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Program / Department Summary
The Nigeria INGO Forum was formed in late 2014 owing to a need for a collaborative platform for effective and principled NGO interaction, engagement and coordination of humanitarian, recovery and development interventions in Nigeria. In 2017 the INGO Forum is a critical platform for ensuring effective information sharing and analysis; leadership on advocacy and policy engagement; and liaison with government/donor/UN engagement ensuring the perspectives of INGOs and affected populations are ultimately included in decision-making processes. The INGO Forum is governed a plenary Assembly f 31 members (and 5 observers), an elected Executive Committee of 4 Country Directors that works alongside a full term Secretariat to fulfil the function of the Forum. As of March 2017, the INGO Forum is administratively hosted by Mercy Corps in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja.
General Position Summary
The INGO Forum Humanitarian Coordinator will provide field level support to the Forum and its member organizations supporting humanitarian efforts in the North East though high quality information exchange, multi-stakeholder coordination, , facilitating effective NGO representation in decision-making mechanisms, and advocacy efforts. S/he will serve as the primary liaison linking Abuja coordination structure with up-to-date realities in the North-East. In collaboration with Humanitarian Managers of member organizations based in the North-East Nigeria, s/he will facilitate action-oriented coordination discussions and identify opportunities for improvement of coordination, operational responses, adoption of principles and standards, and maintain a high level of context analysis both within INGOs and on behalf of INGOs with other stakeholders. As a main link between the INGO community and the Nigerian NGO community, s/he will actively engage with National NGOs to identify opportunities for collaboration and to build high-yielding partnerships. The post holder will have strong diplomacy skills, be able to navigate complex humanitarian issues, build productive relationships and work towards an accountable response. The Humanitarian Coordinator will also act as interim INGO Forum Director during absences.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Coordination
- Facilitate INGO coordination in North-East states (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and/or Gombe), engage with INGO Forum member organizations in these states to plan monthly action-oriented coordination meetings and identify gaps, duplication and opportunities for enhancing coordination be it information exchange, inter-agency assessments or analysis, and joined up responses.
- Regularly travel to North-East States to engage with partners and identify coordination and advocacy gaps.
- Facilitate regular coordination meetings, thematic discussions, planning sessions to support INGO operations and engagement with external stakeholders.
- Ensure regular high level representation in key humanitarian decision-making platforms and other mechanisms that impact humanitarian operations and the protection and needs of affected populations.
Representation
- Facilitate representation of the INGO Forum though direct bilateral engagement with key actors (UN, donors, Government and other national actors), supporting elected representatives to the Operational Humanitarian Country Team (O/HCT) to perform their duties and ensure transparent information sharing on decisions made and actions required.
- Develop relationships with NNGO consortia to explore partnerships and related capacity gaps and identify opportunities for capacity building for NNGOs, as well as opportunities for INGOs to learn from NNGO practices.
- Assure National NGO interests are represented within INGO Forum key messages, and actively seek advocacy allies/partnerships.
- Provide linkages between INGO and NNGO community / identify opportunities for collaboration.
Information Sharing / Communication
- Facilitate structured and effective information exchange both between internal INGO members, and with external partners (NNGOs, UN, Government, Donors, etc).
- Stay informed on political, humanitarian and security contexts, while providing structured updates to the INGO Forum
- Assist in drafting humanitarian updates, policy briefs, and other similar materials.
- Facilitate effective information flow between field-level realities in NE Nigeria and capital-level coordination in Abuja.
- Compile and update simple 4Ws (Who, What, Where, When) matrixes/databases for Forum Members and, using this information, update stakeholders on joint INGO delivery progress.
- Maintain an updated contact list of all actors in the NE and ensure effective information sharing amongst all actors
- Maintain and develop induction and guidance materials for new humanitarian actors leading on briefings and support as required.
- Undertake regular visits to the field and provide relevant updates on the humanitarian situation.
- Consistently liaise with key stakeholders in NE to share relevant information and stay informed.
- Engage partners to efficiently compile necessary information to respond to external requests.
- Maintain updated stakeholder mappings to inform strategic engagement.
- Summarize key documents (reports, assessments, etc) and share with partners in easily-read format.
- Support the Forum in developing data collection tools, databases, statistical reports and maps.
Finance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with donor and host agency (in this case, Mercy Corps) regulations.
- Draft or review scope of work to hire and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget, as required.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.Accountability To Beneficiaries INGO Forum team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work.
Supervisory Responsibility
INGO Field support manager, Programme Assistant
Accountability
Reports Directly To: INGO Forum Coordinator based in Abuja.
Works Directly With: INGO Forum Support Manager, other INGO Forum staff, INGO Directors and managers, Host Agency Mercy Corps finance, operations and security team members.
Knowledge and Experience
- Advanced university degree in law, political science, international relations, journalism, social sciences, international development or related technical field (minimum Masters degree).
- Demonstrated experience of 5 years in coordination of complex emergencies at international level
- Knowledge and understanding of the international humanitarian/development system and the mandates of the actors involved.
- Prior experience in managing INGO Consortia/Fora
- Written and spoken fluency in English.
- Strong data analytical and interpretation skills.
- Willingness to learn and interest in humanitarian practice.
- Commitment to international humanitarian standards and principles.
- Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills and ability to formulate well-targeted strategic documents.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment.
- Proven experience in influencing for policy change and practice
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating meetings in high-pressure professional setting
- Demonstrated experience in advocacy and lobby, and engaging with high level actors with strong evidence from the field
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in humanitarian setting.
- Experience in an NGO (local or international), in NE Nigeria Humanitarian context.
- Knowledge of and contacts in Nigerian NGOs.
Success Factors
- Commitment to achieve results in a timely manner
- Trustworthiness and integrity
- Committed to humanitarian values and principles
- People management skills
- Influencing and negotiation skills
- Communication
- Cultural sensitivity
- Gender equity and protection sensitive
- Creative solutions to problems
Living Conditions The position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria and it requires frequent travel to field locations in Borno (25%). Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics. Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available. Security in the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously. Access to good medical services in northeast is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water is available but might be erratic.
The location is eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the humanitarian response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.
PI98584505
More Information
- Job City Maiduguri
