Jobs at Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI)

Job Overview/Summary

• Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for the overall oversight and management (planning, implementation, and monitoring) of the Sector’s projects. S/he will support the Protection Manager in managing and supervising staff.
• S/he is responsible for ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical leadership, supervising, training, and mentoring staff, and coordinating the implementation of project activities.
• The Protection Officer will contribute to the UHAI Protection program development and proposal development.
• S/he will play an active role in establishing and managing relationships with local partners, humanitarian actors, state authorities, beneficiaries, and local/traditional leaders and contribute to the achievement of UHAI Protection program and UHAI set goals.

Major Responsibilities

Project planning and implementation

• Responsible for the planning and timely implementation of project activities in Maiduguri of Borno State, ensuring adherence to UHAI policies and procedures.
• Continuously monitor project quality; for example, strengthening data collection, reporting, accountability initiatives, and documenting the impact of UHAI presence in the field.
• Ensure synergy between the Protection sector and other UHAI sectorial activities in Borno State in close coordination and consultation with other Protection staff.
• Work with the Programme Manager and MEAL to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets.
• Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes and initiatives, and ensure effective data and information management for the project.
• Develop monthly work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes in consultation with other Protection staff.
• Ensure staff contributions to project monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance, and accountability to UHAI’s target populations.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity building, and mainstream protection into all activities as appropriate.

Reporting and documentation

• Ensure UHAI has up-to-date information on the affected and targeted community and coordinate beneficiary lists and numbers with Reporting/Database Assistant and different stakeholders.
• Ensure the timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual project reports.
• Ensure high-quality UHAI and donor reports on activities, indicators, and achievements.
• Ensure that all reporting is disaggregated by age and gender.       Keep proper records of all project activities.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semiannual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the UHAI HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support the Programme Manager in the supervision, hiring, and orientation of new Protection staff as necessary.
• Contribute to UHAI Protection sector team-building efforts, help solve arising problems and support the Programme Manager in the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  The Programme Manager
• Position directly Supervises: Community Engagement and Protection Assistants, Incentive workers.

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in law, Political science, psychology, social sciences, or social work (bachelor’s as a minimum).

Work Experience:

• Relevant experience (at least 4 years) in protection programming including focus on protection monitoring and responding to identified protection needs.
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming.
• Knowledge of Project Cycle Management
• Experience working in IDP sites (camps and host communities).
• Experience with coordination of humanitarian protection activities essential. Skills in advocacy are essential.
• Proficiency in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of protection programs and make data-driven decisions for improvement.
• Ability to manage teams especially field teams in a challenging environment.
• Ability and willingness to live and work in a challenging environment
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, and team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and other languages desirable.
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Location:

• The position is based in Maiduguri.

Travel:

• Ability to Travel: 20% of the time if applicable.

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Role Purpose

• Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI)is seeking a Program Manager for its Blue Chip funded program (self-funded), Nigeria to provide support to internally displaced and host community households in Borno State.
• In order to enable people meet their immediate multi-sectoral needs, including survival food, Education in Emergencies (EiE), WASH, and Protection needs, reduce the use of negative coping strategies, and increase access to safe, quality, lifesaving health, WASH, protection, and nutrition services for crisis-affected communities, UHAI will target vulnerable households for food assistance, protection, WASH, and Education support.
• Manager to lead this project in Borno, Nigeria. The Program Manager (PM) will be based in Maiduguri and work under the supervision of the Executive Director to provide technical and operational guidance, support monitoring and evaluation, and ensure quality of the project. He/she will also ensure effective financial and operational management of the project.

Scope of Role 

Working closely with programme team, operations, and Other Sector lead to:

• Administer the development and successful implementation of work plans and oversee the creation of reports and other deliverables to donor in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee and support implementation, including the supervision of proper targeting, identification, registration, and monitoring of beneficiary lists to prevent overlap with other humanitarian programs in the intervention zone.
• The purpose of the role is strategic oversight and management of the set-up, and strengthening of program implementation in UHAI Nigeria’s newer operating locations
• Quality technical leadership and advice to the partners around the design, implementation and monitoring of project work at state and community levels.
• Coordinate closely with other humanitarian actors and UN agencies carrying Education, Protection and WASH to ensure program activities are in line with national and humanitarian priorities.
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of project activity, including financial and grant management, project monitoring and evaluation.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation plans and to capture learning opportunities around the effectiveness of UHAI’s programming.
• Work with the logistics team in the identification and selection of vendors to participate in program activities.
• Ensure that all vendors working on the program are abreast with and respect all UHAI’s rules/regulations pertaining to the program as well respect the rights and privileges of beneficiaries.
• Ensure compliance with all grant and government provisions, and timely fulfilment of all project programmatic reporting requirements.
• Oversee timely expenditure of approved budgets, avoiding both under spending and overspending on grant line items.

Other Roles:

Program Management & Delivery:

• Responsible for coordination of program implementation both direct and indirect, and for delivery of high-quality programming on time, on budget, in line with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan and in accordance with donor requirements.
• Leading on advocacy towards implementing multi-sectoral programs.
• Coordinate adherence to robust project management methodology and standardised ways of working, including through capacity building of Coordinators in work-planning and program management, and holding them accountable for key deliverables.
• Deploy as required within or in support of prioritised humanitarian responses on a temporary basis particularly during start-up periods.
• Schedule periodic field operations support and monitoring visits to the relevant field locations, designed to observe program delivery, ensure accountability to beneficiaries, monitor controls and adherence to systems, spotlight progress and achievements, and inform learning.
• Ensure that key project documents are in place at project kick-off, including procurement plans and HR planning, implementation plans, phased budgets, and ensure the periodic review of the same
• Closely monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and trouble-shoot issues affecting program delivery at field level.

Personnel and Administration:

• Supervise emergency field-based project staff: conduct performance evaluations, identify staff skills development, provide management support to staff as needed, and maintain office policy of respect and communication between supervisors and subordinates.
• See that all staff are aware of and understand UHAI policies and procedures; take appropriate disciplinary measures as needed.
• Promote accountability, communicating expectations and providing constructive feedback through regular performance reviews.
• Responsible for the timely recruitment, orientation, and training of new staff as needed.
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, such as those regarding vehicle use and procurement; ensure logistics/administrative staff provides sufficient and timely support to programs and programmatic staff, and that data collection processes are standardized and applied by all field staff.

Representation and Leadership:

• Represent Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative in humanitarian coordination fora within the State as and when required.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials and other humanitarian actors, particularly those within the relevant government agencies (State Emergency Management Agency), IOM, and UN agencies.
• Represent UHAI and maintain good working relationships among the international and local NGO community, among community leadership structures and community-based organizations, and with visiting donor teams and other key contacts. Keep abreast of NGO, government, and donor initiatives relevant to UHAI’s work.
• Maintain focus on UHAI program principles.
• Encourage teamwork, openness, and honesty among staff and between UHAI and its partners.
• Establish a sound MEAL system and Practice.
• Generate leadership support for MEAL and appropriate resourcing of MEAL functions so that all sectors on the program can clearly demonstrate outcomes and impact for project participants.
• Drive effective collaboration between MEAL staff, Member Technical Specialists, Technical Advisors and program implementation teams to develop log frames, indicators, implementation plans, quality benchmarks, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and related tools.
• Provide tools and incentives to ensure that MEAL works with programme and operations teams to collect high-quality data for programme design and decision making, including needs assessments, baselines and human-centred design approaches  Multisector Program Coordination.

Qualifications and Experience Essential:

• Education: MA / MSc level (or equivalent field experience) in Rural Development, Development Studies and other relevant qualifications.
• Extensive experience of working within a senior management role within a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state
• Previous experience of managing programme teams in large-scale first phase emergency response is essential
• Experience of M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in large complex programmes.
• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors.
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

Skills and Behaviours (Our Values in Practice):  Competencies and Values:

• Respect, integrity, diversity, commitment to excellence, adaptability, able to perform under stress, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, coaching and mentoring, facilitating change, developing teams, initiating action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing, leading through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

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Dimension of the Role

• Communicates within Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI), partners and related government institutions.
• The post holder will coordinate the field-level implementation, of the EiE project and also document lessons learnt, support assessments, monitor and evaluate the Education in Emergencies components of Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiatives (UHAI)’s emergency response.
• He/she is responsible for assessment, response analysis, design, capacity building.
• The post holder will also contribute towards the capacity building of Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI) implementing partners.

Accountabilities

Programme Development & Quality Management:   

• In collaboration with the Field Team and Project Manager and Specialist, the EiE Officer:
• Coordinate the implementation of EiE project
• Support the project manager in designing the project implementation plan
• With support from Community Mobilizers mobilize and sensitize community on the new project
• Support in documenting lessons learnt and best practices of the project
• With support from MEAL team, design a Monitoring plan and simple data collection tools to ensure monitoring and data collection of key project indicators.  
• Support assessment of Education sector in North East
• Review, assess and update the education situation in areas affected by emergency
• Highlight education issues requiring a response – both immediate (less than 2 months) and medium term and make recommendations on specific UHAI actions required.

Ensure core commitments to children are taken into consideration.

• Ensure key data from assessments could be used as a baseline for program evaluation.  If additional baseline data is required to evaluate children’s learning outcomes, then work with appropriate colleagues to collect this additional information.
• In collaboration with national and international Education actors, map current institutional response capacities – including conducting an education specific 3Ws.
• Support in designing appropriate education interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.  Inclusion of quality issues in education and learning outcomes is really important.
• Ensure that issues of gender, protection, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program design.
• Ensure Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI) guidelines, UN education cluster standards and INEE Minimum Standards are considered. 
• Represent Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI) to clusters, governmental and nongovernmental groups as needed and agreed with the Executive Director.
• Support the implementation of, and represent UHAI in emergency education coordination mechanisms including any relevant cluster.
• Brief updates and reports on sectoral activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders.
• Perform any other project related duties as specified by the project Manager.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge Essential:

• University Degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields
• Minimum of 3 years relevant working experience Education in Emergencies
• Experience working in emergency settings
• Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and established international child protection standards (especially UNCRC)
• Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related area.
• Experience working with IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
• Experience in mobile EiE units desirable but not essential
• Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation and violence

Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Languages: Excellent command of English language

Behaviors:

• Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behavior
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity
• Provides good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable Programmes to meet meets it’s agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in the execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations  Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning

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Purpose:  

• The Community Mobilizer oversees creating awareness of Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiatives (UHAI) programs thought targeted communities.
• He/she participates in the collection of data and to the identification of the beneficiaries within the communities.
• He/she participates in monitoring the implemented activities and assessing new needs. The community mobilizer could be asked to take part to training or distribution activities.

Job Responsibilities:

Evaluation / diagnostic:

• Help in setting up criteria for selecting beneficiaries
• Identification of target groups through the communities (Children, women, vulnerable…)
• Collect accurate data at the community level
• Assist in conducting baseline survey
• Report any emerging needs to the MEAL, Program Officer and his/her assistant
• Support technical team to settle committees or any other community association

Communication / representation

• Mobilize the targeted communities and create awareness about the program activities
• Listen to complains from the different groups of the communities
• Mitigate problem between communities when it arises
• Analyze actions to be done to avoid any security accident at community level
• Give support for all UHAI activities for community mobilization and communication with local authorities, site and village leaders

Implementation and operational monitoring

• Monitor the implemented activities at the community level by onsite regular visits
• Sensitization and training of the beneficiaries (if requested by the Program Manager)
• Follow activities implemented by other organizations in UHAI’s area of intervention and report to the Program Manager or his/her assistant
• Assist in conducting assessment survey to control progress of program and efficiency of activities

Reporting

• Share with the MEAL, Protection Officer, Education officer and Program Manager and his/her assistant every information about security, activities, logistics or administrative issues occurred at field level
• Participate in the preparation of the regular program reports
• Participate to the general program meetings (weekly, monthly…)
• Communicate orally about any important issue in internal staff meetings

Essential Criteria

• Ensure effective coordination, planning and implementation of education activities.
• Contribute to and ensure the effective management and monitoring of UHAI-supported projects.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization in cooperation with the Management support.
• Ensure provision of top quality technical and advisory services, and facilitation of knowledge management and knowledge dissemination
• University degree or Diploma in Relevant Field
• Good computer skills in programs including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Ability to work under pressure in challenging working and living conditions
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing
• Ability to work effectively with other people both as an individual and as a member of a group
• Organizational Skills, Decision-making Skills and Technical Skills
• Ability to see the entire picture of the whole organization and the inter-relationships among its parts.
• Knowledge of Local Languages: Kanuri, Hausa
• Project related skills: good knowledge of the project cycle, project implementation, project follow-up
• IT skills: Good knowledge of Office software: Excel, Word, Outlook, GIS, data collection and analysis software a plus
• Professional experience: 2 year of experience in similar position (NGO/Private or Public sector)
• Personal qualities: reliable, honest, very good organization, resistance to stress, good interpersonal skills (communication), team player

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Job Description

• The Case Worker Supervisor will be responsible for the overall supervision of case management services and other response activities. Case Workers will directly report to the Case Worker Supervisor.
• The person will be responsible for organizing and implementing group psychosocial activities at the women center including skills and knowledge building activities and recreational activities.
• She is overall lead in community mobilization for GBV awareness and sensitization at community level of the project sites in Maiduguri as part of the GBV Program in Borno State.

Technical Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Program Manager, provide technical oversight and capacity-building through training, mentorship and on-the-job support for case workers and facilitators on case management, WGSS tool kits implementation and referrals.  Work closely with the GBV to understand program goals and to meet expectations.
• Supervise case management of Gender Based Violence incidences and ensure proper documentation, assessment, case plan implementation, follow up and information management of all GBV cases in line with GBVIMS+.
• Organize weekly case management meetings with case workers and support staff in managing critical/complex cases.
• Represent UHAI GBV program in case conference meetings with other service providers (Health, safety & security, protection, legal, etc.) and share experiences in managing critical cases.
• Contribute to the development of monthly outreach plans with other staff and community volunteers based on GBV case trends and ongoing needs of women and girls.
• Ensure community outreach on services available to GBV survivors.
• Contribute to proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through the provision of information and data on community feedback on ongoing projects and assessment of emerging needs.
• Contribute to the development of referral pathways to ensure a community perspective is included. Ensure referral pathways are shared and understood within the community.
• Maintain open and professional relationship with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Document and share relevant information that will inform the development of case studies and or success stories of the program.
• Maintain positive coordination and relationship with other partners in the field to promote holistic approach to GBV case management.
• Participate in GBVIMS taskforce working meetings and share written minutes with the GBV Coordinator
• In coordination with beneficiaries, identify relevant skills building and recreational activities to be conducted at the women friendly spaces and draw up a schedule for activity implementation
• In coordination with volunteers / partners a weekly schedule for activities in the women center.
• Identify and make a requisition for all materials required to conduct Women Friendly Space activities.
• Organize feedback sessions each quarter with beneficiaries of WFS activities to identify strengths and weaknesses of the space and identify solutions for sharing with GBV manager for improvement.
• In coordination with women, leaders / SEMA / NEMA organize and oversee the implementation on calendar day celebrations such as 16 days of activism, international women’s day, day of the African child, international day of the girl child etc.
• Conduct training and coaching sessions for volunteers / partners to deliver appropriate GBV messages to community members.
• Supervise community volunteers / partners during field work to ensure correct GBV messages are disseminated to the community.
• Organize and implement monthly discussion sessions with adolescents on GBV related topics
• Compile and submit weekly and monthly WFS activity reports
• Contribute to a positive team environment
• Practice self-care
• Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct

HR Management & Administration:

• Supervise and mentor GBV Case Workers and facilitators
• Support the orientation, on-going development/training and builds capacity of GBV Case Workers and facilitators
• Coordinate and oversee vacation schedules ensuring that leave schedules do not overlap.
• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative and amongst beneficiaries served by Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews.
• Provide regular performance feedback to staff and where necessary work with Human Resources to document staff performance issues and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Ensure timely submission of weekly, monthly and quarterly reports in collaboration with Case Workers, facilitators and the Monitoring and Evaluation team.
• Contribute to donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on activities, indicators and achievements.
• Complete and share GBV data via GBVIMS tools and submit to the GBV Coordinator

Finance:

• Plan procurement of case management and WGSS supplies to ensure smooth and timely implementation of activities.
• Ensure that receipts are submitted in a timely manner and are properly and completely filled out with as much supporting documentation as possible.

General:

• Refrain from making false promises and commitments to the beneficiaries and work in the best interest of the UHAI GBV Program.
• Foster a team spirit among GBV staff that is conducive to all staff improving their skills and knowledge base.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop the UHAI/GBV program

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative and amongst beneficiaries served by Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative’s and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Social Science
• 2 – 3 years of experience in case management and supervision as a case worker supervisor or manager.
• Excellent report-writing skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English, Kanuri and Hausa
• Commitment to and understanding of UHAI’s aims, values and principles.

Key Competencies:

• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver UHAI’s strategic objectives.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations