Solidarités International (SI) recruits 01 Emergency Rapid Response Distribution Program Manager

Solidarités International (SI) recruits 01 Emergency Rapid Response Distribution Program Manager

Desired start date:  October 1st

Duration of the mission: 11 months

Location: Position based in Aden

ABOUT THE MISSION IN YEMEN …

SI opened its mission in Yemen in 2017, establishing its coordination in Aden. With the support of the Emergency DESK, SI mission was able to quickly acquire operational capacity, which was first deployed in Lahj Governorate, for implementation of WASH and Food Security Programming. Over the course of 2018, SI expanded the geographical scope of its intervention, and established presence in Al Turbah and Al Mokha in Taizz Governorate. With the opening of Al Mokha base late 2018, SI was one of the first humanitarian actors to start operations on the “West Coast”, which are now covering the southern districts of Hodeidah Governorate, close to one of the main frontlines of the conflict. In Al Turbah, SI is now looking at expanding its programming to recovery-type of projects, as well as its outreach to the city of Taizz, which after Hodeidah has been the second main frontline of the war.

For the year 2019/20; the mission has a forecasted budget of about 8M Euros. It operates from Aden, where the coordination is based, and 2 operational field bases located in Al Turbah and Al Mokha. The mission is composed of 15 expatriates and about 100 national staffs and is funded by OFDA, CDC, YHPF, DutchMoFA and ECHO. SI Programming in Yemen focuses on addressing immediate food needs of communities at risk of famine, as well as providing timely response to displacements of population and AWD/Cholera outbreaks. Its portfolio is primarily composed of WASH Emergency projects, along with unconditional cash distribution. Strategic and institutional priorities for the mission in 2019/20 is to strengthen its Emergency Response capacity, and develop operational capacity in Taizz city. In parallel, and where feasible, SI is looking at implementing recovery-type of programming.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

The Yemeni mission is looking for a Roving Emergency Distribution program manager, based in Aden but with frequent extended field visits in different geographical areas, depending on emergency needs.

SI is looking for a profile with strong experience in cash distribution and extended professional experience working in rapid response emergency. A special professional focus on malnutrition, population displacement or any shocks and crisis is mandatory. The candidate has to be proactive, autonomous and with solution-oriented mindset. The candidate has to be particularly attracted to the rapid resolution of technical challenges and action plans with a very limited period of time; as well as ready to coordinate extensively with humanitarian stakeholders and local authorities, while potentially receiving a weak support from the usual humanitarian response coordinators at the country level.

The overall objective will be to lead the implementation of rapid emergency cash for food response programs with a particular focus on malnutrition, forced displacement and disease outbreak. A strong component of the work will be the regular monitoring and mapping of displacement and malnutrition peaks, as well as cholera hotspots in liaison with the Wash Emergency PM.

Upon the onset on an emergency and previous security and needs assessment, the main task will be to rapidly deploy an emergency FSL team in the area. The team will have the responsibility to validate the trigger to launch the response, conduct the identification/verification of the beneficiaries list, liaise with the local authorities, conduct a rapid market assessment to validate the modality of the food distribution and liaise with the partners’ shop and/or the financial transfer partner. A strong understanding of voucher/cash distribution is essential, and having worked with bank or hawala networks in the past is definitely an asset. The setting-up of a distribution site in a timely manner with appropriate SoPs for distribution for emergencies will be needed.

The distribution program manager pilots FSL activities of the emergency team and ensures the quality and relevance of SI’s programs under his/her supervision.

S/he ensures the capacity building of the program team under his/her supervision, including training on emergency set-up, FSL indicators, distribution and cash intervention.

S/he provides support and advice to the logistics for the materials and services specific to her/his program activities.

In collaboration with the administrative department, s/he contributes to the development of bill of quantities and technical designs, program budgets, budget follow up and proposal budgets for the program parts.

S/he shares with the security focal points any information on the security context and any event which may have consequences on SI activities and team safety.

An outstanding ability to manage heavy workload and constant operational stress is required for this highly challenging position.

Specific Stake and Challenges :

• Design, implementation and M&E of rapid need assessments, baseline surveys, security assessment, malnutrition outbreak /new displacement/food assistance mapping and monitoring.
• Design and implementation of rapid response for distribution of emergency food basket for conflict-affected people.
• Liaison with the humanitarian coordination, clusters, RRM partners, NGO partners and local authorities to feed in and receive alerts on shock and crisis; but also share SI’s intervention.
• Liaison the financial transfer partner and management of payment for cash transfer
• Design, implementation and M&E activities.
• Manage project’s implementation in insecure and hardly accessible areas.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months :

• Recruitment and training of the team;
• Establishment of SoPs for beneficiaries’ identification and cash distribution in emergencies including cash processes;
• Monitoring and mapping of malnutrition & cholera hotspots and displacement of population.
• Identification of key priority areas for emergency food basket.
• Define a clear planning for the activities to be carried out, including but not limited to procurement and implementation plan.

Management

The Emergency distribution program manager will manage a team of 1 Team Leaders and 4 Food Security Officers.

YOUR PROFILE

Education and Experience

• Master level in social sciences, politics, humanitarian, project management…
• Minimum of 1 year experience managing emergency project or food distribution project minimum, and 2 years in the humanitarian sector.
• Proven previous experience providing rapid emergency response.
• Proven previous experience with working with a financial transfer partner.
• Proven previous experience providing response for IDPs in collective sites as a response to early-onset emergencies in conflict areas or natural disasters.
• Proven previous experience in rapid needs assessments, market surveys, baseline surveys, and security assessments.
• Knowledge of food security indicators.
• Proven previous experience in unstable environment (conflict / post conflict country).
• Roving/Flying experience would be a key asset.
• Experience in working in tense security context with strict security rules.
• Experience in remote project management would be an asset.
• Experience in team management.
• Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff.

Knowledge and Technical skills

• Advanced knowledge on emergency response; cash distribution; food distribution.
• Advanced knowledge on monitoring and evaluation in emergencies, ensuring do not harm.
• Advanced knowledge of project cycle management, humanitarian world, emergency donors.
• Advance knowledge on rapid needs assessments, market surveys, baseline surveys, and security assessments.
• Knowledge of SI works, processes, ways of work and philosophy is an asset.
• Good and proven writing and spoken English are required.
• Arabic speaking is an asset.

Transferable skills

• Excellent prioritization and organisation skills.
• Proactivity, flexibility, autonomy, pragmatism, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Capacity to work under pressure and solve problems and decide quickly on contingency actions.
• Good analytical and writing/editing skills.
• Good communication and diplomatic skills.

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: According to experience, starting from 1980 euros gross per month (1800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem rate of 750 USD a month. SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation:  Vacation: during the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break after every two months spent on the mission. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 10th months (with 750 USD allocated by SI). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (SI will cover travel costs).

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Aden

The situation in terms of security remains tense in Aden and its surrounding Lahj governorate, due to the proximity of the frontline, the political unrest and the presence of armed opposition groups such as IS and AQAP. Main identified threats for Aden are crossfire (wrong location at the wrong moment), kidnapping or hostage taking (even though there is no proven history of kidnapping of expatriates in recent period), crowd mob and road accidents. To mitigate these risks, SI has developed strict security rules that the applicant needs to be ready to abide to. The field office in Aden is shared with the guesthouse (same building). It is located 5 minutes-drive from the coordination office, which also shares guesthouse and office. Security rules in Aden are rather restrictive, with a curfew at 6.00 pm, extended to 20.00 pm in the green zone, where most INGOs are located. Expatriates are allowed to go to the supermarket, to one restaurant, and two beaches (including one reachable by boat). Guesthouse are comfortable as per middle-east standards (large rooms with AC, with high-standard bathrooms with running water).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Does this description fit you? Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only applications will not be considered.

NB:  The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your comprehension

For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website:  http://www.solidarites.org/en/