NGO Coordination Focal Point

ROLE PURPOSE:

Four months into the crisis, the scale-up of the IASC-led humanitarian response countrywide is progressing and a strengthened NGO coordination is needed to support an inclusive, comprehensive and coherent NGO humanitarian response.

As NGOs operations tend to stabilize, the NGO coordination service which was initially provided by ICVA has been handed over to the NGO community in Ukraine. This service is meant to take the form of a dedicated, light and flexible NGO coordination resource to address priority humanitarian issues during the acute phase of the crisis. It supports key coordination services and it helps structuring the NGO community into a formal coordination platform over the coming months. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

The purpose of the NGO Coordination Focal Point is to support coordination among NGOs operating in Ukraine, support information sharing and dissemination, and ensure adequate NGO representation in the various coordination mechanisms.

S/he supervises that an advocacy strategy is defined by humanitarian NGOs. S/he also supervises that the NGOs delivering humanitarian assistance dispose of clear and agreed upon ways of working and collective outputs in order to sustain a principled and effective collective action. Namely, the NGO Coordination focal point fosters the Humanitarian Principles application and the preservation of humanitarian space.

The following is a brief description of the role.

Generic responsibilities

1. Ensure effective coordination and communication among NGOs, technical committee and groups, donors, UN and other stakeholders. Coordination is one of the key elements of the position.
2. Identify and gain NGO support to carry out programme activities such as advocacy and communication, capacity building, coordination and information management.
3. With the support of engaged NGOs and relevant working groups, develop and implement an advocacy strategy.
4. Act as a focal point for the NGOs on humanitarian issues. Represent the NGOs to external stakeholders – donors, government, coordination bodies, and local and international NGOs. Include engaged NGOs in representation as much as possible and as appropriate. Network with relevant actors to help achieve NGOs objectives.
5. Ensure compliance and adherence to Save the Children and donors policies, guidance and procedures.

Specific responsibilities

These responsibilities shall be adapted to the particularities of the job location and context, phase of operation, strategic focus and type of programme intervention. This section shall be revised whenever a new employee is hired or the context changes significantly. The line manager drafts the specific responsibilities and sends them to his/her line manager for approval.

Organize and facilitate Country Directors meeting at regularly scheduled intervals and provide space to engage with the main stakeholders.

• Sustain a consistent NGO engagement with the response leadership. In that regard the NGO coordination focal point should be part of and foster NGOs engagement in: the strategic coordination bodies (Humanitarian Country Team-HCT, Inter Cluster Coordination Group-ICCG, Ukraine Humanitarian Fund-UHF and Humanitarian Access Working Group-HAWG) and liaising with the area-HCT, notably Dnipro.
• In his/her capacity the NGO coordination focal point also streamline the strategic interagency effort towards Protection, AAP and PSEAH through an active liaison role with the related working groups (PSWG, AAP WG, PSEA Task Force).
• Ensure information sharing within the NGO community. This includes keeping the contact lists and related skype/teams group up to date (Country Directors-CDs, Human Resources and Advocacy focal points, UNDSS sitrep and expand the UN, donors, and other stakeholders contacts); facilitate the Admin / HR working group; liaising with NNGOs key stakeholders.
• Support the strengthening of NGOs Policy and Advocacy. Liaise with the Ukraine Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and help identifying advocacy opportunities and priorities. Facilitate the sign-off an dissemination of advocacy products.
• Be a focal point/entry point for the UN, donors, NGO Forum in neighboring countries (Poland), Global NGO network and consortium and possibly for the authorities to reach out to the NGO community
• Develop light Terms of reference to support the structuring of the NGO coordination platform

Critical interfaces

Interfaces means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• NGO CDs and other senior personnel, including advocacy specialists.
• UN: Humanitarian Coordination, OCHA, Agencies, Funds and/or programs’ representatives
• Coordination mechanisms: HCT, Technical Groups of the HCT, clusters
• National and local authorities
• Local NGOs
• Donors

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Professional competencies

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Minimum 5 years experience in a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Experience as a head of mission/country director and/or coordinator of NGO forum
• In-depth knowledge of the humanitarian architecture and its systems.
• Knowledge of principles of coordination and principles of advocacy
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

Context/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Eastern Europe is appreciated
• Knowledge of one or more languages relevant to the region is appreciated
• Experience leading and developing tools and resources to support NGO Networks – national, joint and/or international
• Proven ability to work autonomously under pressure and be flexible, including ability to cope with deadline, multiple tasks, and competing and changing demands

2. Behavioural competencies

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. The following are essential for this position:

• Strategic thinking
• Managing performance and development
• Empowering and building trust
• Managing resources to optimize results

In the case of a Category 1 and Category 2 response, the candidate must reflect the experience and qualifications of a Grade 2. This must include the following proven behaviour/experience:

• Demonstrate leadership and management skills in a complex international setting.

Previous experience as member of Senior Management Team.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered on the basis of International terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.

For non- EU citizens; Visa is to be obtained.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.