Deputy Project Coordinator (NERU) at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Main Objective and Responsibility of the Position

• The Deputy Project Coordinator will lead the Emergency Response Unit in planning its objectives and priorities, by identifying the population’s health needs, analyzing the context, risks and constraints, and by calculating human and financial resources needed.
• He/she will contribute to the supervision, monitoring and follow-up together all aspects of the program in order to ensure it is efficient and functioning smoothly.

General Accountabilities

• Contribute to the analysis of the political, humanitarian, economic and social context in NW in order ensure that MSF's charter, policies and image are respected with regards to national employees, populations, authorities and partners.
• Lead the planning, supervision, monitoring and follow-up, of all aspects of the NERU project, according to the laid down plan, MSF operational policy and main strategic lines.
• Upon request, to represent MSF within the NW (local authorities, media, governmental and non-governmental bodies, etc.) and negotiate collaboration agreements. To plan and organize NERU project’s human resources, participate in their day-to-day management, in the induction of new staff, undertake evaluation of staff under his/her direct supervision and define training needs accordingly.
• Lead and participate in exploratory missions according to EPREP, in order to better comprehend context, priorities, constraints and population needs.

MSF Section / Context-Specific Accountabilities
The Emergency Response Unit will be based in Sokoto with the ability to respond any place as per the mission EPREP. The Deputy PC will ensure effective implementation of the EPREP in the mission including providing support to the existing projects. Role involves the following:

• Represent MSF within Emergency Response Unit project limits. Develop institutional contacts with national partners at project's level (civil society, civil and military authorities, local NGOs, Ministry of Health (MoH) representatives, etc.) in order to obtain all information and agreements necessary for the integration of MSF programs in the local context and improve the targeted population's awareness on them
• Draw and implement capacity development, training of respective states ministries, local health institutions staff and other relevant stakeholders on emergency preparedness and response plans according to (EPREP) scenarios such as cholera, meningitis, and measles.
• Together with NERU team, during the emergencies evaluate needs by identifying the population's health status, by analyzing the context (environment, actors involved, negotiations for access etc.) and associated risks and constraints in order to define priorities and project goals and to calculate material, human and financial resources needed
• Lead the emergency response while steering and supervising the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency programs in collaboration with the team, by collecting information and comparing it with the objectives, schedules in order to monitor progression and early detect deviations and propose corrections.
• Provide reporting to the coordination team on NERU evolution and propose corrections and direction as needed
• Elaborate the NERU Project's institutional memory, maintain written records (and file them) on its development, in order to broadcast MSF achievements and improve awareness.
• Responsible for providing leadership to the emergency response of the project and ensures effective functioning of the emergency response team
• Proposes and organizes appropriate emergency response plans including remote management strategy and plans through involvement of community participation in case of lack of access for insecurity.
• Effective scanning including remote and contextual analysis (of potential humanitarian Medical needs).
• Responsible for drafting Adhoc project proposal and reporting in the control cycle, and timely preparation of draft (emergency) project proposals, other resources and budgets
• Community engagement/participation: To stimulate and promote involvement of the community leadership and local authorities to be actively engaged in the intervention processes prior to and post and during MSF intervention phases.
• Networking & collaboration with the Government & other stakeholders: in collaboration with government respective ministries of health and other agencies and humanitarian actors, to maintain close networking state and LGA authorities (particularly in Sokoto and Zamfara states), stimulate and promote partnerships and engagement of relevant actors in the implementation of humanitarian response plans in MSF operational areas.
• In collaboration with other NW PCs, ensure that regular projects in NW have the capacity to conduct assessments, draft proposals, and respond to emergencies (initial response) within their project locations.

Requirements Qualifications
Education: 

• Preferable Medical or Paramedical qualification or University studies.
• Desirable degree in Project Management or HR Management.

Experience:

• Essential: previous working experience of at least two years experience in the field of humanitarian aid with MSF or other NGOs
• Essential: Working experience in developing countries.

Languages:

• Very good command of English language is essential; Local language desirable

Knowledge:

• Computer literacy (Ms Word, Ms Excel, internet) is essential.

Competencies:

• Strategic vision, Leadership, People Management, Planning, Teamwork.