Country Director – Burkina Faso 127 views0 applications

Country Director Burkina Faso

Introduction:

The Danish Refugee Council (hereinafter: DRC) was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown into an international humanitarian organisation with more than 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. Headquartered in Copenhagen and present in 40 countries, the DRC is a non-profit, non-governmental aid organisation. The DRC assists refugees, displaced persons and host populations around the world: we provide emergency aid to these people, we work to ensure that their rights are respected and we strengthen their opportunities for a better future. Our vision is a life with dignity for all people affected by displacement around the world, in accordance with humanitarian principles. We are the largest humanitarian NGO in Denmark and consistently ranked as one of the world’s best NGOs according to Global_Geneva. Our work and long-term strategies are guided by our five core values: Humanitarian approach – Respect – Independence & neutrality – Inclusion – Honesty & transparency.

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified qualified Country Director / Representative for its representation in Burkina Faso.

About the job

The DRC has been present in Burkina Faso since 2013 with five operational field offices (Dori, Ouahigouya, Djibo, Gorom Gorom, Dédougou) and one country office in Ouagadougou. It works mainly in the areas of humanitarian protection, water, hygiene and sanitation, food security and livelihoods, and social cohesion. The organisation develops a community-based approach and seeks sustainable solutions for the population through the implementation of multisectoral projects.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director for the Region, the main duties and responsibilities of the Country Director / Representative for Burkina Faso are :

• Responsible for the achievement of DRC’s strategic objectives and goals in his/her area of responsibility.
• Responsible for making important decisions about what the country operation needs to do: its purpose, functions and role, as well as making commitments and decisions that require the use of significant resources.
• Responsible for the management of the people under your direct responsibility. This includes hiring, goal setting, probationary period, performance evaluation, staff development, performance management, including underperformance.
• Delegates specific tasks as needed, while maintaining supervision and accountability.
• Responsible for making informed decisions based on DRC policies, SOPs, standards and advice from DRC technical experts.

You will have to travel frequently on the field and make occasional travels to Dakar and Copenhagen.

In particular, you will have the following responsibilities:

Overall programme management

• The CD provides strategy guidance and management to all program sectors and is responsible for high quality, accountable, program design and delivery.
• Ensures representation of DRC to external actors, ie donors, partners, etc.
• Ensures that DRC projects are implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Program Manual, DRC Operational Handbook, CHS).
• Ensure the continuous implementation of the local Humanitarian Accountability Framework and Quality Management System. Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner.
• Ensure that program implementation follows a Rights Based Approach (RBA) and that protection principles are mainstreamed into all sectors.

Representation, Coordination with Stakeholders

• High level representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate DRC program priorities in Burkina Faso.
• Maintains good relations with key humanitarian actors, including donors like ECHO, UE, US State Department, DDC, MINBUZA, GFFO, DANIDA, including UN agencies like UNHCR, OCHA, and including NGOs engaged particularly in protection programming, through regular attendance at technical meetings/clusters; and formal and informal bilateral meetings. Engage in, and where effective, lead coordination processes amongst key stakeholders.
• Ensures the implementation of DRC Burkina Faso communication strategy, advocate and network clearly, appropriately and strategically.
• Ensures that programme activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area.

Fundraising, Advocacy, Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation

• Drives fundraising efforts and plays key role in donor follow up / engagement.
• Supervises the formulation of project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Program & Operations Handbook.
• Key roles in the identification of opportunities for new projects.
• Ensures that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirements.
• Responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements.

Support Services (Finance, HR & Administration, Supply Chain):

• Finance: Responsible for all project funds in country
  • Ensures that funds are spent appropriately, according to the donor contract.
  • Ensures that under-spendings & overspendings are monitored and signaled in good time.
  • Responsible for safe handling of cash in country.
• HR:
  • Supervises national staff & international staff performance.
  • Ensures that are in place at capital level and in all offices: Complete HR files for all staff, Staff Policy and Office Manual, Code of Conduct, Staff Complaint Mechanism, Holidays and sick leave monitoring file, Overtime monitoring file, Severance payment overview, Taxation overview, Performance appraisals.
• Supply Chain:
  • Supervises all procurement in mission, ensures that for all procurement the proper documentation exists and is archived correctly.
  • Ensures that logistics guidelines are applied for the use of vehicles, fuel, communication equipment, generators etc.
• DRC Dynamics ERP System: Support the follow up of ERP system

Access and safety

• Overall responsible for the security of DRC staff in country and of the programs.
• Responsible for security planning including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC´s SLS (Safety Level Systems).
• Ensures the follow up of DRC Security procedures and that the DRC set up in Burkina Faso follows them.
• Supervises the regular update of local security rules.
• Ensures that DRC is part of security networks at the national level.
• Ensures that all DRC security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently.
• Ensures that security incidents are reported to DRC HQ.
• Supports the implementation of DRC Burkina Faso humanitarian access strategy in order to guarantee and sustain the continuity of the programs and the safety of the teams through operational support and advocacy actions.
• Supervises the implementation of a robust analysis of key stakeholders for humanitarian access, the development of systematic analysis of humanitarian access constraints in areas of operations to assist in the adaptation of the mission’s access strategy accordingly.

Compliance

• Ensures the proper management of internal and external audits and the follow-up of recommendations.
• Supports and supervises the design and implementation of internal systems to monitor and measure the compliance of processes put in place on the mission for all departments/sectors present.
• Ensures that all control measures are in place to limit the opportunities for fraud & corruption
• Continues to roll out the code of conduct mechanism on the mission.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted per operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you expect the following:

• Advanced university degree in development studies and project management, law, human rights, political and/ or social sciences or in related field.
• Professional background in humanitarian work with proven ability with respect to the design, management and implementation of programs with a focus on protection and emergency response for refugees and displaced persons.
• A minimum of 10 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least 3 years working in the field in refugee/IDP situations.
• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in people management
• A minimum of 3 years in similar position.
• Experience with relief/emergency response activities.
• Experience with implementation of operations in insecure environments; Proven experience in security management is a must.
• Experience in sectors such as Protection, food security/ early recovery / livelihoods.
• Experience with donors such as ECHO, UE, US State Department, DDC, MINBUZA, GFFO, DANIDA, …
• Demonstrated management capacity as well as hands-on experience in Administration, HR, Finance and Logistics sectors.
• Prior experience overseeing organizational change processes an asset.
• Willingness to live and work in an insecure environment with limited physical amenities.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Full professional proficiency in French (Daily working language).
• Full professional proficiency in English.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 2 years

Band: Management D

Work location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Designation of Duty Station: Accompanied Family/Family Duty Station

Start date: January 2nd 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts only; please refer to our website for more details. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Florent Milesi.