Solidarités International
Desired start date: 15 dec 2022 Duration of the mission: 12 months, with possible extension Location: RAQQA
ABOUT THE MISSION…
Mission:
- There are 3 implementing offices in Syria (2 in Northeast Syria/NES, 1 in Northwest Syria/NWS) with the coordination based in Amman. The total financial volume of the mission for 2022 is approximately 27 million/ The mission has now reached approximately 40 expatriates and 290 national employees (8 expatriates and almost 100 national employees in Ar-Raqqa base). The position will be based in Raqqa.
- Syria mission is dedicated to work in areas recently opened (in 2017 in Raqqa) and in challenging contexts to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. A turn from lifesaving activities to more post-emergency/development has also been undertaken.
In Ar-Raqqa Governorate, main current activities are related to:
- Lifesaving
- Wash – emergency package in IDPs settlements
- Distribution of NFIs and MPCA
- Early recovery and more sustainable activities:
- individuals’ houses rehabilitations
- Institutional rehabilitations and support: Water stations rehabilitations, capacity building of the Water Department, rehabilitation of schools, rehabilitation of irrigations systems and infrastructures
- Support to agriculture (vegetable gardening, wheat production)
- Market strengthening (restoring and supporting businesses through grants)
Additionally, SI has a contingency and capacity to respond to emergencies in all NES.
In Raqqa, SI started to implement cash, livelihoods and agriculture activities in 2021, mainly through two projects that provide agricultural support (at household level through vegetable gardening, and at farmer level through support to wheat production), business grants to entrepreneurs and multi-round MPCA through referrals. A food security and livelihoods strategy has been developed for NES, and in 2022 SI took another step in this strategy by launching a value chain assessment in NES, and pre-identifying new donors. SI is also strengthening its coordination with nutrition actors to have better integration with its food security/agriculture activities.
On the business support side, the next step is to ensure the completion of the project objectives, supporting the field team in its monitoring and coaching processes, and engage with multiple stakeholders to prepare for upcoming phases of the fund.
ABOUT THE JOB
General objective:
The Cash and Livelihood Program Manager oversees implementing and achieving the cash and livelihoods programme portfolio on his/her assigned base.
More specifically, the program is two-fold, with a Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) component and an Early Recovery Market System (ERMS) approach to develop and implement. The last activity will require consistent preparation and assessments phases together with the ability to work with partners.
Since the ERMS component is a new sector for SI in area, the position requires technical Livelihoods expertise in transition/early recovery context, including small business development.
- S/he guarantees the relevance, quality and suitability of the proposed activities and technical approaches and s/he is a creative force in the case where certain adaptations would be necessary in view of the evolution of the needs and the context.
- S/he guarantees a proper implementation of the program, including the elaboration of assessments, following an efficient monitoring system; the adaptation of a robust beneficiary selection mechanism and the design of each activity.
- S/he ensures proper assessments are conducted and lessons learnt capitalized and participates proactively in sector development in the area.
- S/he ensures SI’s representation to the technical and sectorial working groups and builds up the coordination that is highly expected within the relevant implementing partners.
- S/he contributes to the process of institutional knowledge building and the improvement of Solidarités International methods and techniques in the field of Livelihoods.
The main challenges:
- Growth of the bases
- Strong pressure (internal and external) for activity delivery at a fast pace, both due to size of the operation portfolio the and the limited visibility of the context
- Complex communication schemes due to the size of the mission and the integration of new positions not systematized in SI missions (including the Supply Coordinator itself)
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
- Ensure the implementation and completion of the business grants component, while reporting on lessons learned, impacts and key achievements,
- Ensure good implementation of the referral mechanism and cash distributions,
- Set up the cash and livelihoods implementation for the upcoming grants.
Responsibilities and main activities:
Support in strategic orientation, diagnosis and project relevance:
- Review and develop the Cash and LLH strategy in accordance with SI’s policies and priorities for NES/Raqqa
- Establish assessments in the area of intervention to tailor the response with consistent context understanding, market and labor market dynamics and updated information
- Liaise with partners acting in the sector, in addition partners acting in the Health, Protection and Nutrition sectors, especially with members of the consortium
- Participate to the definition of vulnerability criteria in collaboration with the MEAL department
- Support development of Livelihoods proposals and define operational components (including technical annexes, budget and the logical framework)
- Evaluate the relevance of the activities carried out, as well as the effectiveness of the interventions and their appropriateness with respect to contextual developments and the populations’ needs
- Ensure that the programs achieve the required results
- Ensure that program objectives meet sustainability requirements and, if required, compliance with established norms and standards
Implementation and operational monitoring:
- Plan activities and activity cycles for the programs (activity plan, purchasing, related budget forecasts etc.) in the light of established objectives
- Elaborate the tools to ensure initial assessments and preparatory phase (market analysis, selection process, criteria’s definition)
- Ensure the achievement of the results of the programs (s)he is responsible for,
- Ensure the follow up and monitoring using the internal tools
- Ensure the programs implementation planning meet deadlines and adhere to predefined technical specifications as well as humanitarian/sectorial standards
- Ensure SI mandate, operational procedures and quality standards full respect during the overall implementation process,
- Participate in proposing and implementing quality criteria and monitoring indicators for the programs
- Work closely with the administrative department and monitor expenses, budget and forecasts with capacity to anticipate possible challenges and/or needed changes
- Work closely with the supply department to establish procurement tables, plan purchases in respect with the procurement procedures
- Work closely with logistics department to size and update your fleet needs and storage management
- Ensure follow up of the implemented activities by the field teams, with proper instructions and monitoring field visits. Constantly assess and monitor the relevance of activities, the timeline and effectiveness of interventions, the appropriateness of the modalities of implementation considering changing circumstances, needs of populations, humanitarian access and protection mainstreaming key related issues (inclusivity and accessibility of people with specific needs, Gender standards, Accountability to affected people etc…).
- Anticipate any issues linked to carrying out the activities and help to resolve any problems related to the activities
- With the support of the MEAL Dpt, participate in designing the MEAL strategy related to your activities
- Work closely with the Field coordination department to ensure the acceptance of the activities, confirm the security and access parameters are addressed, adapt the activities according to possible context changes
- With the support of the FC Dpt, liaise and write MoU with the relevant Authorities
Institutional knowledge building
- Use IKB tools proposed by Solidarités International,
- Draft consolidated technical tools for the programs and for lessons learnt purposes
- Organize the centralization and distribution of procedures, guides and tools linked to the activities
- Contribute to capitalizing on intervention methods and techniques and on the experiences acquired by Solidarités International
- Consult relevant stakeholders, i.e technical working groups, implementing partners and consortium specialists, in order to confirm programme choices and be in phase with the methodologies and standards
- Write procurement and handover reports before the end of his/her contract and send it to the appropriate persons on the mission and at headquarters
Personnel management
- Participate in the recruitments needs and management
- Define the prerequisites for opened positions together with the administrative department,
- Identify and conduct training for operational teams
- Participate in setting up technical training depending on operational needs and identified training requirements
- Manage and support the team under his/her responsibility
- Define action plan, evaluate and assess the performance of colleagues under his/her direct supervision
- Ensure a strongly adherence to security regulations by personnel under his/her supervision
Reporting / communication / representation
- Pass upward to the relevant persons any information on the security situation or on any event that could impact Solidarités International’s activities and the safety of the teams
- Contribute to drafting donors/stakeholders reports and annexes (monthly, interim, final)
- Ensure internal reporting and attend the weekly base meeting
- Ensure that all reports are delivered on time and in the correct format
- In his/her assignment area, represent Solidarités International at sectorial/technical meetings or forums and upon request from the line management
- In collaboration with the Field coordinator, prepare the administrative documents (MOU, handover, etc.) to be jointly signed with local authorities, communities or partners
YOUR PROFILE
Specific skills and experience:
Education
- Specific degree in International Cooperation, development, value chains or relevant sectors,
- Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Project Management, Development studies, International relations or equivalent
Experience
- Minimum 3 years with INGO in Humanitarian Project Management including FSL, with at least the management of one program specifically linked to economic recovery and market systems development
- Previous experience with SI being a plus.
- Experience in HR management
- Experience in a volatile security context highly appreciated
Technical skills
- Technical background in the field of market systems development and related project
- Demonstrated understanding of food security and cash assistance,
- Strong computer skills essential and working knowledge of Mobile Data Collection systems (e.g., Kobo or ONA)
- Experience in communication with communities and implementation of accountability mechanisms
- Ability to organize training and lead meetings
- Capacity building to local teams is paramount for the position
- Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative)
- Database management
Soft skills and spirit:
- Respect/compliance of security rules;
- Flexibility and ability to adapt to cultural habits;
- Adaptability towards changing work environment and possible volatile security situation;
- Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;
- Team player, capacity to give a positive dynamic
- Problem solving capacities
- Acceptance towards being challenged by skilled national staff
Management
- This sector being a new sector for SI in NES/Raqqa, the team will be to recruit, train and supervise. The team will be comprised of a Deputy, supervisors, and officers.
SI WILL OFFER YOU
A salaried post: According to experience, starting from 1980 euros gross per month (1800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of 700 USD
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 on 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3/6 and 9 month.
To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of 1 additional rest day per month worked > i.e. 12 days in addition for a 1-year contract.
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.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
- In Amman, security risks are extremely low and restrictions are generally limited to government directives around COVID-19 containment.
- Field visit: Security inside NES is volatile and justifies specific arrangements for accommodation and movement in the areas of intervention. Adherence to strict security procedures is necessary, while security levels can vary, depending on geographical location and the changes in context.
- The candidate will be based in Amman and share his/her time between the main guesthouse and the field guesthouse to allow closer proximity to the sites of project implementation.
- It is nevertheless expected that the Supply Coordinator will perform field visits in NES once every 6 months at least, and to visit Erbil office once every 2 months at least.
- In the main base, living conditions are comfortable with some opportunities and places to socialize. In the operational bases, living conditions are more basic with less opportunities and places to socialize.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Does this description fit you? Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only applications will not be considered.
NB: The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your comprehension
For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/