The Danish Demining Group (DDG) is looking for a highly experienced and qualified Head of programme (HoP) to oversee the Mine Action and Armed Violence Reduction activities of the DDG programme in Nigeria, with a focus on building national capacity as well as on growing the resources and scope of the programme.
Background
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promote long term solutions to the problems of forced displacement.
Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a specialized unit within DRC which implements Mine Action (MA) and armed violence reduction (AVR) programmes. DDG’s mandate is ‘to create a safe environment free from armed violence and the remnants of conflict’, and DDG does this via a programmatic focus on four key sectors: Security Systems Reform, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) management, Mine Action and Conflict Management.
About our programmes in Nigeria:
DRC/DDG has been present in Nigeria since July 2015, implementing emergency operations in order to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in north eastern Nigeria. In 2016/17, DDG programming will focus on the following:
- Addressing the needs of youth at affected by displacement and at risk of criminality and radicalization
- Enhancing community safety and conflict mediation capacities, and facilitating community-security provider dialogue
- Reducing the risks associated with mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)
The job:
- The DDG Head of Programme will have the overall responsibility of the DDG portfolio in Nigeria, which will be a balance of both Mine Action and AVR activities.
- DDG is in the process of starting up its programming in Nigeria, the DDG Head of Programme will play a key role in leading DDG’s strategic engagement in Nigeria, shaping and advising on DDG programming, and ensuring programme coherence, alignment with DDG’s global mandate and objectives, and quality delivery.
- The DDG Head of Programme will also lead the overall programme management of a two-year EU-funded stability and resilience programme to be implemented in Adamawa and Borno states.
- The DDG Head of Programme will be responsible for donor liaison and for liaison/representation with government authorities in the areas of implementation, as well as national level, in coordination with the Country Director, Safety Advisor, Head of Base (HoB) and Abuja Head of Office.
The DDG HoP has dual reporting lines, reporting to the DDG Regional Manager (based in Abidjan) and DRC/DDG’s Country Director (CD) for Nigeria (based in Abuja).
The DDG HoP works in close collaboration with: DDG’s Global Specialist Leads on Mine Action and Armed Violence Reduction, Heads of Base, the DRC Head of Programme, technical managers/advisors and the DRC/DDG support staff, and is a member of the Nigeria Senior Management Team (SMT).
The DDG HoP directly supervises the AVR Manager and the Mine Action Manager of the DDG programme in Nigeria.
Tasks and responsibilities:
Strategic Programme development and management
- Overall programme management responsibility for integrated DRC/DDG EU programme (livelihoods, community safety, youth engagement, mine/ERW risk education) ensuring timely and quality programme delivery
- Plan, implement and monitor DDG’s activities in Nigeria.
- Co-ordinate and work with relevant state-level government authorities, local government institutions, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and local communities in order to ensure the smooth execution of programme activities.
- Lead DDG programme implementation and development
- Promote the integration of DRC and DDG programming in Nigeria
- Oversee the roll-out of DDG activities throughout DRC/DDG offices in northeastern Nigeria.
- Monitor and advise field staff in programme delivery.
- Maintain working relationships with DDG’s other programmes in the wider West Africa/Sahel region to exchange experience and ideas.
- Manage and monitor the DDG budgets closely and report to the Country Director, Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA) and DDG Headquarters (RO and HQ) of any discrepancies or issues.
- Keep the CD informed at all times of programmatic updates and potential fundraising / project ideas and initiatives.
- Ensure the necessary systems are in place.
Team Management
- Provide strong leadership to the programme, with oversight and management of DDG expatriate staff (in particular the DDG Mine Action Manager and the DDG AVR Manager), M&E Manager (as it relates to DDG work) and national staff executing DDG programming in Nigeria
- Provide oversight to the work of the DRC Livelihood Manager, where relevant within the framework of joint programming
- Ensure the ongoing formal and informal appraisal/evaluation of staff performance, including follow up on Results Contracts and annual written appraisals of the DDG programme staff
Security
- In close collaboration with the Safety Advisor reporting to the DRC/DDG CD for Nigeria, ensure adherence to security procedures, ensuring a minimum of 91% MOSS compliance of all field locations, monitoring developments in the security situation, developing contingency plans, etc.
Reporting
- Ensure proper and timely financial and narrative donor reporting in compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
- Regular reporting to DRC/DDG Regional Office and HQ as required
Fundraising and Representation
- In coordination with the CD, act as representative for the DRC/DDG programme in Nigeria towards government authorities, donors, partners, UN agencies and international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums.
- In coordination with the DDG RM and CD, take the lead on the process of securing funds for DDG’s activities. This includes any liaison and contact with the donor and national stakeholders.
- In consultation with the CD, liaison with relevant government authorities, donors, partners, UN agencies and international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums.
- Identify new programming opportunities and write concept notes and proposals
- Liaise with donor representatives in the region and in Abuja as required
Accountability
- Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, Operations Handbook, AVR Framework and handbooks, and DDG Mine Action SOPs, the DDG Head of Programme must continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of DRC/DDG’s activities.
- Ensure compliance with the guidelines, policies, procedures and values of DRC/DDG.
Required Qualifications:
Essential:
- Proven experience with programme management (planning, implementation and monitoring) from a complex and fragile environment, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Proven experience working on AVR and/or Mine Action programming and implementation.
- Experience working with donors and external relations
- Strong on liaison and networking with national stakeholders, both on a national and local level.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (writing reports and proposals).
- Proven ability to mentor and coach others. Staff management is important in this position.
- Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
- The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and insecure circumstances.
Desirable:
- Preferable an MA/MSc level in a relevant discipline from an internationally recognised university.
- Preferable experience working with national partners and capacity building projects.
- Prior M&E experience and the capability of working with data collection, analysis and report writing is an advantage.
Personal competencies:
- Flexibility – in getting the job done.
- Respect – in regard to your colleagues and their field of expertise and work day.
- Openness and transparency – when working with national and local partners
- A mindset of collaboration and coordination – in regard to working with related partners and institutions such as other NGOs and the UN.
- Trust building, respectful and collaborative towards beneficiaries.
All employees should master DRC’s core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: Ability to focus on reaching results while ensuring efficiency. Strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort.
- Collaborating: Excellent in cooperating with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinion and sharing key information with them. Support and trust others while encouraging feedback.
- Taking the lead: Ability to take ownership and prioritize job according to DRC’s overall vision and goals. Take the initiative when confronted with a challenge or an opportunity and aim for innovative solutions.
- Communicating: Excellent in writing and speaking effectively and honestly while adjusting style and tone to the situation. Listening actively to others and involve them in the dialogue.
- Demonstrating integrity: Act in line with DRC’s vison, values and collaboration standards. Encourage inclusion and diversity to ensure sustainable solutions. Actively involve, respect and empower stakeholders.
We offer:
A challenging and rewarding job in one of the best NGOs in the world. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Demining Group/Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies for more information. The salary level for this position is A9. DDG/DRC has a generous benefits package, including R&R, pension, and duty station allowances.
Contract length: 2 years
Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria with frequent travel throughout North Eastern Nigeria. Abuja is a family duty station.
Start date: As soon as possible
Further information
For further information, please contact DDG’s Regional Manager for Westafrica, Yann Faivre, at [email protected] . For general information about the Danish Demining Group and the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.danishdeminingroup.dk and www.drc.dk. Applications sent directly to Yann Faivre will not be considered.
How to apply:
Application process:
Apply here
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the “apply for position” button or go to www.drc.dk and find Current Vacancies. All applicants should include a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, in English. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional referees.
Applications close 31st January, 2017. Please note that DDG reserves the right to recruit a qualified candidate should one be identified before this closing date.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to individuals within DDG, but should be submitted by clicking the below “apply for position” button.
Danish Demining Group (DDG) is widely recognised as provider of efficient and community-oriented solutions to human security problems caused by landmines and other explosive remnants of war as well as small arms and light weapons.
DDG is part of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), which is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded in 1956 that works in more than 35 countries throughout the world. We are the largest humanitarian NGO in Denmark and consistently ranked as one of the world’s best NGOs according to Global_Geneva.
We fulfil our mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in the conflict areas of the world. We also advocate on behalf of conflict-affected populations globally on the basis of humanitarian principles and the Human Rights Declaration. Our work and long-term strategies are guided by our five core values: Humanitarian approach – Respect – Independence & neutrality – Inclusion – Honesty & transparency.
More Information
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