Deputy Project Manager at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Description of the Project

• The proposed project to be implemented through a consortium led by IRC together with COOPI, ALIMA, and LHI, is to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to displaced and host population members in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states. The three North Western states have been hosting IDPs who fled from locations overrun by bandits and insurgents with most residing in formal IDP camps, informal settlements, and host communities since the start of the insurgency.
• In response to this complex humanitarian crisis, the consortium proposes to implement a protection-mainstreamed, multi-sector, integrated emergency response program that aims to meet the immediate needs of IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable host communities in the three states.
• COOPI will implement integrated WASH, Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), and Child Protection activities in Gonronyo and Rabah LGAs of Sokoto State. COOPI WASH interventions will focus on Water Supply, Sanitation, Environmental Health, Hygiene Promotion, and WASH Non-food Items whilst MPCA will support multiple needs at the household level including WASH, health, nutrition, and protection outcomes based on the flexibility that allows the beneficiaries dignity of choice by being empowered to purchase necessities based on their identified needs.
• COOPI will implement Child protection activities focusing on Case Management, Psychosocial Support, Positive Parenting Education, Support to State and community-Based Mechanisms (CBCPCs), Child Protection Monitoring, Establishment of Child-Friendly Spaces, Support to Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) of separated and unaccompanied children, Placement of children affected by protection risk (UASC) into appropriate community-based alternative care, Provision of immediate assistance (emergency health, children’s kit, basic needs etc), Structured MHPSS Activities, Group counseling, Identification and linkage of out-of-school adolescent survivors to formal education etc.

Purpose of the role

• The role of Deputy Project Manager (DPM) will have a critical focus on supporting the BHA-funded project for multi-sectoral emergency response in Northwestern Nigeria.
• This position will oversee the management of all ongoing COOPI operations and interventions related to the BHA project.
• Additionally, the DPM will play a key role in supporting the development and expansion of COOPI's overall portfolio of activities in the region.
• Responsibilities will include coordinating with project teams, ensuring the effective implementation of project activities, monitoring and evaluating project progress, and contributing to strategic planning and resource mobilization efforts to enhance COOPI's impact and presence in Northwestern Nigeria.

Main Responsibilities
Country Strategy, planning, and program development in the area of intervention:

• Contribute to identifying needs and opportunities for expanding COOPI’s interventions in targeted areas through field missions, needs assessments, and data analysis.
• Together with the PM, develop COOPI’s intervention strategy for the area and ensure COOPI’s strategic objectives for the area are achieved ;
• Supports COOPI’s positioning with key stakeholders in the area by leading negotiations with local stakeholders, representing COOPI in local coordination platforms, and possibly participating in donor meetings as and when assigned.
• Support proposal development for opportunities in the area;

Project Management:

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/Area Coordinator and in link with the Program Coordinator/Head of Programs,he/she provides managerial oversight to the project and supports the project implementation team;
• Ensurescross-departmental coordinationincluding consortium partners’ components such as conflict management, social protection, and livelihoods;
• Works with consortium lead and partners to maintain and update project implementation plan;
• Incooperation and synergy with the project staff, she/ he plans and monitors the social protection, conflict management, social protection, and livelihood activities’ progress, in compliance with the donor regulations, Consortium lead, and COOPI’s procedures, and with the specific Project Structure and Reporting Lines definition, making use of the financial instruments provided by the organization;
• Ensures smooth management of COOPI base in PM absence as per delegation ;
• S/ he puts in place and follows in accountability beneficiaries' feedback mechanism;
• Represents COOPIwith the local / State authorities, consortium lead, and partners;
• Worksclosely withthe teamto drive critical assessment during the inception phase including baseline, market, and value chain assessment and mapping exercises;

Admin / Finance and Monitoring:

• In collaboration with the Administrative and Logistics team, s / he plans and monitors the expendituresin line with the project’s implementation needs;
• In cooperation with the Project Manager, s / he finalizes the data provided by his/her team, supports the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of the narrative reports expected by the donors and by the partners;
• Works closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team to ensure oversight for all monitoring andevaluationacross all activities and implementation;
• Monitors the accuracy and efficiency of activities;
• Ensures compliance withthefundand timely fulfillment of the project’s reporting requirements.

Logistics Management:

• Liaise with the logistics/procurement team to ensurethe goods purchased for the project;
• Supports updating the inventory and guarantees the respect of the policies and guidelines, in cooperation with the Logistics Office;

HR Management:

• In coordination with the administrative team, s/he supports inhiring of new staff directly related to the project and conducts staff appraisals Upholds COOPI’s mission and Charter of Values;
• Supervises the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the staff;
• S / he follows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country).

Internal and External Representation of COOPI in Northwest Nigeria:

• Act as the senior representative of COOPI in NW;
• Liaise/exchange information with the state counterparts and humanitarian system to ensure adequate organizational representation and common positioning in humanitarian issues.
• Promotion and defense of humanitarian principles towards all stakeholders.
• Ensure respect for the COOPI Code of Conduct by all COOPI staff.
• Development of an information (formal/informal) network

Others:

• Supervises the Protection team to ensure protection mainstreaming;
• Executes any other task necessary for good and timely completion of the projects, identified in mutual agreement;
• S / he performs any other duties as requested by the supervisor.
• S / he works closely with the communication team

Requirements (Education required, years of experience, technical skills, soft skills)
Essential:

• Master's Degree in Humanitarian / Development Studies / Social Sciences or any related field;
• At least 3 years progressive working experience in/with INGO on Protection, WASH, Social Protection, Conflict Management & Peace Building and Livelihoods / FSL area, Cash Programming;
• Experience in managing Protection, WASH, and livelihood development activities;
• Experience in managing USAID/BHA, EU, ECHO, and other key donor-funded projects;
• Proven interest & commitment to humanitarian and development principles and a demonstrable understanding of conflict/post-conflict development contexts;
• Expertise in sustainable livelihoods, safety net programs, in particular;
• Data collection, analysis, and report writing including post-distribution monitoring (PDM);
• Excellent in written and spoken English;
• Demonstrated success in community resilient programs and technically sound in Cash transfers, capacity building, and other social protection components;
• Proven commitment to accountability practices;
• Excellent Microsoft Office applications skills;
• Knowledge of and adherence to the Code of Conduct, understanding other international development guidelines.

Desired:

• Ability to function effectively under stressful conditions such as heavy workloads, and deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills, calm, with a good sense of working in inter-cultural environments;
• Huasa or Kanori speaking along with English fluency(Both speaking and writing)
• Ability to plan, organize work, communicate, and report effectively (both in writing and verbally);
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines;
• Team player, effective communicator, successful negotiator, creative and analytical thinker, active learner, able to work in a multicultural environment.