Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilians’ victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads on average 190 projects per year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 5 million people in 20 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe.
Humanitarian situation and needs:
Following the intensification of the Chad Lake conflict in Nigeria (North East of the Country), PUI has decided to also respond to this crisis (since the organization already assist the Nigerian refugees in Cameroon) from Nigeria.
Prerequisite of Nigeria:
With the biggest population in Africa, (between 178.000.000 and 200.000.000 habitants), Nigeria is ranked as one of the first economy of the continent thanks to oil and petroleum products as well as mineral resources (gold, iron, diamonds, copper etc…). Despite a strong economy, Nigeria suffers from huge inequalities between rich and poor, and from a high rate of corruption, at every level. Moreover, a great ethnic diversity (more than language groups led by the family or clan manner) mixed with a federal mechanism make it a real powder keg.
Historical and North East statehood:
The current Nigeria is an agglomeration of both the Northern and Southern protectorate, which were amalgamated in 1914, only about a decade after the defeat of the Sokoto Caliphate and other Islamic states by the British which were to constitute much of Northern Nigeria. In those days, Cameroon, the eastern bordering country, was divided in French and British parts. Following a plebiscite in 1961, the Northern Cameroons opted to join Nigeria. The territory concerned made up much of what is now Northeastern Nigeria, and a large part of the areas affected by the North insurgency.
Borno State Insurgency’s origins:
Boko Haram (Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād -> « People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad ») was officially founding in 2002. Boko Haram conducted its operations more or less peacefully during the first seven years of its existence. During that period, the government reportedly repeatedly ignored warnings about the increasingly militant character of the organization.
Boko Haram uprising:
The situation changed in 2009 when the Nigerian government launched an investigation into the group’s activities following reports that its members were arming themselves. The present insurgency in Borno State began in 2009, when the jihadist rebel group Boko Haram started an armed rebellion against the government of Nigeria. Originally the group had alleged links to al-Qaeda. The insurgency took place within the context of long-standing issues of religious violence between Nigeria’s Muslim and Christian communities. When the government came into action, several members of the group were arrested, sparking deadly clashes with Nigerian security forces. The group’s founder and then leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed during this time while still in police custody.
Escalating conflict:
After the killing of M. Yusuf, the group carried out its first terrorist attack in Borno in January 2010. Since then, the violence has only escalated in terms of both frequency and intensity. In addition of that, in 2012, tensions within Boko Haram resulted in gradual split of the group between a conservative faction named Ansaru, led by Abu Usmatul al-Ansari, and the more dominant, violent faction led by Abubakar Shekau. In 2013, Nigerian governmental has started to apply a state of emergency in North Est Nigeria (Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa) => Nigeria forces launched an offensive in the Borno region in an attempt to dislodge Boko Haram fighters. The offensive had initial success, but the Boko Haram rebels were able to regain their strength. The violence escalated dramatically in 2014, with 10,849 deaths.
Regional/International impact:
In 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked several Nigerian towns in the North and captured them. The insurgency spread to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger thus becoming a major regional conflict. This prompted the Nigerian government to launch an offensive, and with the help of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. In 2015, a coalition of military forces from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger began a counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram. The coalition offensive forced Boko Haram to retreat into the Sambisa Forest (South East of Maiduguri City).
Recent developments of the conflict:
By 2015, the Shekau’s faction became officially ISIL’s West Africa branch (ISWA). Mid 2016, due to internal discord between the IS worldwide leadership and the previous Boko Haram leaders, IS announced that it had appointed Abu-Musab al-Barnawi as the new leader of the group. Shekau refused to accept al-Barnawi’s appointment as leader and vowed to fight him while stating that he was still loyal to ISIL’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group has since split into pro-Barnawi and pro-Shekau factions, with reports of armed clashes breaking out between them.
Occidental political/military support:
In 2015, an occidental military coalition (US, France, British) deployed troops to (Cameroon, Niger, Tchad, Nigeria), with the approval of the governments concerned. Their primary mission is to provide intelligence support to local forces as well as conducting reconnaissance flights. A program is also conduct to transfer military vehicles to the local Armies to aid in their fight against Islamist militants.
Rapid current stocktaking:
Following these counter-offensive and military support, several capitals city of Local Governmental Areas (LGAs) of Borno State were liberated. But out of the city, in the country side, the Boko Haram superiority is maintained. => At the end of the 3rd quarterly of 2016, from 60 to 80% of Borno State is considered as being under the control of Boko Haram.
Since the current insurgency started in 2009, it has killed 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million from their homes and was ranked as the world’s deadliest terror group by the Global Terrorism Index in 2015.
Humanitarian consequences:
The HNO 201719 estimated some 14 million people in need across the six states of the north east. In determining the response for 2017, humanitarian partners agreed to focus on states assessed as the most affected by the violent conflict, infrastructure destruction, mass displacement, ongoing insecurity and ensuing factors. The highest numbers requiring humanitarian assistance are located in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe where 8.5 million people are in need of urgent life-saving assistance. The approach of the humanitarian community is to respond to the most life-threatening needs of 6.9 million people in the three most (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa) affected states of North East Nigeria, from an estimated 8.5 million people in need in the same states.
Our action in the field:
PUI is present in Nigeria since April 2016. The NGO is willing to cover the needs of crisis affected people in Borno State through a comprehensive integrated approach, targeting the people’s affected by the crisis with means of subsistence (Food Security & Livelihood), the access to the basic services (Primary Health Care, Nutrition) and the living conditions (Shelter, NFI, WASH, etc.).
Since the most urgent need was (and is still) the food assistance, PUI has starting to intervene within this crisis by providing food aid through Cash Based Interventions to the affected local populations (both IDPs and Host Communities). Now, PUI is extending its activities to the other sectors linked to the primary needs or the creation of employment and livelihoods.
As part of our activities in Nigeria, we are looking for a Deputy Head of Mission for Programs.
Under the supervision of the Head of Mission, the Deputy HOM for Programs will lead the Program Department (Technical Coordinators, Monitoring and Evaluation Teams, Grants & Reporting Officer) in order to coordinate the tactical and strategic programming aspects of the mission for ensuring the implementation of high quality Programs and helping in strengthening the PUI Nigerian Mission development.
S/He will operate these duties in line with the global PUI’ Strategic framework and the agreed Country Strategy for Nigeria.
The Deputy HOM for Programs playing a key role in coordinating technical country strategy’s implementation and support provision of operational management and integration of all technical areas. This includes the primary responsibilities of projects planning/design, programs quality assurance, donor compliance or reporting/documentation, to ensure timely, effective and compliant programming in accordance with internal and external principles/requirements.
As an implementing organization, PUI places great importance on operational results and impact evaluation. Thus, the Deputy HOM for Programs plays a key role in overseeing monitoring and evaluation, usually in collaboration with the Field Coordinators, and in association with UN Sectors Working Groups.
Training and Experience:
Training:
Desired:
Project management
Education in Agriculture/Watsan /Public Health/Psychosocial
Financial Management
Human Resource Management
Logistics and Security
Experience:
Minimum 3 years of humanitarian experience in project co-ordination.
Successful experience in expatriate team management and multi-sector programmes.
Experience in security management
Previous experience as Head of Mission in an NGO or OSI
Knowledge and aptitudes:
Excellent writing skills
Team management
Project management
Detailed knowledge of the donors (OFDA, ECHO, UN agencies, EuropeAid, AAP…)
Software:
Pack Office
Qualities of candidate:
- Leadership skills and the ability to make decisions
- Trustworthiness and a sense of responsibility
- Charisma and the ability to awake enthusiasm for the work the project involves
- Ability to use authority, when necessary
- Analysis and synthesis abilities (discenrment, pragmatism)
- Ability to adapt
- Organisational skills, ability to be thorough and respect due dates
- Strong listening and negotiation skills
- Good people and communication skills
- Ability to remain calm and level-headed
- General ability to resist stress and particularly in unstable circumstances
Languages:
English mandatory
French desirable
Proposed Terms:
Employed with a Fixed-Term Contract – 12 months renewable upon funding
Starting date: 01 March 2017
Monthly gross income: from 2 420 up to 2 750 Euros depending on the experience in International Solidarity + 50 Euros per semester seniority with PUI
Cost covered: Round-trip transportation to and from home / mission, visas, vaccines…
Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
Housing in collective accommodation
Daily living Expenses (« Per diem »)
Break Policy : 5 working days at 3 and 9 months + break allowance
Paid Leave Policy : 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months
How to apply:
Please send your application (Resume and Cover Letter) to Romain Gautier, Human Resources Officer for Expatriates at [email protected] with the following subject: « DHoM Programs – Nigeria ».
More Information
- Job City Abuja
