Iraq: Senior Programme Coordinator

INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people.

1.Terms of reference

Job title: Senior Programme Coordinator

Location: The post holder will be based in Erbil with frequent missions to Baghdad, Ninewa and Salah al-Din Governorates

Reporting to: Emergency Coordinator

Starting date: 15-05-2017

Duration of contract: 3 months

Dependents: No

2.General context of the mission

INTERSOS is currently implementing protection projects in both Salah al Din (UNHCR funds) and South Ninewa (HPF second standard allocation 2016), thus getting first-hand information from the field and capitalizing lesson learnt and good practices. INTERSOS teams have a well-known presence in the established camps (Hajji Ali, Aistrip and Jeddah) and, thanks to protection monitoring activities conducted out-of-camp (in both South Ninewa and Salah al Din), gained a strong knowledge and understanding of the context.

INTERSOS is fully involved in the response to the Mosul crisis, applying an integrated response approach implemented by multi-sectorial mobile emergency response teams, composed by protection, legal, medical and EiE staff that will be deployed into the areas with highest displacement and areas where IDPs are expected to flee, to provide timely essential life-saving services to people affected by the current crisis. Ideally, response in each sector could represent a self-sustainable and interchangeable "module" based on the peculiar needs of each zone. In principle, each unit will be dedicated to a specific sector but the foreseen approach aims at ensuring the full complementarity within the sectors through a joint process of needs assessment and service provision. This aims at guaranteeing a comprehensive approach and internal referral. Specifically, INTERSOS has already deployed on the ground qualified key staff fully involved in the protection response in South Ninewa (lawyers, clinical psychologists, highly trained case managers) which could lead the start-up of the protection activities in the two new camps. Moreover, the protection monitors have already conducted household level interview (PMT) and linked with local actors/authorities/security actors.

The present project focuses on two Emergency Camps (one, led by MoMd, is already under construction; the other one, led by UNHCR, is planned) in Hamam al Alil (Ninewa – Mosul District – Zone West), which are going to host around 60,000 IDPs from West Mosul (plus other IDPs may be relocated from other camps already established). INTERSOS strategy aims at applying a semi-static approach (containers or tents need to be installed in the camps, in order to ensure a safe and protected space where activities – such as group and individual PSS, psychological counselling, awareness sessions – can be conducted ensuring privacy) while protection monitoring teams (partially cost shared by the current UNHCR funded project) will monitor and timely report protection trends and concerns, sharing information with the protection cluster and UNHCR in order to ensure a prompt response for the most urgent issues.

3.Tasks and responsibilities

The Programme Coordinator collaborates with the Emergency Unit and Emergency Coordinator by ensuring the coordination and follow up of the UNHCR funded project in Iraq, in the frame with Mosul Operation. In particular the Programme Coordinator is responsible for:

Project Coordination and Implementation

· Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency situation and adjust activities accordingly;

· Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency response activities in accordance with INTERSOS International’s humanitarian accountability framework, relevant SPHERE standards, and essential environmental mitigation measures;

· Ensure that different sectorial activities are implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner ;

General Coordination and Leadership

· Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with principle stakeholders including the military where present and if necessary;

· Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale

· Conduct performance appraisals of staff under his or her responsibility if and as required, ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance;

· Ensure the Emergency Coordinator is informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments;

· Prepare thematic reports on the protection situation of IDPs along with the Project Manager, protection officers and GBV expert when relevant

· Together with the PM, identify needed modifications to the intervention according to the situation in the field and discuss with the donor accordingly;

Human Resources

· Train, motivate, orientate and support the team; supervise all relations and communications promoting staff motivation and cohesion; together with the PM, support and supervise the performance of national and international staff.

4.Required profile/experience

• Degree in International Development or similar
  
• Minimum of 5 years humanitarian aid and emergency experience in complex contexts and natural disasters
  
• Previous experience in Arab countries and specifically in Iraq is an asset
  
• Experience in complex decision making, experience in coaching, guiding and leading a multi-disciplinary multi-national team under difficult circumstances
  
• Experience coordinating complex interventions within conflict context
  
• Experience working in first line assistance of IDPs and refugees
  
• High level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors
  
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil military liaison and program management
  
• Experience in successfully managing institutional partnerships with national and international NGOs
  
• Good communication skills in English. Arabic will be an asset
  
• Computer and finance skills
  
• Ability to prepare periodical thematic reports in accordance with the standards required by INTERSOS and Donors
  
• Demonstrated leadership and interest to coach staff
  
• Experience with the management of a diverse workforce, strong representation and negotiation skills
  
• Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae, motivation letter and 2 references to: recruitment@intersos.org, specifying in the subject “EC Iraq”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.