Deputy Head of Mission – Nigeria at ALIMA

DEPUTY HEAD OF MISSION – Nigeria - M/F (national position)

ALIMA’S SPIRIT: ALIMA’s purpose is to save lives and provide care for the most vulnerable populations, without any discrimination based on identity, religion, or politics, through actions based on proximity, innovation, and the alliance of organizations and individuals. We act with humanity and impartiality in accordance with universal medical ethics. To gain access to patients, we undertake to act in a neutral and independent manner.

Our CHARTER defines the VALUES and PRINCIPLES of our action:

• Patient First – Patient centered medical care
• Revolutionizing humanitarian medicine through research
• Responsibility and freedom: encourage decision-making by those closest to patients
• Commitment to a dynamic of continuous quality improvement
• Creating a climate of trust among colleagues
• Collective intelligence
• Environmental liability

ALIMA promotes and defends the principles of fundamental human rights. ALIMA has a zero-tolerance approach towards those guilty of acts of gender and sexual violence as well as towards inaction in the face of alleged or proven acts of violence. The protection of those benefiting from and impacted by our intervention is our top priority in everything we do. Everyone collaborating with ALIMA is committed to:

• Respect the charter, the code of conduct, the institutional policies including the policy of protection against abuse of power and sexist and sexual violence, the policy of prevention of corruption and fraud;
• Report any violation of the policies, framework documents, and procedures to a superior, to a referent, or to alert@alima.ngo

CARING - INNOVATING - TOGETHER

Since its creation in 2009, ALIMA has treated more than 10 million patients and today deploys its operations in 12 African countries. In 2021 we developed 60 humanitarian medical response projects to meet the needs of populations affected by conflicts, epidemics and extreme poverty. All of these projects are carried out in support of national authorities through nearly 357 health facilities (including 45 hospitals and 312 health facilities). Whenever possible We work in partnership with local NGOs to ensure that our patients benefit from the best and most relevant expertise wherever it is, whether within their own country or in the rest of the world. In addition, to improve the humanitarian response, we are carrying out operational and clinical research projects particularly in the field of the fight against malnutrition and viral hemorrhagic fevers.

ALIMA’S TEAM

More than 2000 people currently work for ALIMA. The field teams, as close as possible to the patients, receive their support from the coordination teams generally based in the capitals of the countries of intervention. These receive support from the 4 desk teams and the emergency and opening service team based at the operational headquarters in Dakar, Senegal. The Paris and New York teams are actively working on fundraising as well as representing ALIMA. The rest of the ALIMA Galaxy includes individuals and partner teams who work on behalf of other organizations such as medical NGOs BEFEN, ALERTE Santé, SOS Médecins / KEOOGO, AMCP, research organizations PACCI, INSERM, Universities of Bordeaux or Copenhagen and many others.

COUNTRIES WHERE WE WORK IN 2022

Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Guinea, Sudan, Mauritania, Senegal & Ukraine.

THE WORK WE DO

Primary and Secondary Health Care, with a main focus on children and women - including treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition, maternal health, mental health, response to epidemics (Ebola, Cholera, Measles, Dengue, Lassa Fever), surgery, displaced populations, and gender-based violence, Covid 19.

GOVERNANCE

ALIMA is governed by a Board of Directors of 10 elected positions and 4 co-opted positions from representatives of West African partner NGOs.

ALIMA IN NIGERIA

ALIMA has been present in Nigeria since 2016. Its actions are part of a regional response strategy to health and nutrition emergencies, with a focus on pediatric, maternal-infant and epidemic interventions. ALIMA is present in North-East Nigeria in Borno State (MMC and Jere LGAs) and in Yobe State (Bade and Karasuwa LGAs) where it provides outpatient and inpatient healthcare and nutrition services for IDPs and host communities. In North-West Nigeria, ALIMA is in Katsina State (Kaita LGA) to respond to increased nutritional needs. ALIMA is present in the South-West, in Ondo State (Owo LGA) where teams are treating patients for Lassa fever and conducting research into improved treatment.

In Borno state, ALIMA ensures outpatient and inpatient access to nutrition services, as well as outpatient health care in MMC and Jere LGAs. In 2022, ALIMA delivered 85,925 OPD consultations and treated 9,278 SAM cases without complications at the OTP level. 3,963 deliveries were conducted, and 2,446 mental health consultations were delivered. ALIMA also provided inpatient care for SAM cases with complications within 3 stabilization centres (University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital -UMTH, Gwange II, and Fatima Ali Sherrif - in MMC) and treated 3,386 SAM children with complications.

In Yobe state, ALIMA supports 5 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) - Waro, Jajeri, Jajimaji, K. Garun Guna and K. Galu - since May 2021 for nutrition and health care. ALIMA also provides inpatient care for SAM cases with complications within its 40 beds stabilization center located in Gashua General Hospital, Bade LGA. ALIMA also support hospitalization for children under five in Jajimaji. In 2022, ALIMA delivered 53,196 OPD consultations and treated 4,722 SAM children. 2,036 deliveries were conducted, and 976 mental health consultations were delivered.

In Katsina state, ALIMA ensures since August 2021 the provision of outpatient and inpatient nutrition and healthcare services for children under 5. ALIMA currently delivers OPD consultations, and supports the ambulatory management and referral of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases in 5 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Kaita LGA: Dankama, Sabon Birni (Ba’awa ward), Dankaba, Zabakau (Gafiya ward), Matsai. ALIMA also ensures inpatient healthcare and provides care for SAM cases with complications within its 110 beds stabilisation centre located in Kaita CHC. In 2022, ALIMA treated 2,171 SAM cases with complications at the ITFC level and 29,239 SAM cases without complications at the OTP level. ALIMA also delivered 36,851 OPD consultations for children under 5, while 4,906 were hospitalized at the inpatient department of Kaita CHC.

In Ondo State, ALIMA has been supporting the NCDC and the State Ministry of Health with case management, active case detection, patient triage, public awareness campaigns, and reinforcement of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures among health workers in the different hospital structures of Ondo State. In addition to prevention and case management, ALIMA is currently participating in the coordination of several studies to better understand the disease, including an observational cohort study (LASCOPE) to describe the clinical, biological course, management and outcomes of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of confirmed Lassa fever and a phase II clinical trial (SAFARI) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Favipiravir.

POST TYPOLOGY

• Location: Abuja, with travel to All Project sites (minimum 50% in the field)
• Hierarchical link: Head of Mission
• Functional link: Head of Mission

MISSION ET OBJECTIVES

Under the supervision of the Head of Mission and working closely with Project Coordinators, the Deputy Head of Mission (DHoM) will identify changes and trends in the humanitarian access and security environment in Nigeria and help to maximize the effectiveness of ALIMA activities by contributing to the design and ongoing adaptation of programming to ensure it is contextually appropriate. He/She will build and oversee the community based strategy, access strategy and security management systems, in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles and ALIMA's security management strategy. He/She will ensure that expert advice on humanitarian access and security risk management is provided to all levels of staff in the country office on building relationships with stakeholders, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, understanding the context, managing critical incidents and providing timely advice. He/She replaces project coordinators in case of absence.

PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Level 3: The incumbent is responsible for the application of HR processes and may be required to conduct field visits. He/She may therefore be in contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or the presentation of a certificate of good conduct will be required. In situations where the impossibility of providing a criminal record or a certificate of good conduct is established, a declaration on honor will be requested.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Context Analysis

• Monitor the environment of the intervention areas and keep track of any changes that could impact the organization's work.
• Contribute to the analysis of the dynamics between different actors, the security situation, and incidents.
• Identify any constraints to humanitarian access in the intervention areas.
• Assess the vulnerabilities of the organization and recommend possible responses.
• Provide credible information and advice to ALIMA field management and program staff on localized and country-wide security situations and incidents.
• Support Project Coordinators in their analysis of the security situation.

Humanitarian Access Management

• Develop and implement contextually appropriate humanitarian access strategies and approaches, including a comprehensive community engagement component.
• Ensure that humanitarian access in the field is based on principles and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors in accordance with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles and ALIMA's Strategic Action Plan.
• Ensure that ALIMA, its mission, mandate and work in areas of operation are known and accepted.
• Work with ALIMA teams, including HR, to ensure that violations of ALIMA's Code of Conduct and humanitarian principles are dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.

Security and Safety Risk Management

• Provide technical support on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for personnel safety, operational safety and program continuity.
• Work with the Project Coordinators to develop, consolidate and implement operational procedures and contingency plans. Ensure that the safety and security protocol, reporting mechanism and capacity building initiative take into account gender risks, staff profiles and backgrounds, and are sensitive to local contexts.
• Assess, review and update hibernation and evacuation plans for all ALIMA offices and residences and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known by all staff involved.
• Carry out security diagnostics on the security of specific buildings, equipment, operations, or movements, and establish recommendations/action plans with the Project Coordinators and the Logistics Coordinator, under the responsibility of the Head of Mission.
• Evaluate security and safety training needs and integrate them into the mission training plan.

Alert the HoM without delay of all security incidents or threats which could have an impact on the Mission and on the ALIMA personnel’s security.

In collaboration with the HOM, set up a Crisis Cell in the event of a serious incident if deemed necessary.

Strategic Planning and Activity Monitoring

• Analyze the humanitarian and medical situation in the country and contribute to the mission-wide strategy, including the preparation of the Annual Action Plan and Annual Review of Operations. Conduct exploratory missions if necessary.
• Anticipate the evolution of the humanitarian context and contribute to the development of the country's emergency preparedness plan (EPREP) in collaboration with the medical coordination and project teams.
• Provide strategic direction and support to the Projects Coordinators in ensuring the effective delivery of program activities and the successful integration of activities with all other aspects of ALIMA programming.
• Visit ALIMA field activities regularly and report on problems, challenges and obstacles while building an intimate knowledge of fieldwork realities and generate recommendations and lessons learnt reports to share within the mission.
• Support the Head of Mission, Project Coordinators and the Grant Manager in the preparation of project proposals and project reports for donors. Ensure that donor requirements and expectations are met.
• Coordinate closely with Project Coordinators and the PSEA Activity Manager to ensure that the prevention measures against abuse of power, gender based and sexual violence are implemented.

Representation and partnership

• Represent ALIMA towards other actors at national level, and support the Project Coordinators with representation at local level.
• Negotiate and renew the terms of collaboration (MoU) between ALIMA and the Government, or any other institution involved and keep national partners informed about ALIMA’s activities on a regular basis.
• Participate in various humanitarian coordination meetings (working group, sectors etc.) and meet other humanitarian actors in order to ensure good coordination of actions in the field.
• Maintain a network of formal and informal contacts and identify partnership opportunities at national and local level.
• Represent ALIMA in the media upon HoM delegation.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Experience:

• Similar experience or a minimum of 5 years’ experience working with international NGOs in high-risk humanitarian contexts (operational or security position)
• Excellent knowledge of the country's context and security situation.
• Graduate level education in a relevant field or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of humanitarian safety and security practices and principles.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values.
• Experience in medical emergency response and/or public health background is an asset.
• Knowledge of donor procedures (ECHO, BHA, UN, CDCS, AFD etc.) is mandatory.
• Proficient user of MS Office (especially word and excel).

Qualities required:

• Excellent capacity to create and maintain a network.
• Good listener, effective communicator and excellent analyst.
• Proactive and self-motivated. Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in team management and supervision. Training and coaching skills.
• Essential writing skills.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and at least two local languages (Hausa, Kanuri, Yoruba).
• French is an asset.

CONDITIONS

Contract term: contract under Nigerian law, 6 months, renewable. Level 12.