Country Representative Central African Republic 152 views0 applications

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through technical assistance, supplies and financial support. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards. The Focus of the International Assistance department is on two main areas: Disaster Response and Community Resilience.

Country Representative, Central African Republic (CAR)

Position title: NLRC Country Representative – CAR

Duty station: Bangui

Time period: 1 year, with possible extension

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Status: Single posting/R&R

Purpose of the position

The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) is looking for a Country Representative who will:

· Safeguard, develop and implement the NLRC long term strategy and vision for CAR

· Maintain and further develop relationships with Red Cross Partners, Donors and other Stakeholders

· Lead the NLRC Country Team in CAR

· End responsible for all NLRC supported projects in CAR

· Be the project manager for the Response Preparedness Program (RPII)

The Netherlands Red Cross in Central African Republic

The NLRC supports the Central African Republic Red Cross (CAR RC) through a programmatic partnership, with longer term development assistance through two main projects: Response Preparedness funded by The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Future Generation project funded by the Dutch radio 3FM. The first project focuses on enhancing preparedness of the National Society CAR RC to better respond to future disasters with an aim of having by the end of April 2020 the impact of disasters vulnerable people in CAR reduced. The second project addresses the social cohesion theme with specific attention to youth. The overall aim of the 3FM project is by the end of 2018, 5,000 youth are more resilient to the consequences of conflict and able to shape their personal and economic development.In addition, NLRC supports the CAR RC with strengthening its capacities to effectively provide services to the most vulnerable communities and assists the partner in the coordination within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and other stakeholders.

A new project funded by The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just started and focusing on livelihoods and basic needs for the youth with an overall objective that by 2020, 5000 vulnerable youth are economically and socially integrated through economic empowerment, first aid trainings promoting peace due to trainings in 7 principles, Conflict management, social cohesion and SRH (including SGBV awareness). The Country Representative is also the end responsible for this project.

Netherlands Red Cross Response Preparedness Programme

In 2011 the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent was held. During this Conference the Netherlands government and NLRC agreed to support a selection of National Societies to provide more effective emergency response.[1] This resulted in the so-called ‘RP’ programme, a first full-fledged response preparedness programme implemented from 2012 till 2016 in 5 countries and fully funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

NLRC intended to renew this commitment to strengthening disaster response preparedness and started preparations for a proposal in 2014, which was formally accepted for funding by July 2016. The programme (May 1st 2016 – April 30th 2020) fills a critical gap between current community based resilience and risk reduction programmes and international disaster response by focusing on strengthening national response capacity and linking it to regional and global capacity. It aims at enabling a better prepared response mechanism of the RCRC Movement partners and surrounding stakeholders in case disasters strike and therefore complements community-based resilience and DRR activities. For the Netherlands Red Cross the response preparedness programme contributes to an important part of the organization’s strategic focus on disaster management^[2] as laid down in the paper ‘Towards 2020’.

In the second phase of the Response Preparedness Programme (RP2), NLRC will contribute to improved Disaster Response Preparedness in four disaster and conflict prone countries, working closely with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in those countries-namely Central African Republic, Lebanon (including Palestinian Red Crescent branch in Lebanon), Mali and Zambia-, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretariat, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (RCCC) and the 510 data team of NLRC. RP2 covers core activities that lie at the heart of disaster preparedness of National Societies, but also aims to address capacities that strengthen and facilitate these. This means that RP2 not only focuses on the capacity of the involved National Societies (NS), but also on its specific position within the country’s broader disaster response preparedness mechanism. In addition RP2 will be contributing to global Red Cross and Red Crescent tools and guidelines on response preparedness through the IFRC Secretariat and the RCCC. In achieving these objectives the following innovative approaches will be set up in some NS’:

• Forecast-based Financing (FbF);
• Information management (including needs assessments) and data preparedness;
• Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) in preparedness;
• Improved sanitation in emergency response.

Position in the organization

The Country Representative is leading the country team in CAR, consisting of one delegate and local staff. The country representative is the direct line manager of the in-country expatriate staff and local staff in Bangui.

The Country Representative reports to the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator (PPC), who is based in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The Country Representative will work closely with staff based at NLRC HQ, including the Portfolio Officer, technical advisors, PMER and quality officers.

Key Responsibilities

Vision and Strategy development

· Take the lead in further developing NLRC’s long term vision and strategy for Central African Republic.

· Maintain and develop NLRC’s portfolio for CAR.

· In the processes described above ensure inclusion of CAR RC society, the NLRC field team and NLRC HQ (desk, advisors, unit lead).

· Act as the primary resource person within NLRC Country Office, for sharing and providing information on NLRC’s vision and strategy and projects in CAR.

Partnership Fostering and Development

· Maintain effective working relationships with CAR RC as well as other Red Cross Partner National Societies in country.

· Maintain and foster in country relations with Donors.

· Maintain relations with Netherlands Embassy in Khartoum and pro-actively inform the Embassy about NLRC supported projects.

· Engage and actively participate in relevant networks, coalitions, alliances, meetings, forums or any other event related to the activities implemented in CAR.

• Represent the NLRC in coordination meetings with other Red Cross partners.

· Take the lead in identifying funding and or partnership opportunities in CAR which are in line with strategies and priorities of CAR RC and NLRC.

Project Development and Delivery

· Analyze and maintain an in-depth understanding of the development context and key stakeholders in country.

· Work in collaboration and consultation with CAR RC, identify relevant interventions in line with CAR RC and NLRC International Assistance Department Strategy.

· Work in close collaboration with Project Delegates in development of new proposals, monitoring and revising budgets and activities.

· Coordinate the Response Preparedness project in CAR

· End responsible for ensuring quality project management and financial control of the portfolio of NLRC projects in-country as the line manager of project delegates.

· Safeguard and implement NLRC’s Standard Project Approach (SPA), Financial Management guide and NLRC’s Procedures for International Procurement

Human Resources, Line management and Office

· Foster a positive, fair, participatory and ambitious professional work culture among in-country staff.

· Ensure all Delegates are delivering on work plans and that all relevant external donor policies, procedures and deadlines are met.

· Oversee management of in-country project budgets for Delegates in agreement with the Portfolio Officer.

· Ensure all delegates adhere to NLRC’s Standard Project Approach, use the right (budget) formats, follow all NLRC procedures (e.g. Logistics, Security Guidelines) and use the right administrative systems (SPACE 2.0, Winpaccs, etc).

· Undertake regular strategic and operational meetings with CAR RC Senior Management Team to ensure work priorities and address any challenges the in country NLRC team is facing.

· Responsible for managing employee performance, including providing employees with regular feedback, (conducting a Mid Term review and a yearly performance appraisal).

· Maintain accurate written records of work plans, Management Team meetings and performance appraisals.

· In conjunction with each employee, identify learning and professional development needs and support the employee in getting these needs met e.g. approving their participation in courses, coaching them, providing them with “on-the-job” experience that will enhance their knowledge, etc.

· Develop Job Descriptions for new staff of the Country office, process recruitment and hiring in close consultation with the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator.

· Ensure that staff compensation and benefits are fair and understood by all employees.

· Ensure that Delegates comply with staff regulations and that breaches are documented and the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator notified.

• Develop the NLRC office budget, taking into account existing program budgets and request for approval by NLRC HQ.
• Organize missions for the NLRC, other Red Cross National Societies and external consultants upon request alongside the relevant project delegate. Develop terms of references for these missions.

Security Management

· Ensure strict adherence of security policies and directions from NLRC and ICRC;

· Ensure that updated Security Regulations are in place and that all staff (local and International) are aware and follows the regulation.

· Develop on a yearly basis a country security document in close collaboration with the security advisor at HQ

· Disseminate information on security threats to staff in a timely manner.

· Regularly analyze context, identify risks and validate security rules.

· Maintain proper documentation of security incidents.

· Conduct security briefing for NLRC visitors to CAR and arrange security briefing for these visitors with ICRC

Requirements

· Master degree in Social Science, International Development, Business Management or other relevant field

· At least 8 years’ experience in the development and/or humanitarian field

· Strategic thinker with a strong track record in programme design and grant writing

· Demonstrated ability for high level representation (e.g. donor liaison)

· Experience in the area of capacity building and development of non-governmental organisations, preferably of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

· Able to work in politically complex and challenging environment.

· Experience in working at managerial level in an international organisation.

· Experience in programme management , including programme identification, formulation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, preferably within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

· Excellent narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing skills.

· Working experience in the region is preferred, as is knowledge on the political, economic and socio-cultural climate of Central African Republic

· Able to adhere to policy and procedures of the NLRC whilst effectively managing programmes and people

· Able to make sound judgements and decisions.

· Good social/diplomatic skills and culturally sensitive, flexible and creative.

· Able to work independently, as well in a team with the guidance of the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator;

· Fluent in spoken and written of French and English;

· Strong interpersonal skills.

· Practical knowledge of computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Winpaccs, Document Management programmes).

We offer

· A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with the possibility of extension

· A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.

· Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.

[1] Original Pledge text: ‘The government of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Red Cross herewith pledge that options will be investigated to, during the years 2012-2015, support selected National Societies in strengthening their capacities in emergency preparedness and response’ Source: https://www.icrc.org/appweb/p31e.nsf/pledge.xsp?action=openDocument&docu…

[2] Being defined as ‘limiting the impact of emergency situations, strengthening resilience and promoting respect and willingness to help’.