Title: Field Coordinator

Location: Gambella

Employment Category: G1

Salary Range: As per the organization scale

Reporting To: Head of Operations

Contract Duration: December 31, 2024

Posting date: June 05, 2024

Required Employee: 1

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. DRC Ethiopia began operations in 2009 and has been responding to the needs of refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities ever since. DRC Ethiopia currently has programs implemented through five area offices (AO) in Gambella, Tigray, Somali (Jijiga & Dollo Ado) and Afar regions, as well as its country office (CO) in Addis Ababa.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

DRC has been operating in Gambella since 20011. In 2024, DRC took a strategic decision in line with its localisation commitment, to transition its operations in Gambella to a fully partner-led approach. The Field Coordinator (FC) is responsible for leading and coordinating activities implemented by DRC’s partners in Gambella, ensuring strategic alignment and facilitating capacity development support to local partner organisations. The FC is responsible for coordinating all project activities including context monitoring, M&E, program support, stakeholder engagement, grantee oversight and support. The FC will ensure that project activities supported by DRC in Gambella are delivered in a timely and high-quality fashion informed by DRC’s commitment to accountability. The FC will represent DRC and DRC supported projects with local authorities, beneficiary communities, and other key stakeholders (UNHCR, RRS, etc). The Field Coordinator will continuously monitor movement trends, needs and gaps in Gambella and report them to the Country office (CO).

Responsibilities:

Programme Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Coordinates project implementation and coordination at area level among different partners of DRC.
• Leads on operational aspects of high-level program delivery, including management of project office, organisation, and coordination of Partners.
• Ensures compliance with DRC policies, standards, rules, and regulations.
• Ensures optimum program and operational support to the project partners in line with project guidelines.
• Supports Partners in program design, delivery, and progress of the project activities against agreed targets.
• Takes an active role in periodic project review and planning meetings, and external meetings as often as required.
• Conducts regular monitoring of activities in the field, including ensuring that programme quality monitoring systems are effectively used.
• Supports regular project reporting on field-level implementation, context, and challenges.
• Ensures project work planning, including field-level budgets and procurement plans are developed and monitored.
• Supports Partners in identifying risks and challenges and identifying mitigation and management approaches.
• Ensures that conflict sensitivity is mainstreamed throughout project cycle management.

Grants Management

• Ensures project activities are implemented in compliance with DRC and donors’ requirements, in close collaboration with CO team.
• Reviews and oversees progress against grant agreements, including monitoring of implementation to ensure timely results.
• Facilitating area based monthly Project Management and Budget Follow-up Meetings (PMM/BFU) with consortium partners.
• Works closely with CO M&E staff to document project results and lessons learned, and ensure they are fed into the design of future grants.
• Ensures grantee activities comply with project policies on conflict sensitivity, Do No Harm, accountability to affected populations and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI)
• Supports the CO grant management, technical and support services team with any other grants and program management-related tasks, as required.
• Supports the country office MEAL team with support on context analysis and facilitation of MEAL and research-related activities.

Capacity development

• In close collaboration with the Partnerships Coordinator, the CO technical and support service teams, coordinates and leads the implementation of joint capacity development plans with local partners.

• Work closely with the CO support services to ensure implementing partner gets adequate support as relevant.

Stakeholder Engagement & context monitoring

• Promotes collaboration and synergy between the project, partners, local authorities and local communities to promote local acceptance of activities.
• Support partners to liaise with key stakeholders (RRS, UNHCR, etc) and the relevant Government of Gambella sector offices, at all levels, as needed.
• Represent DRC in external stakeholder meetings and maintain external relations involving government officials and other key stakeholders.
• Support delivery of cross-border programming and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor context dynamics in Gambella and neighbouring countries and (potential) impact on displacement and humanitarian needs and liaise with the CO to prepare potential response to identified gap and to secure adequate resources.

Safety and Access:

• Oversee safety and access matters directly or indirectly related to all DRC personnel, assets, and programs within the Area.
• Support Safety and Access Manager (SAM) to improve Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) for Gambella and planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting measures required to ensure safe delivery of aid.
• Support SAM to develop Safety Plans, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Local Safety Rules (LSR), Safety Briefings, Safety Advisories and Site Evaluation Checklist (SES), and Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS) based on Safety Assessments when needed.
• Contribute to developing operational and programmatic contingency plans that respond to emergency scenarios
• Respond to and/or assist the Incident Management Team (IMT) to respond to any Safety Incident or accident in the field involving any DRC staff, vehicle, asset, or program and report immediately.
• Build and maintain contacts with relevant actors in the field, in order to ensure organizational acceptance and awareness of safety concerns.
• Create and conduct safety briefings and training for all personnel and visitors

DRC’s 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 act in line with our vision and values.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum of at least five years’ experience working in development and/or humanitarian programming, especially in the thematic areas of protection, peacebuilding, community engagement and livelihoods.
• Experience in working with consortium, including in developing and implementing capacity development initiatives.
• Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically.
• Conceptual understanding of the participatory approach and sustainable development.
• Proven people management and communication skills leading a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrable experience in supervising, managing coaching and capacity building/training others, especially local, community-based organisations, and consortium/sub-partners.
• Must have a ‘hands-on’, practical and solutions-oriented mentality, be self-driven and be very motivated.
• Must be well organised, able to take initiative and work independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and good command of the English language.
• Experience working in complex and hardship areas & contexts.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, Project Management, or any other related fields.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Fluency in the relevant local language/s is an added advantage

TO APPLY

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit an updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationForm/SinglePageApplicationForm.aspx?cid=1036&departmentId=19012&ProjectId=171165

Please forward the application and CV, in English through the stated website no later than June 19, 2024.

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.ngo
Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gendergap.
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics
We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nationals to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.