Regional Head of Programme 87 views0 applications

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is seeking an experienced and dedicated Head of Programme to help develop and strengthen DRC programming and operations within the North Africa region.

DRC applies a regional approach in promoting our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In 2018, DRC formally established a regional operation for the North Africa region, comprising Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Sudan – and with potential further expansion. DRC has been present in Sudan since 2004, in Libya and Tunisia since 2011, and in Algeria since 2016, addressing humanitarian needs related to armed conflict, persistent insecurity and significant internal and cross-border displacement, including protracted displacement and returns processes. With protection as the foundation, DRC applies an integrated multi-sector approach to address emergency needs, root causes and solutions to displacement. Increasingly, countries in North Africa have also become areas of departure, transit and destination for mixed migration flows, with those on the move facing significant protection concerns.

The North Africa Regional Office (NARO) is based in Tunis, Tunisia. Led by a Regional Director, it provides support, management and strategic leadership to the Country Operations and also hosts the North Africa Mixed Migration Center and a Consortium Coordination Unit.

About the job

The Regional Head of Programme (RHOP) reports to and works closely with the Regional Director (RD) in providing and mobilising regional support for the country operations and programme teams hosted within the region. The RHOP supports the RD in ensuring management, leadership and strategic direction for the DRC operations and in promoting and ensuring programme and operational compliance and development.

The RHOP supports the development and implementation of the regional strategy and ensures that relevant advocacy, donor and fundraising strategies are pursued. The role promotes a regional execution of global policies, standards and organisational priorities and ensures that ‘DRC annual cycle’ processes are applied and implemented in the local contexts.

This role has a regional focus on ensuring programmatic development and strategic focus as well as alignment and compliance with DRC’s global processes and procedures within the whole North Africa regional area. The RHOP provides support and technical guidance to country operations while leading key initiatives with regional scope.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategy and Programme development

• Support the RD in providing strategic leadership, including development and implementation of regional strategic priorities.
• Promote and contribute to the development of a clear and relevant programme profile within the North Africa context, guided by DRCs corporate profile and priorities.
• Keep abreast on key displacement related trends and issues (national, regional and global levels) and political or contextual developments that may impact DRC programming or operations in North Africa.
• Support Country Operations in strategy development, adaptation and implementation, including support in developing Strategic Programme Documents (SPDs) and engagement and participation in the Country and Regional Annual Reviews and associated processes.
• Support strategic fundraising opportunities, including review of select country office proposals. Lead on coordination and development of key regional / cross-regional project proposals.
• Lead on assessments, feasibility analysis, project design etc. for new intervention areas or locations within the region (inc. emergency response or longer-term programming opportunities).

Representation, communication and advocacy

• Represent DRC externally, including with donors, partners, embassies, authorities and other stakeholders.
• Engage in advocacy initiatives, including acting as a key DRC advocate to stakeholders and duty bearers in North Africa, and engage with DRC globally (inc. DRC West Africa, East Africa, Europe Regions, the Mixed Migration Centre and Representative missions in Geneva and Brussels) to promote advocacy efforts at multiple levels.
• Participate in DRC’s Communications Network, and act as focal point for communications-related requests and initiatives from DRC’s Communications Department in Copenhagen or other stakeholders.

Policies, processes and compliance

• The Regional Head of Programme supports the RD in promoting programmatic and operational compliance and ensuring regional execution of global policies, standards, processes and priorities.
• Engage in organisational Risk Management processes, including systematic and comprehensive identification and mitigation of risks – with a particular focus on programmatic and reputational risks throughout DRC’s North Africa programmes.

Human Resources and Code of Conduct

• Participate in select recruitment processes concerning key regional or country office management positions.
• Assume supervisory role for programme-related EU Volunteers, including Communications and MEAL-focused positions. Direct management of additional staff is possible in line with regional structure development.
• As part of the Regional Senior Management Team, support the implementation of DRC’s Code of Conduct processes at the country and regional levels, including as part of the regional CoC Committee and assisting with investigation processes or other procedures.

About you

The successful candidate is expected to have at least 7 years’ experience in similar senior management roles with International NGOs, preferably including complex emergencies, protracted displacement and Mixed Migration contexts.

Required

• Proven experience in strategic programme development, design, planning and implementation
• Demonstrated technical expertise in protection, mixed migration and/or resilience programming
• Strong representational, coordination and liaison skills and experience working with partners, donors and government authorities
• Excellent communication, negotiation, conceptualization skills
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Experience in strategy development and resource mobilisation plans
• Experience with donor policies, priorities and processes
• Sound understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning processes, including in complex programmes
• Experience with people management (inc. performance management processes).
• Willingness to travel to and work in insecure environments
• Ability to manage stress, multi-task and take decisions
• Previous experience from a DRC field or HQ operation, including sound understanding of DRC’s Operations Handbook and programming principles and tools will be a distinct advantage.
• Preferably hold a post-graduate degree (Bachelor degree as a minimum) in international relations, political science, development studies, business management or other related field from a recognized institution.
• Full professional proficiency in English is required.

Desired

• Ability to converse and work in French will be an advantage but is not required.
• All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’ core competencies: *

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.

• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.

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

• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.

• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract: 1-year contract with possibility of extension dependent on funding and performance.

The position is Management Band E.

Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for International staff.

Reports to: Regional Director of North Africa

Duty station: Tunis, Tunisia. The position will require some travel, including to country offices within the region and to DRC’s HQ in Denmark. Tunis is a Family Duty Station but the position in non-accompanied position.

Availability: As soon as possible.