Deputy Country Director - Programs at Solidarites International

Locations: Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno
Desired Start Date: 31/08/2017
Duration of the Mission: 6 to 9 months

About the Mission and the Operational Context

• SI started a program in Borno State (LGA Jere and Monguno) with funding from DG ECHO and OFDA. The goal of the program was to address the immediate needs of populations affected by the current political and military crisis.
• These projects have been followed by extensions from April 2017, including the area of Dikwa.
• A WASH response is provided to displaced and host communities in Maiduguri suburbs, IDP camps and soon host communities of Monguno town and IDP camps in Dikwa. Water access is being improved through drilling and borehole rehabilitation.
• Sanitation and environment health is tackled through latrine construction and hygiene promotion. Moreover, emergency shelter kits are planned to be distributed in Dikwa to new IDP arrivals and 150 transitional shelters to be built in Monguno.
• The state of Borno gathers alone the largest part of internally displaced persons (1,7 million).
• About 1,4 million displaced people are in need of aid assistance in Borno. Access is a significant challenge and some programs are monitored remotely. Besides, a high number of aid actors are now operating in the area and coordination is still weak.

IDPs in Host Communities:

• IDPs in host communities represent the vast majority of displaced people living in Maiduguri (92%). Situation in host communities is not homogenous and despite the efforts of the humanitarian community, there is no comprehensive assessment that could catch the picture in the entire city.
• Many areas are not covered by humanitarian assistance and some are still not assessed.
• In the different LGAs, information on host communities are insufficient and needs are not well enough identified.

Camp-like Settings:

• Majority of IDPs live in camp-like settings, protected by the army and with restriction of movements, even if some movements outside the settlement are authorized in the majority of the camps to allow IDPs to carry out livelihood activities (firewood collection, labour, etc.).
• Humanitarian situation is critical with basic needs not covered for IDPs. WASH facilities are not enough, WFP food funds are reaching their maximum covering 1.3 millions persons and health structures are not enough in capacity to cover all the needs.
• Water supply situation varies from one settlement to another with some of them having access to a few functioning boreholes and others being dependent on water trucking. RUWASSA (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency) is active in some of those areas to drill or rehabilitate boreholes.
• Malnutrition rates are way higher than the emergency rates and according to the “cadre harmonisé”, 50 000 people could be in situation of famine.

Organization of the Mission

• The Nigeria mission is currently stabilizing its opening process. Due to projects’ expansion, a substantial increase in base staffing is ongoing.
• The programs are currently dominated by WASH activities. Shelter activities are only concentrated around shelter kits distribution. However, SI has the willing to develop shelter and FSL activities in the future which could be under the responsibility of the Program Manager.
• Technical support is provided by advisors based in Maiduguri with 70% of presence on the field.
• The mission has a coordination team based in Maiduguri, operational bases in Maiduguri, Monguno, Dikwa and soon in Ngala. The program coordination team is constituted of a Deputy Country Director, WASH and Shelter advisors, a MEAL advisor and a grant manager.
• In Maiduguri the team is currently composed of one Field Coordinator, a project Manager, a Base Logistician and an Administrator.
• The Dikwa base is opening and is composed of one Administrative and Logistics Base Manager, one Wash activity responsible and will host the current opened position of Multi-Sectorial Program Manager. Access to Dikwa is relying on UNHAS helicopters with daily movements until SI base to be really operational and secured. Security level in Dikwa is 4 on a scale of 5, a curfew is set from 6pm to 7am and strict rules are implemented in the area.
• The Monguno base is composed of an Administrative and Logistics Base Manager and a Project Manager.

About the Job

• In close collaboration with the Country Director (CD), the DCD’s prime objectives are to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming, overseeing the strengthening of SI’s programme development, quality and accountability.
• The DCD ensures the internal coherence between program activities and is responsible for ensuring that programs are driven by needs, based on evidence, adaptable to contextual changes and conflict sensitive, monitored closely and resourced appropriately.
• The DCD is part of SI Senior Management Team and has direct line-management of the Technical Coordinators (WaSH, Shelter and MEAL).

Your Profile

• Education: Project Management and/or WaSH or Foods Security background.
• Experience: Work in Emergency Context and Remote set up, Developing country strategy and programing & mission opening
• Technical skills and knowledge: Experience in Livelihoods, Cash based assistance, Experience in WASH programs
• Transferable skills: Proposal writing, Assessment
• Languages: English mandatory, Hausa is a plus
• Other desirable qualities: unstable security conditions in Maiduguri, ability to adapt and work under pressure

We Offer
A salaried post:

• According to experience from 2000 Euros gross per month, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem.
• Accompanied with 600 usd monthly per diem.
• Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Vacation:

• During the assignment, the expatriate is entitled to R&R every three months: two weeks at three months with a 500 euro allowance and two weeks at six months with a plane ticket back home covered by Solidarités.
• After 6 weeks one the field, expatriate will be encouraged to take 1 week in Abuja (3 days off and 2 days in office)