Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a part of Danish Refugee Council (DRC), DRC is an international non-governmental organisations, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world.
DRC has been providing relief and development services in East Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the East Africa and Yemen (EAY) operation focusses mainly on populations affected by displacement in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen and regional mixed migration flows. DRC aims to create a synergy between the different humanitarian and development projects in the EAY – both in terms of geographical coverage and types of activities implemented in support of refugees and populations displaced or otherwise affected by conflict, consequences of climate change and natural hazards in the region.
DDG has operated in East Africa since 1999. Recognising the widespread proliferation of illegal Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the region, DDG expanded its approach from Mine Action to also addressing the threats from SALW, Security Governance and Provision, as well as Conflict Prevention and Management.
Responding to violent conflict has always been at the centre of DRC’s work and understanding the causes and drivers of conflicts has always been crucial to programming. In 2017, DRC commences on a new strategic cycle, vision 2020. It happens at a time when displacement across the globe is at an all-time high, with more than 65 million people displaced, in large part due to armed conflict, and at a time when international solidarity and commitment to joint solutions is being challenged. As DRC aims to strengthen its global influence through more effective durable solutions and root cause focused programming as well as stronger and evidence-based advocacy, it is necessary for DRC to strengthen its capacity for and use of conflict analysis. DRC is committed to “strengthen its organisational capacity to systematically conduct and share conflict analyses when addressing the root causes of conflict and displacement”. A conflict analysis and subsequent conflict sensitive approach is a key requirement when implementing activities in conflict affected areas in order to reduce contextual risks (e.g. programme failure and doing harm) and essential to promoting peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies.[1]
POSITION’S OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The Regional Technical Manager (RTM) / Global Conflict Analysis Advisor (GCAA) is a dual role split between the East Africa region and Global. It is a senior representational and technical role with DDG in East Africa which also leads DRC/DDG’s efforts to strengthen its capacity for conflict analysis and conflict sensitive programming globally.
The RTM has a dual reporting line to the DRC Regional Director in East Africa and the Head of DDG in line with the revised new directive. The RTM will ensure that all DDG programmes in East Africa are implemented within the framework of DDG’s objectives and strategies. S/he will network, build and maintain internal and external relationships and ensure that DDG strengthens its relations with donors and other international, regional and national stakeholders in East Africa. S/he will work closely with DRC senior regional management and technical staff to identify and exploit opportunities for joint programming leveraging potential synergies between DRC’s and DDG’s programme portfolios.
The GCAA reports to the Head of DDG and leads DRC/DDG’s efforts to strengthen its organisational capacity to systematically conduct and make use of conflict analysis to inform programming and advocacy. This will be done by supporting DRC/DDG’s programmes to identify conflict analysis needs, develop appropriate conflict analysis tools and guidelines, develop training materials for DRC staff, support country programmes to plan and manage the implementation of conflict analyses and to make use of conflict analysis for programme strategy development, project design, advocacy and fundraising. Initial geographical focus will be in the East Africa region where experience has been generated in recent years and where several conflict analyses activities are ongoing, as well as MENA, which has the most pressing need for conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity mainstreaming support. The intension is that the GCAA support services will gradually be offered to increasing number of programmes in DRC/DDG globally.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
The RTM is responsible for ensuring high quality programming and technical representation of DDG’s work in East Africa (especially Somalia and Kenya). S/he will supervise a team of technical advisors on Armed Violence Reduction and Mine Action and ensure high quality technical guidance to programmes in the region. S/he will work closely with DRC/DDG Country Directors and DDG Programme Managers on strategy and programme development, external representation and fundraising.
The GCAA is responsible for leading the development of DRC’s approach to carrying out conflict analysis and supporting DRC programmes to carry out conflict analysis and making use of them for programme and project design and advocacy. The GCAA reports to the Head of DDG and works in close co-ordination with the DRC/DDG Global Specialist Lead for Armed Violence Reduction and platform coordinators for the Emergency, Solutions and Root Causes Platforms on issues related to conflict analysis.
1] The objective of the DRC “Addressing Root Cause” platform, which links to the similar stated Sustainable Development Goal 16.
The ambition is illustrated by DRC’s second commitment at the WHS, which read: “The Danish Refugee Council commits to make the reduction of conflict and displacement a corporate priority by promoting peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies. DRC commits to continuously develop comprehensive bottom-up programmes to strengthen social cohesion within and between communities by strengthening the rule of law and access to justice, and supporting inclusive local governance and the delivery of basic services.”
The RTSM role include:
Strategy:
- Ensure continued day to day programmatic collaboration between DDG and DRC programmes to identify and promote programmatic synergies. This is relevant across all three programmatic platforms but not least in relation to durable solutions and root causes programming in the region.
- Lead the process of continuously developing DDG’s programming approaches in a regional context and adapted to the circumstances in the field – both nationally and regionally in coordination with the Global Specialist Leads for AVR and Mine Action. This includes leading the strategic development of DDG’s borderlands work in the region.
Representation and Fundraising:
- Ensure continued representation of DDG with donors in the East Africa region, in coordination with the Head of DDG, the RD, DRD, CDs and DDG PMs. This includes ensuring active and ongoing communication with key donors in Nairobi including Denmark, USA, EU and the UK, as well as engagement with smaller existing or potential new donors.
- In collaboration with the Country teams and HQ DDG team, ensure that DDG identifies and responds to relevant funding opportunities in a timely and coordinated manner and that proposals developed are competitive by providing quality assurance.
- Ensure continued representation of DDG with International and Regional Organisations, in collaboration with the Head of DDG, the RD, DRC, CDs and DDG PMs.
- Work with regional and country management and regional technical advisors to ensure that opportunities for integrated programming are identified and exploited as contextually relevant.
Technical guidance:
- Oversee DDG regional technical coordinators/advisors/managers and provide technical guidance especially in relation to fundraising and ensuring high quality of key technical design and implementation processes (incl. Borderlands Knowledge Hub, Conflict Analyses, Border Needs Assessments).
Strategic development
- Lead the development of a clear definition and focus for DRC’s approach to and use of conflict analysis.
- Promote effective knowledge management, evidenced lesson-learning and action orientated debate on bottom-up approaches to conflict reduction.
- Stay abreast with, and contribute to, ongoing global debates on the role of conflict analysis in humanitarian and development programming with special focus on displacement affected contexts.
Planning and implementation of conflict analyses
- Ensure provision of quality technical support and training to DRC/DDG programmes on planning and implementation of conflict analyses.
- Develop clear Terms of Reference (ToR) documents and support identification and engagement of suitable resource persons (internal or external) for various tasks including: desk research, primary data collection, production of conflict analysis reports, validation exercises and peer reviews, facilitation of programme/project designs based on conflict analysis, products to assist fundraising, advocacy and lobbying efforts (e.g. summary papers, presentations, fact sheets, infographics etc.).
- Review and quality assure conflict analysis reports, strategic situation analysis (SPD), presentations, briefing papers, communication materials etc.
- Ensure high quality technical support to country programmes planning and implementing conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity programming processes: This includes complete conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity planning in relation to DFID funded Somalia return project, ensure provision of high quality technical support on mainstreaming conflict sensitivity into the Syria programme (ongoing). Support to South Sudan, Tanzania/Burundi, and possibly other upcoming conflict analyses.
Programme design and fundraising
- Ensure provision of quality technical support to DRC/DDG Regional and Country programmes on making use of conflict analysis for ensuring conflict sensitivity of operations and project activities and inform regional and country programme strategy development and project design.
- Support proposal development in relation to description and justification of conflict analysis activities and DRC’s approach to ensuring conflict sensitivity.
Representation/Liaison
- Develop and maintain relations with external actors working on conflict analyses, conflict sensitivity and conflict reduction programming including conflict research institutions, individual conflict analysis specialists and consultants, conflict advisers within institutional donors and international organisations (esp. the UN and World Bank), think tanks and INGOs.
- Develop a data base of resource persons with specialist knowledge geographically and thematically across all the contexts that DRC is operating in.
- Represent DRC/DDG at relevant external meetings and conferences to increase awareness of DRC’s work around conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity and conflict reduction programming.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
The RTM maintains extensive contacts with relevant research and government representatives, as well as the representatives of UK, EU, US, Sweden, and other relevant donors and partners in Nairobi and elsewhere in the region.
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact. You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities, and can effectively communicate and lead regional processes. You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the regional team and in support of country operations.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’s five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the Regional team both to position DDG and ensure excellence in all deliverables.
- Collaborating: You lead regional initiatives and processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively
- Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.
Moreover, we also expect the following:
Personal Specifications
- Master’s degree in Peace Studies, Conflict Resolution, Development or other relevant subject.
- At least 10 years’ international experience of designing and implementing AVR projects and experience of working on Mine Action.
- At least 7 years in senior programme management roles in conflict and displacement affected contexts, ideally in East Africa.
- Proven experience in strategy development and implementation.
- Proven high capacity of engaging with national and international policy makers and donors for fundraising and advocacy purposes.
- Excellent representation and networking skills.
- Extensive field experience in conflict affected contexts. Working with multiple donors is an advantage.
- Extensive experience of designing and managing conflict analysis processes.
- Ability to advice on strategic directions of programming to address root causes of conflict and displacement and promote a peace and stability.
- Successful experience growing and effectively managing teams of high performing, highly motivated individuals is a strong advantage.
- Experience of working with displacement affected people in camp settings and areas of return an advantage.
- Proven capacity to develop innovative new approaches, develop projects that demonstrate impact, and attract necessary funding.
- Demonstrated experience in using new technologies for research and programming would be an advantage.
- Fluency in English essential; ability to speak and write in French or/and Arabic would be an advantage.
- High degree of computer literacy.
DRC encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.
CONDITIONS
Availability: 1 July 2017
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel within the region
Duration: One year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.
Reporting: Head of DDG and DRC Regional Director, East Africa and Yemen
Contract: 1year contract dependent on both funding and performance. Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies). This position is graded as A3 for qualified National staff the terms of employment will be in accordance with DRC terms for National staff
How to apply:
APPLICATION AND CV
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.
DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current Vacancies > Regional Technical Manager. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.
CV-only applications will not be considered and email applications sent directly to the regional office will not be considered.
Please submit your application and CV in English and marked “DDG RTM” no later than 4 June 2017.
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
