IRAQ – Country Director (M/F) – Erbil

Desired start date: 15/05/22

Duration of the mission: 12 months

Location: Erbil

About the mission…

Solidarites International (SI) is a well-recognised emergency humanitarian actor operating in Iraq since 2017 with strong expertise in WASH sector providing support to most vulnerable population affected by displacement and conflict. The organisation has had a continuous presence in Mosul areas (including the suburb Muhallabiyah), Sinjar, Baaj. The mission has constant presence of 8 expatriates in Erbil/Mosul/ Sinjar/ Bardarash

The organization is one of the main WASH actors in the country (notably in Ninewa plain and KRI), specialising in water supply and sanitation facilities rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance; distribution of hygiene items at the individual and household level; provision of hygiene awareness and promotion sessions in camps, schools, and households. Through the lead of two consortiums in the implementation of in-camp and out-of-camp WASH response during 2018 and 2019, Solidarités international was able to help providing assistance to more than 145,400 IDPs in the governorates of Ninewa, Baghdad, Salahaldin, Diyala, and Anbar. In September 2019, it has also conducted a quick WASH response in the camps of Ninewa, Salahaldin, and Baghdad with three partners reaching 16,054 individuals. Finally, SI has been providing WASH assistance in the refugee camps of Gawilan and Bardarash through due to the refugees’ influx from North-East Syria since 2019. The organization is well recognized and accepted in both camps from the beneficiaries and the camp authorities. Due to its capacity to mobilize funds rapidly, SI has since then built a strong positioning leading the WASH response in sites concerned by the refugees’ influx.

SI is implementing projects through 2 different bases:

• Sinjar/Baaj in GoI – recovery action for return areas through WaSH and livelihood activites
• Mosul/Tel Afar in GoI – post-emergency WaSH assistance for population living in informal settlements

In Iraq SI is the lead of two WaSH consortium, one IHF funded and one ECHO funded mainly focusing on providing assistance to IDPs living outside of camp. SI is also implementing activities through a CDCS grant.

About the job…

General objectives

• Represent the organization in country toward partners, donors and local authorities.

• Ensure the smooth running of the mission.

• Ensure development and implementation of the mission strategy, and positioning in Iraq based on geopolitical and humanitarian context.

• Mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources.

• Monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with the Solidarités International charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures.

• Coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission.

• Direct liaison with Solidarités International HQ.

Specific stakes and challenges

• Contextual and security analysis in country

• Actively seek for funding and cooperation opportunities in Iraq competitive environment; ensure low financial risk of operations, continuation of program and possible expansion in terms of geographical areas and sectors

• Develop stakeholder analysis, develop and maintain strong relation with donors,

• Ensure access to intervention areas

• Readjust the operational strategy according to contextual evolutions, and maintain a strong internal coordination with SI mission in Syria.

• Systematization of compliance to internal regulations rules

Priorities for the 2/3 first months

• Ensure continuation of program and funding

• Understand the articulation of Iraq mission with Syria mission

• Priorizing the efforts to be done in terms of compliance at mission level

Your profile

Experience:

• More than 3 years of professional humanitarian experience at senior management level.

Specific required skills

• Proven ability to develop a strategy
• Representation, communication and interpersonal skills
• Fundraising, grants management experience is highly desirable
• Anticipation, decision taking and initiative capacities
• Great work capacity and stress management
• Previous experience in Iraq and/or Middle East
• Experience in development and/or early recovery environment is highly desirable
• Good knowledge on project management cycle, from the design to the monitoring

Languages:

Good and proven writing and spoke English are required (Arabic/French is an asset)

SI will offer you

A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 3300 euros gross per month (3000€ base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem rate of 750 USD a month. SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation:
During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. Our policy was just modified: from now on, Solidarités offers you 7 working days ever three months, with a 850 USD allowance for each break. In addition to these regular break, SI adds a day off per worked month. These days off as well as the breaks are not deducted from the paid leaves that are paid every months with your salary as they are offered by the organization.

Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses 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.