• Job number: SRH05513
• Area of expertise: Food Security & Livelihoods
• Status: Employee
• Position: Missions

About the mission

• Mission: There are 3 implementing offices in Syria (2 in North East Syria/NES, 1 in North West Syria/NWS) with the coordination based in Amman. The total financial volume of the mission for 2020 was approximately of 26 million EUR. The mission has now reached a number of approximately 45 expatriates and 250 national employees (7 expatriates and 90 national employees in Ar-Raqqa base).

• Type and content of program: Syria mission is dedicated to work in areas recently opened (in 2017 in Raqqa) and in challenging contexts to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. A turn from lifesaving activities to more post-emergency/development has also been undertaken. In Ar-Raqqa Governorate, main current activities are related to:
  • Lifesaving
    • Wash – emergency package in IDPs settlements
    • Distribution of NFIs and cash for vulnerable populations.
    • COVID Response (WASH in Health, distributions)
  • More sustainable activities:
    • individuals’ houses rehabilitations
    • Institutional rehabilitations and support: Water stations rehabilitations, capacity building of the Water Department, rehabilitation of schools.

Additionally, SI has a contingency and capacity to respond to emergencies in all NES.

In Raqqa, the strategy is also trying to include Livelihoods activities and look at irrigation system’ rehabilitation in its portfolio, with efforts being undertaken in assessments (internal assessments, consultancy).

During 2020, Raqqa base has also extended its activities in Tabqa (southeastern part of the Governorate), and in Kobane (northern NES).

About the job

General objectives

The Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) Program Manager oversees implementing and achieving the Cash & FSL portfolio on his/her assigned base complying with SI procedures. He/she also supports the development of donor proposals.
S/he guarantees the relevance, quality and suitability of the proposed activities and technical approaches and ensures the appropriateness of the activities

S/he is a creative force if/when certain adaptations would be necessary
S/he guarantees a proper preparation and implementation of the programs, including the elaboration of assessments, following an efficient monitoring system; the adaptation of a robust beneficiary selection mechanism and the design of each activity.
S/he ensures proper assessments are conducted and lesson learnt capitalized and participates proactively in the sectors development and evolution in the area.
S/he ensures SI’s representation to the technical and sectorial coordination mechanisms and within the relevant implementing partners.
S/he participates interdepartmental coordination and communication

S/he contributes to the process of institutional knowledge building and the improvement of SI methods and techniques in the field of Cash & FSL.
S/he ensures the management of the dedicated team, builds up its technical and managerial skills.

Issues/Specific Challenges:

The program is three-fold, with a Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) component, a Food Security / Agriculture sector and a Livelihood approach including Early Recovery Market System (ERMS) to implement and develop.
The three components are at different levels of development, experience, expertise and context understanding for SI Raqqa requiring regular and consistent preparation and assessment phases.
While SI team in Raqqa benefit from a solid experience in MPCA, it requires regular questioning and evaluation to improve the quality of programming and propose future evolution.
The ERMS sector component is relatively new for SI in the area. This position requires good livelihood sector understanding in transition/early recovery context including small business development.
Finally, the FSL component is also relatively new for SI Raqqa and is under development. It requires good acceptance and understanding of the sector, capitalization on accumulated experiences and identification of information gaps, including the nutrition component.
The 3 components require a strong ability to work and coordinate with multiple partners in the area, for referral mechanism and harmonization/complementarity of approaches.
The merging of the 3 components into 1 team will require efforts in team building and management, with the ability to create linkages and appropriate task division among the team.

Management

17 staffs under management, 3 staffs under direct management including 2 deputies and 1 technical advisor. Sizing and structure of the team likely to evolve in the coming months based on funding opportunities / constraints.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Ensure implementation and closure of project under his/her portfolio.
  Ensure continuous coordination with implementing partners on the topics of referrals, joint assessments, information sharing.
  Establish the FSL team new organigram
  Initiation of Financial Inclusion project
  Revision of FSL targeting and beneficiaries selection process

Your profile

Education

Specific degree in International Cooperation, Agriculture, Rural/Urban Economic development, value chains or relevant sectors.
Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Project Management, Development studies. International relations or equivalent.

Experience

• Ideally 3-4 years experience within humanitarian sector
• 1-2 years of experience in a similar position
• Experience in HR management
• Previous experience with SI highly appreciated
• Experience in a volatile security context highly appreciated

Technical skills

• Technical background in the field of market systems development / economic development and related project.
• Demonstrated understanding of food security and cash assistance.
• Demonstrated understanding of nutrition.
• Demonstrated understanding of agriculture systems.
• Experience in communication with communities and implementation of accountability mechanisms.
• Strong computer skills essential and working knowledge of Mobile Data Collection systems (e.g., Kobo or ONA).
  7. Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative).
  8. Database management.
• Ability to organize training and lead meetings.
• Capacity building to local teams is paramount for the position.

Soft Skills:

• Respect/compliance of security rules.
• Respect / compliance with SI procedure.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to cultural habits.
• Adaptability towards changing work environment and possible volatile security situation.
• Problem solving capacities.
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads.
• Team player, capacity to give a positive dynamic
• Acceptance towards being challenged by skilled national staff.

Language:

• English (Writing, speaking, reading)
• Arabic would be an asset

SI will offer you

A salaried position
According to experience, starting from EUR 2100 per month + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly and a monthly Per Diem of USD 700.

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Breaks

During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of on 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3/6 and 9 month.

To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of 1 additional rest day per month worked > i.e. 12 days in addition for a 1-year contract.

Insurances

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.

Living conditions

The candidate will be based in Raqqa. She/He will live in the SI guesthouse(s). In Raqqa, living conditions are comfortable. Despite security rules, expatriates in Raqqa can enjoy opportunities and places to socialize. The candidate will have his/her own room and well-equipped common areas.

Security level is high in NES justifying specific arrangements in terms of rules and movements in the areas of intervention.
SI has access to all the areas of intervention. The security level in Raqqa and NES in general is moderately high, with specific rules and movement arrangements, however it allows a considerably good social life for expats within the security limitations

Application Process

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 understanding.

For additional information about SI, please visit our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/

Contact

Field 7