MISSION
Solidarités International is a French humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects. Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 150 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees. Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Burundi, Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar) and in Haiti.
CONTEXT OF INTERVENTION
Despite a stable political situation, Bangladesh is still struggling to reach the Millennium Development Goals and to become a middle-income country. There is no constant humanitarian crisis within the country; however, frequent natural disasters prevent the development of Bangladesh and increase the vulnerability of its population in both urban and rural areas.
Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world, and has indeed been rated as the country the most vulnerable to natural disaster by the Natural Disaster Risk Index taking into account the human and material impact of natural disasters and their frequency.
With 82% of the population living on less than 2 USD per day and a Human Development Index (HDI) that ranks Bangladesh 146 out of 182 countries listed, the humanitarian situation is still extremely worrying. In the field of water and sanitation 20% of the population live without improved access to water and 64% without access to improved sanitation facilities.
In the field of food security, 46% of the under-five are suffering from underweight and the Global Hunger Index for 2010 was 24.2 (rates above 20 are considered as alarming situation).
Solidarités International has now been present in Bangladesh for 3 years. Our overall operational objective for 2011 is to improve the living conditions and resilience capacity of those most vulnerable to natural disaster and discrimination (migrants, refugees, and the urban and rural poor).
In Bangladesh, Solidarités International targets the primary needs of crisis-affected persons in terms of food security; water, hygiene and sanitation; and shelter. SI is currently implementing projects in two different areas of intervention: early recovery programs in the wake of the AILA cyclone in the coastal belt, with a broad scope of activities in shelter, water access, hygiene and sanitation; and water, hygiene and sanitation projects in Cox Bazaar district for both Rohingyas refugees and host communities.
In addition SI has a preparedness plan in place which enables us to mobilize resources on extremely short notice and to quickly and adequately respond to emergencies in case of a disaster.
OUTLINE OF POST
The Head of Mission is the Solidarités International official representative in Bangladesh. In terms of personnel, the mission includes 7 expatriates and 100 national staff members.
- S/He is in charge of the smooth running of the mission.
- S/He proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context and ensures its implementation.
- S/He monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with Solidarités International charter and Code of Ethic and Conduct and complying with internal and contractual procedures.
- S/He mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources.
- S/He coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission.
- S/He is the direct liaison for Solidarités International HQ.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordination and strategic orientation:
- Monitor and analyze the humanitarian, political, cultural, social and economic context with the support of the Assistant Head of Mission
- Propose and develop an operational strategy consistent with the association’s policies and population’s needs
- Ensure the programs are implemented and developed in accordance with annual operational strategy
- Propose new operational directions as contexts change in collaboration with the Program Coordinator and the Field Coordinator
Relevance and operational quality / operations monitoring:
These tasks fall under the responsibility of the Program Coordinator but the HoM will have the overall responsibility in terms of supervision:
- Supervise the coordination, development, monitoring and evaluation of programs
- Ensure the relevance, quality and consistency of programs
- Ensure that programs are implemented in accordance with Solidarités International’s technical requirements
Resource management:
These tasks fall under the responsibility of the Log/ Admin Coordinator but the HoM will have the overall responsibility in terms of supervision:
- Propose and organize the human, financial and logistical layout of the mission
- Ensure the financial resources and means necessary for the completion of projects are mobilized
- Guarantee that resources are used effectively
- Ensure that programs are implemented in accordance with financial donors’ criteria
Human Resources management:
- Build and maintain team dynamics that enable Solidarités International’s objectives to be carried out effectively in the country
- Promote Solidarités International’s ethics and values
- Make sure the Log Admin Coordinator guarantees the respect of Solidarités International’s Human Resources policies
- Ensure work-life balance for Solidarités International staff and maintain suitable working and living environments
- Manage the coordination team as well as staff s/he supervises directly
Security:
- Be responsible for the security of all teams and property on the mission
- Monitor and analyze the security situation
- Ensure that every new arrival on the mission receives a geopolitical and security briefing
- Ensure that everyone complies with security rules and procedures on the mission
- Deal immediately with any security incidents that may occur
Relationships with financial donors / fund-raising:
- Monitor and analyze financial donors’ strategies
- Lead the fund-raising at mission level and ensure the mission’s financial stability
- Strengthen relationships between Solidarités International and financial donors’ representatives
Internal and external communication:
- Ensure that deadlines are adhered to and that documents produced by the mission are of good quality
- Ensure compliance with formats and procedures in internal reporting
- Organize coordination meetings on a regular basis
- Ensure that key operational information circulates on the mission and between the mission and HQ
- Make sure that the communications department at HQ level receives sufficient and up-to-date material
Representation:
- Act as Solidarités International’s official representative in the country for aid workers, local political and administrative authorities, the civil society and the media
- Attend humanitarian forums and relevant coordination meetings
NGO AB:
- In collaboration with the Log Admin Coordinator, make sure that SI follows NGO AB rules
- Follow-up with the Assistant HoM the overall documents submitted to the NGO AB
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Education:
- Postgraduate-level qualification in development studies (desirable but can be balanced by experience)
Experience:
- Substantial experience in a senior management position in an overseas NGO environment, ideally in both emergency and developmental contexts
- Experience of strategic planning
- Experience of managing large teams in multiple locations with various problematics
- Experience of budget management and donor compliance
- Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different cultures and in different positions
Technical skills and competencies:
- Excellent representational skills; able to represent SI to a broad range of people and organisations including donors and government officials
- An ability to reflect on and learn from own performance and the performance of the program; and to put these lessons into practice
- A good understanding of security management, DRR and climate change issues
- Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
Personal qualities:
- An ability to analyse information quickly and accurately
- Good problem-solving skills in day-to-day and crisis situations
- A flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks with tight deadlines
- Ability to take decisions and work autonomously
- An understanding of and commitment to SI’s mission and values
Languages: Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
Other desirable qualities:
- Previous experience in South Asia
- Previous experience with SI
CONDITIONS
Salaried post: from 2100 euros gross per month, according to experience.
Solidarités International will cover accommodation and travel expenses from the expatriate’s home country to the site of the assignment. A monthly Per Diem of 450 USD will be provided to cover food and other living expenses.
- 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, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 15-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).
How to apply
Please send us a CV and cover letter, either through our website or via the following link: https://emea2.recruitmentplatform.com/syndicated/private/syd_apply.cfm?ID=PULFK026203F3VBQB6G8N8NX4&nPostingTargetID=7976
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