Project Manager Capacity Building

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is committed to developing stronger institutional capacity to manage humanitarian and natural disasters and ensuring that the duty bearers have effective plans in place to mitigate against escalating situations. In Iraq the GEC programme has been functional for two years, and now plans to expand into 17 governorates in Iraq to ensure there is nation-wide coverage. The primary purpose of the Project Manager Capacity Building is to facilitate the growth and development of the project over the next year.

BACKGROUND Over the previous three decades, Iraq has suffered successive conflicts and a repressive regime, which consequently forced hundreds of thousands to leave their places of origin and caused the destruction of Iraq’s once thriving social and human capital. The current situation in Iraq is characterized by a climate of insecurity, impunity, chronic problems of devastated infrastructure, poor service delivery, unemployment and lack of governing capacity.

The main duty bearers in Iraq have low capacity in relation to emergency preparedness and coordination as outlined in the joint UNDP-OCHA commissioned study into ‘The State of Disaster Risk Reduction in Iraq’ and also identified through DRC’s interventions. Governorate Emergency Cells (GECs) are the result of an agreement in 2006 between the Prime Minister and Governors to establish coordination structure at the governorate level to address the displacement crisis. The new structures were invaluable in coordinating inter-ministerial efforts in the fields of health, education, water and sanitation and social services. This is the leading government and only documented coordination structure at the governorate level in Iraq. Some GECs have since incorporated NGO coordination roles into their GECs due to the need for all international assistance to be directed through and approved by local government structures. The GEC is the only recognised governorate level humanitarian coordination mechanism in Iraq.

To date DRC has facilitated the creation and technical capacity building of GECs in 11 of the 18 Governorates in Iraq. To ensure nation-wide coverage the GEC must be rolled out in the remaining governorates in Iraq to ensure the minimum level of emergency preparedness is present at the governorate level. This includes Baghdad which has developed strong capacity in relation to responding to mass casualty attacks but will need support for natural disaster preparedness and coordination. To this end DRC is committed to undertaking a feasibility study for initiating a GEC in Baghdad.

This position will be responsible for the overall coordination and development of the GECs programme, including the development of capacity and quality control of the project.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Program Management using PCM, work with other project manager and undertake quality control

Responsible for program Development under the supervision of the DCD (Deputy Country Director) and in coordination with the other Projects Managers

Provide advisory services to GEC and is responsible for the preparation of all workshop related to GEC works

Develop strategy to bring the GEC programme to its next phase, which will include establishing an institutional framework at central level with relevant line ministries

External Coordination and Advocacy in all matter related to capacity building and local governance

Ensure implementation and quality assurance

Design/Maintain Work Planning/ budgeting/ administration as per DRC policies

Ensure quality and timely reporting/monitoring and evaluation as per donors and DRC policies

Ensure accountability as per HAP standards

Provide Training and Orientation to all DRC staff in matter related to capacity building and local governance

Provide sound HR Management as per DRC guidelines and policies

QUALIFICATIONS Degree in social areas (anthropology, development studies, humanitarian aid, organisational/institutional capacity building and development) or relevant related experience, a combination of academic qualifications and experience in a similar position or related area may be accepted in lieu of a degree.

5 years minimum experience of managing humanitarian/development capacity building and governance programmes in insecure environments.

Significant experience of assessing political and security contexts in countries affected by conflict and facing complex-emergency countries.

Deep and clear understanding of humanitarian principles, codes of conduct and ideally, specific sub sector work; water/ sanitation, protection, etc., linked to INGO field operations contexts.

Mature understanding of the dynamics between NGOs and their key stakeholders.

Experience with participatory approaches (PRA/PLA) and familiarity with Local Governance

Ability to interact with all parties and maintain a position of humanitarian neutrality

Able to build staff capacity using various methods including training SOPs

Strong communication and team work skills

Fluency in written and spoken English

Knowledge and/or fluency in Arabic and/or Kurdish would be an advantage

Able to work independently and energetically

Relevant computer skills

Excellent report writing skills

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

CONDITIONS Availability: ASAP

Duty station: Iraq, Baghdad,

Contract: End of March 2013 with possibility of extension, subject to funding. Salary and other conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for MENA Locally Recruited Expatriates. The position will be placed at salary level LRE-B3/B2.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information, please contact Yves-Kim Creac’h, Country Director, email: yves-kim.creach@drciraq.,dk or Celestine Procter: celestine.procter@drciraq.dk. For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

APPLICATION AND CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. Please forward your application, in English and marked “Project Manager Capacity Building”, to jobs@drciraq.dk no later than 15/10/2011. Due to the urgency of the post, application may be selected on a roll out basis.

ABOUT DRC

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.