opportunities
• Offer technical review within grant review meetings for relevant projects and lead on technical review for grant opening and closeout meetings.
• Oversight and monitoring of overall sector budget, in coordination with PMs and Area Managers or Base Managers, monitoring for timely sector-level spend, and initiate corrective action, including internal and donor budget realignments
• Oversight and coordination of sectoral projects, in coordination with Area Managers and PMs and other relevant field staff
• Lead on developing assessments, including inter-sectoral assessments to inform evidence-based planning and implementation

Coordination and Donor Engagement

• Represent DRC in relevant internal and external coordination forums and provide technical leadership among peer organizations, ensuring high visibility of DRC Iraq’s portfolio
• Lead participation at relevant Clusters and Task Force, including direct participation at the national level and coordination of representation at the sub-national level, and participate in working groups/strategic advisory groups, to represent DRC and its mandate
• Act as the main sector-level point of contact with donors as requested by HoP and support donor visits to the field
• Provide technical input and support strategic direction of the sector-level response within the response community
• Liaise with local, regional, and national government authorities and relevant stakeholders
• Maintain close working relationships with technical leads within DRC Iraq, Middle East Regional Office, and HQ to ensure strategy and implementation coherence with overall objectives.
• Develop and maintain DRC Iraq’s network of private sector partnerships at national and international level and expand the scope of work
• Take active role in pushing DRC’s economic recovery advocacy messages in relevant coordination forums.

Other

• Ensure adherence to DRC’s Age, Gender, and Diversity policy and AGD programmatic minimum standards
• Ensure compliance with zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy
• Ensure documentation and consolidation of success stories, in coordination with DRC’s communications specialist, which can be communicated externally and to ensure that DRC is able to articulate and document relevant best practice.
• Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply chain in accordance with the Operational Handbook.
• Perform other relevant tasks as requested by and in discussion with the Head of Programme

Experience and technical competencies:

• At least five years proven and successful track record as technical advisor or project manager with strong resilience background in the field of livelihoods/economic recovery, and proven experience working in economic recovery programming in a fragile middle-income country, and preferably within a displacement setting.
• Experience in developing country level technical economic recovery strategies and rolling them out
• Experience in implementing market systems approaches (MSA) and fostering strategic private sector engagement
• Experience in implementing the Graduation Approach, WEE, climate-resilient and advanced livelihoods
• Experience of working in projects with strong financial inclusion components, i.e., micro-finance institutes, insurance companies, and informal financing approaches.
• Experience and expertise in MSMEs implementation, both in urban and rural contexts.
• Experience and expertise in conducting market assessments, in particular value-chain assessments, and relevant analysis for program design.
• Up to date on latest trends in humanitarian and livelihoods and food security innovation
• Experience working with INGOs or UN agencies.
• Excellent skills in programme development and proposal writing.
• Experience with project cycle management and project management tools such as logical frameworks, work plans, and monitoring plans.
• Strong experience in working with local and international partners, local/government authorities, and donor guidelines.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

Ideally, you also have

• Previous experience working in Middle East region.
• Ability to communicate technical information in an easy to understand, informative and collaborative manner.
• Good knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards or other accountability measures/standards.
• Experience in financial inclusion, e-wallets, and digital livelihoods is desirable

Education:

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies, or another relevant field

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.
• Arabic is an asset

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Economic Recovery PMs/TLs
• Programme Development and MEAL teams
• Area Managers
• Local partners, private sector, and academic institutions

Start date: November 2022

Closing date for applications: 10 October 2022

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

1. Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
2. Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
3. Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
4. Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
5. Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Diversity & Inclusion: DRC Iraq is committed to promoting an inclusive work environment according to our Age, Gender, and Diversity approach (AGD). We aim to have a more diversified leadership structure creating opportunities for qualified women to take on managerial roles. We also continuously work to make our workplace more accessible for persons with specific needs. We offer benefits related to psychosocial support, health insurance, maternity and paternity leave, child sick leave, and lactation breaks. As part of our commitment to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, we strongly encourage applications from female candidates, persons living with disabilities, as well as representatives of minorities.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo