Project Officer

Roving position

Full-time with frequent travel to Zakarpattia, Vynnitsya and Dnipro

Background

Since 24 February 2022, Ukraine has been under attack by Russia causing an immense humanitarian crisis and significant global tensions. To respond to the humanitarian needs, Solidar Suisse partnered with the Ukrainian organisations Vostok SOS and VIS (Vinnytsia oblast) to provide humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people (IDP), among them the most vulnerable. The project covers Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Evacuation and relocation, winterisation support as well as Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). Together with VIS, the project will provide MPCA as well as winterisation top up to approx. 2’500 IDP in rural Vinnytsia.

Role overall scope:

The Project Officer supports the coordination and implementation of Solidar Suisse Ukraine humanitarian projects initially in the 3 regions of Ukraine with the potential expansion to other areas depending on funding and humanitarian needs. The PO supports the Response Representative and HQ in Zurich by collecting and providing information on the progress of the project interventions, working in close collaboration with partner organizations Vostok SOS and VIS and ensuring a multi-sectoral and integrated approach across project activities where feasible. The Project Officer will take part in developing the response strategy and identification of the necessary funding and resources for the development of Solidar Suisse programs and activities in Ukraine. The Project Officer will establish working relations with other agencies, partners and staff looking for opportunities for partnership and fundraising with donors to ensure resources are made available for future programming of Solidar Suisse in Ukraine.

Main responsibilities and tasks

The Project Officer will:

• Ensure the planning, implementation, and monitoring/evaluation and sets targets as included in the project description and logframes.
• Collaborate with Financial & Admin manager and Response Representative to ensure efficient financial management for the project in compliance with Solidar Suisse and donor regulations.
• Ensure partner team management and beneficiary service in targeted locations, mobile teams, and collective centers for IDPs in order to guarantee project quality as per required standards.
• Deliver quality reports for the country team of Solidar Suisse, HQ, donors, authorities, and UN clusters in good quality and timely manner, including the findings in terms of impact/changes at the level of IDPs/beneficiaries achieved through the project.

More specifically:

• Ensure proper planning of the activities to be implemented
• Prepare, contribute and facilitate training for partner staff and teams
• Organize and conduct project kick-off and presentation/induction training of the project with teams
• Prepare and regularly review a detailed activity plan with the partners and Solidar Suisse staff
• Verify the targeting and selection of the beneficiaries for MPCA, winterization, evacuation and other components.
• Continuous on-the-job coaching of teams to work on quality in delivery of humanitarian assistance
• Collaborate with Response Representative to produce regular security monitoring and SOPs and report incidents/concerns in a proactive manner.
• Manage partner relations and project implementation
• Carry out regular project visits to Zakarpattia, Vinnytsya and Dnipropetrovsk regions to monitor project implementation and delivery.
• Conduct weekly and monthly meetings with the partner organizations to review the planning and discuss the main concerns to focus on for the upcoming period.
• Ensure the use of correct/relevant forms for assessments and reporting by the partner organizations.
• Ensure partners respect and comply with Solidar Suisse rules and guidelines and adhere to the code of conduct and charter of values.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Ensure monitoring and verification for the targeting of beneficiaries, also through ad-hoc monitoring tools and project visits.
• Ensure full accountability to the beneficiaries.
• Develop and implement together with partners, market assessments, post-distribution monitoring, MPCA and winterization- related documentation (both for donor and legislation of Ukraine compliance).
• Reporting:
• Ensure quality reporting on achievements against weekly and monthly performance reports containing clear quantitative and qualitative information related to the activities.
• Assist in collecting support documents (means of verification) and general project documents
• Prepare stories about activities, interview beneficiaries, authorities, partners and stakeholders.
• Deliver regular communication products (including pictures) on the project to be used by Solidar Suisse communication department in different media, ensuring consent forms and other relevant documentation.
• Coordination and representation:
• Attend the relevant cluster meetings and ensure timely reporting of highlights to the Response Representative and HQ staff.
• Ensure regular updates to donor representatives in coordination with the Response Representative and HQ Desk Officer.
• Coordinate with relevant local authorities and other stakeholders for the implementation of the project.
• Support Solidar Suisse Ukraine with the development and implementation of the Country Strategy, in particular for the development of specific and detailed sector strategies.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Required profile and experience

Education

• Advanced university degree in the humanitarian related field (international relations, social studies, IHL, IHRL)​

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience at a similar position in a humanitarian context required

Professional Requirements

• Strong and proven understanding of the humanitarian operating context, donors, security, and project cycle management in the humanitarian context
• Strong knowledge of institutional donor procedures
• Very strong skills in computer (excel)
• Proven experience in the management of UN and other donors funds is a plus.
• Risk management knowledge is an asset
• Ability to define country and program strategies
• Ability to conduct and organize trainings, logistics, and human resources
• Previous proven experience in proposal writing and reporting is required

Languages

• English
• Knowledge of Ukrainian/Russian is mandatory

Personal Requirements

• Confidentiality
• Autonomous
• Organization skills, delegation, and empowerment approach to the partners
• Leadership and interpersonal skills
• Flexibility and agility
• High resilience to stress
• Willingness to travel (30%-40% of the time)