Forum Deputy Director North-East at iMMAP

Role and Responsibilities

• The purpose of the Deputy Director North East position is to provide field level support to the Forum and its member organizations, supporting humanitarian efforts in the north-east BAY states (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) through high quality information exchange, coordination, multi-stakeholder engagement, facilitating effective INGO representation in decision-making mechanisms, and advocacy efforts.
• S/he will serve as the primary liaison linking Abuja coordination structure with up-to-date realities from the north-east response.

Description of Duties

General duties

• Compliance with and adherence with IMMAP policies, tools, handbooks, guidelines and procedures
• Ensure optimal use of resources within allocated project budget
• Ensure that capacity building is provided to staff within defined line management responsibility
• Represent NIF in defined area of expertise
• Prepare and develop status reports as required by management. Summarize key documents (reports, assessments, etc) and share with partners in easily read format
• Promote and share ideas for technical improvement

Specific duties

• Facilitate INGO coordination supporting INGO Forum member organizations in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe to plan monthly action-oriented coordination meetings and identify gaps, duplication and opportunities for enhancing coordination be it information exchange, inter-agency assessments or analysis, problem solving, joined up responses and common messaging.
• Regular travel to Yola and Damaturu and deep field locations to engage with members
• Identify coordination and advocacy gaps.
• Ensure regular high-level representation in key humanitarian decision-making platforms and other mechanisms that impact humanitarian operations and the protection and needs of affected populations.
• Facilitate regular coordination meetings, thematic discussions, planning sessions to support INGO operations and engagement with external stakeholders.
• Identify strategies to support INGOs to work collaboratively and in a principled manner that places the needs and interests of affected populations at the center.
• Support the coordination in support of advocacy on critical topics including: humanitarian aid architecture in complex conflict settings, regulatory environment, humanitarian access, protection of civilians, accountability to affected populations, and effective delivery of assistance.
• Facilitate trips for key external and international stakeholders to raise attention to the extent of the humanitarian situation and response.
• Facilitate representation of the INGO Forum through direct bilateral engagement with key actors (UN, Government and other national actors),
• Ensure INGO Forum takes lead of key task forces and working groups thematically dedicated to access and protection.
• Assure NNGO interests are represented within INGO Forum key messages, and actively seek advocacy allies/partnerships.
• Provide linkages between INGO and NNGO community / identify opportunities for collaboration along with the NIF Director.
• Assist in drafting humanitarian updates, policy briefs, and talking points on the humanitarian situation.
• Facilitate structured and effective information exchange both between internal INGO partners/members and with external partners (NNGOs, UN, Government, etc).
• Stay informed on political, humanitarian and security contexts, while providing structured updates to the INGO Forum
• Facilitate effective information flow between field-level realities in NE Nigeria and capital-level coordination in Abuja.
• Maintain and develop induction and guidance materials for new humanitarian actors leading on briefings and support as required.
• Maintain updated stakeholder mappings to inform strategic engagement.
• Chair the Humanitarian Platform meetings and act as a technical support on critical topics
• Including access, advocacy and policy environment, public sector reforms and private engagement.
• Facilitate structured and effective information exchange both between internal INGO partners/members, and with external partners (NNGOs, UN, Government, private sector etc)
• Ensure compliance with donor and host agency (in this case, IMMAP) regulations
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Draft or review scope of work to hire and manage technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget, as required.
• Manage the Access adviser and government liaison adviser roles.

Interfaces

By interfaces, IMMAP means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Internal: NIF Director, Policy Advisor, Comms and Media team, Government engagement team, NIF Working Groups (Logistics, Finance, HR/Admin), PLRCAP team.
• External: INGOs, United Nations, Government, Donors, Local NGOs, Civil society

Requirements

Generic professional competencies:

• Experience from working within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/ recovery context Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Core competency expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

•  Advanced university degree in public policy, international development, political science, international relations, journalism, social sciences, international development or related technical field or undergraduate degree with significant field experience in development or resilience contexts
• Demonstrated experience of 5-7 years in managing humanitarian emergency responses in conflict contexts
• Demonstrated experience of coordination in complex emergencies and/or active engagement in high level humanitarian coordination structures (eg. as member on HCT)
• Knowledge and understanding of key thematic priority areas including access, protection, humanitarian aid architecture in conflict settings, and responses to acute and protracted crises.
• Proven relationship-building skills and ability to facilitate common space between disparate views and agendas.
• Ability to represent collective views diplomatically to various stakeholders Public speaking skills
• Experience in developing advocacy strategies and stakeholder maps.
• Applied knowledge and experience of working in insecure contexts and in constrained access contexts
• Prior experience in managing INGO Consortia/fora desirable
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Strong data analytical and interpretation skills.
• Excellent writing, editing and analytical skills and ability to formulate well-targeted strategic documents.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment. Proven experience in influencing for policy change and practice desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating meetings in a high-pressure professional setting.
• Demonstrated experience in lobbying and engaging with high-level actors with strong evidence from the field.
• Knowledge of and contacts in Nigerian humanitarian space desirable.