Program Manager at Oxfam Nigeria

Req ID: 2987
Location: Gwoza - Borno ( Roving to Pulka, North-East)
Starting date: As soon as possible
Duration: 6 months (with possible extension)

Background

• Over the past year, insurgency has intensified attacks which have spread from North-East Nigeria to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, affecting some 20 million people. Suicide bombings and raids targeting civilians in villages and in cities around the Lake Chad basin have caused widespread trauma, prevented people from accessing essential services and destroyed infrastructure.
• Across the region, over 2.8 million people are displaced; most of who are sheltered by communities that count among the world’s most vulnerable. The combined effect of growing insecurity, fast population growth and severe vulnerability resulting from a changing climate, environmental degradation, poverty and under-investment in social services is translating into record numbers of people in need of emergency relief. There are 9.2 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Nigeria is hosting 7m, Cameroon 1.5m, Niger 460.000 and Chad 257.000.
• The increasing number of attacks and arrival of displaced children have placed an additional burden on already weak health and education systems. Insecurity, displacement, disrupted agricultural activities and cross-border trade continue to undermine communities’ livelihoods and have resulted in a sharp rise in food insecurity.
• Some 4.4 million people facing severe food insecurity urgently need support in the region, 90 per cent of them in north-east Nigeria, with 50,000 people in Phase 5, the highest level of food insecurity under the Cadre Harmonisé classification. Throughout the region, an estimated 223.000 severely acutely malnourished children could die if not urgently assisted.

Job Purpose

• To develop, manage and coordinate Oxfam’s humanitarian response in northern Gwoza and Pulka, to ensure delivery to plans and accountability to beneficiaries, partners and back-donors.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Ensure effective, high-quality, timely and safe delivery of humanitarian response in accordance with the programme plans agreed with donors, in compliance with Oxfam procedures, donor regulations and government regulations;
• In liaison with the NE Programme Coordinator and Security Coordinator, ensure safety and security of all Oxfam staff and assets, reducing risks to a minimum;
• Ensure the implementation of appropriate financial controls for the programme, including regularly monitoring budgets,
• Ensure narrative and financial reporting within agreed deadlines in compliance with Oxfam as well as donor guidelines;
• Ensure that the programme is implemented in a consultative, participative and gender sensitive way;
• Support the implementation of a clear and effective monitoring plan against qualitative and quantitative indicators (developed by MEAL Officer), ensuring that accountability and learning take place;
• In line with Oxfam’s management policies, ensure a clear and supportive working environment, which encourages staff to perform and develop, interact positively with each other and reflect Oxfam’s values in their daily work;
• Represent Oxfam and develop effective working relationships with local government and host community, in support of our work and mandate;
• Ensure timely and effective communication and coordination between the teams in the field and Coordinators in Maiduguri;
• Represent Oxfam in external meetings and INGO/UN coordination meetings.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Essential:

• Higher Education in a relevant field (Humanitarian, Management, International Development, Public Health etc) along with training in Humanitarian action and knowledge of principles and practices of program management and emergency response;
• Substantial experience in operational programmes in complex humanitarian situations (preferably in isolated parts of Africa and conflict contexts); demonstrating ability to lead, give guidance to teams and ensure the effective running of a field office
• Proven sound judgement in complex situations
• Broad set of management skills (financial, people and programmes). This includes excellent people management skills with a good understanding of team development and proven financial management skills
• Understanding of key crosscutting issues in humanitarian work including one or more of the following issues: gender, protection, conflict sensitivity, access negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to work under limited direct supervision in a high-paced, stressful and unpredictable environment;
• Proven experience in security management, particularly in monitoring and assessing situations
• A high level of interpersonal, communications and representational skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English

Desirable:

• Familiarity with Oxfam processes and procedures
• Experience of integrated WASH, EFSL and Protection programming;
• Familiarity with the NGO Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid code and SPHERE minimum standards.

Competencies:

• Self Awareness
• Vision Setting
• Relationship building
• Decisiveness

We Offer

• Oxfam Novib is committed to providing you with a competitive, fair, and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors.
• The salary range for this position is set in scale 9 with a salary range between € 2962 to € 4557 gross based on 40 hours a week.