Sudan Regional Response Coordinator

Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world.

The EAGL Regional Office covers the following country operations: Burundi, Djibouti, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Sudan Regional Response Coordinator acts as the primary point of coordination for DRC; liaising with country teams, regional office and HQ, leading in the development, strengthening and monitoring of emergency response plans related to the ongoing Sudan crisis through the provision of technical support, operational guidance, trouble-shooting and quality assurance to all emergency programming within affected countries (Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Chad).

This position will mainly cover the following countries in which DRC is responding to the needs caused by the Sudan crisis: Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Chad. This role will also be responsible for monitoring context in neighbouring countries in which DRC is not currently responding to this crisis (e.g. Egypt, CAR).

The position can be based in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Kampala (Uganda) or Nairobi (Kenya), is open for national and international applicants and is Non-accompagnied.

Responsibilities :

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Emergency Response Plan Development and Capacity Building for field teams:

• Support all relevant countries to ensure they have up-to-date Emergency Response Plans;
• Support all relevant countries to develop Emergency Preparedness Plans in areas relevant to future response actions, linked to scenario planning;
• Support all countries to conduct Integrated Emergency Response Needs Assessments and ad-hoc Rapid Needs Assessments where required;
• Provide emergency response training to affected field teams as required/identified;
• Support new area operations in emergency response – assist in staff recruitment, staff training, setting up systems, and planning and starting activities; and
• Support in emergency proposal development/review related to the Sudan crisis. This will require close engagement and coordination with the Regional Business Development Coordinator;
• Support scenario planning and analysis on the Sudan crisis and develop contingency planning based on this forecasting.

Information Management, Advocacy and External Engagement/Coordination:

• Co-lead on the development of an advocacy and external engagement strategy with the Regional Advocacy Coordinator and country teams;
• Develop templates, tools, key messages and external dissemination products related to the Sudan crisis and DRC’s operations;
• Where feasible, lead on external coordination forums in which the focus is responding to the Sudan crisis.

Quality Assurance of Emergency Response and Cross Border Programming:

• Conduct field visits to affected area offices to identify capacity gaps and operational support priorities in collaboration with field teams;
• Conduct humanitarian response capacity assessments related to cross-border programming for countries affected by the Sudan crisis;
• Provide trouble-shooting in existing operations facing bottlenecks in implementation of the developed Response plans;
• Ensure countries are using and able to use correct emergency MEAL tools to implement Response Plans;
• In close coordination with RO and CO technical staff, ensure response activities are appropriate across all sectors. Assist in updating/developing tools and provide required trainings;
• Ensure all emergency response actions are adhering to standards and best practices including HAP/CHS standards, relevant Minimum Standards and SPHERE etc.
• Ensure that DRC mandate, policies and values in programming is upheld, and DRC’s accountability obligations are delegated and carried out in accordance with standard regulations and operational procedures e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Programme Handbook, DRC Operations Handbook.

Regional Strategy and Coordination (including interregional coordination):

• Provide RO and CO Senior Management Teams with updated information on ongoing/emerging humanitarian crises and needs within the affected countries;
• Lead on DRC’s internal Sudan Regional Crisis Response Group including coordination with DRC’s West Africa, North African and Latin America region and the HQ emergency unit;
• Participate as relevant in coordination mechanisms throughout the region and represent DRC as requested, including building relationships with other response coordinators (or equivalent) in NGOs, CSOs, donor agencies, UN etc.;
• In close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Safety Coordinator, assist in assessing access possibilities to new areas, or areas with limited/no access, as needed within affected countries;
• Support link between CO and RO teams and HQ technical advisors to facilitate technical support and quality assurance with regards to developing, strengthening and monitoring hard to reach programming integrated into emergency responses in Response Plans.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and Technical comptencies (included years of experience)

Required qualifications

• At least five years of INGO or other agency emergency response experience in insecure environments, including at least two years of management experience;
• Essential experience in coordination/emergency response planning in similar contexts;
• University degree with advanced training or technical qualification in relevant line of work/sector;
• Relevant technical expertise/experience in some sectors of humanitarian programming such as Cash, Protection, WASH, Food Security, CCCM, shelter/NFI etc.;
• Strong analytical, organizational, and management and leadership skills;
• Proven commitment to accountable practices and knowledgeable of quality assurance systems in an emergency response;
• Hands on experience in managing staff in insecure locations and strong human resource management skills in general. Solid experience in staff management in a cross-cultural environment required;
• Good communicator and proven diplomacy with all types of stakeholders;
• Experience of managing budgets and multiple donor contracts, particularly with BHA, ECHO, SIDA, FCDO and UN agencies;
• Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team;
• Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point); and
• Ability and willingness to work and live in diverse, challenging and potentially unstable environments.

Desired qualifications

• Previous experience the East Africa and Great Lakes region or similar context with conflict/access analysis ability; and
• Previous experience in sudden onset conflict responses;
• Strong working knowledge of access, negotiations and/or experience in implementing programming in hard to reach areas/areas with high access constraints.

What we offer

Contract: 6 Months of Contract with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Salary: in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment Non-Management Band/ F.

Availability: As soon as possible.

Duty station: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Kampala (Uganda) or Nairobi (Kenya).

Reporting Line: Regional Head of programmes EAGL

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position. However, candidates should take into consideration that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he or she will be working.

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.