Libya Protection Project Manager - Zintan/Misrata

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s. Presently it has offices in Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Iraq. Programming in the region includes relief and recovery activities in northern Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Jordan and Syria – working often with refugees and displaced persons, as well as host communities affected by conflict and poverty. Mercy Corps began working in Libya in March by launching rapid assessments in eastern Libya. Since then, our approach has been to work collaboratively with local and international communities to identify needs and secure funds for relief, recovery and development activities. We currently have offices in Benghazi, Tripoli, Zintan and Misrata. Mercy Corps has done several assessments on conflict and governance, and has built a network of civil society contacts with an eye toward longer term capacity building assistance. The international humanitarian community has grown increasingly worried about the protection environment in Libya, and concerns have been raised about rights violations, violations of International Humanitarian Law, and a general failure to distinguish between civilians and combatants. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of Libyans have been displaced, and many have remained in the country as IDPs. Due to the limited number of international actors on the ground and the restrictions imposed on UN agencies due to security factors, very limited monitoring has been carried out to allow for accurate analysis of protection threats, needs, and competencies. Mercy Corps is starting a program that will carry out protection monitoring and analysis in Eastern Libya, Misrata and its environs, and the Nafusa Mountains.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Manager (PM) will report to the Senior Program Manager (Protection) and oversee the implementation of the Protection Monitoring and Community Engagement Program at the field office level in Zintan/Misrata, supporting national staff as they carry out protection monitoring and community mobilization activities. The PM will ensure that missions are planned and executed so as to meet program requirements and will supervise the collection of protection-related data and its analysis. The position requires a strong background in protection, preferably in similar programs, experience with gender and women’s programs and a sound understanding of general program implementation in challenging environments. The PM will be responsible for following up on referrals for urgent individual and community needs, coordinating with other INGOs, and providing capacity building support as necessary. S/he will represent Mercy Corps to UNHCR, protection partners, and agencies attending the protection cluster and will establish relationships with local counterparts, including Local Council Members, law enforcement and military officials, and local civil society. The PM will have some office oversight responsibilities in coordination with the Tripoli-based Operations Manager and the local operations team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Representation

• Liaise with UNCHR and other partners, particularly through the protection cluster but also on a bi-lateral or working group basis to disseminate findings and identify additional support to communities and individuals to address needs and threats identified through protection monitoring;
• Identify local partners who will work as key implementation partners for Mercy Corps’ protection program, and assist in training those local partners on protection;
• Identify local organizations or groups working to resolve protection concerns within their communities and oversee strategic, technical, or operational support to those organizations or groups;
• Liaise as needed with other relevant Mercy Corps staff to ensure programmatic synergies;

Project Management

• Provide technical support for the protection program through support to field staff and partner organizations as required, in coordination with the Senior Program Manager (SPM);
• Support the field teams and SPM to develop work plans focused on outcomes;
• Process and analyze protection monitoring reports from the field, and prepare bi-weekly protection reports that highlight protection threats, needs, and competencies;
• Identify and support mechanisms for effective project monitoring and evaluation efforts and systems for information sharing internally and externally;
• Oversee office duties and some operations functions in coordination with the country Operations Manager and team.

Team Management

• Ensure field teams complete tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way, while being sensitive to the confidentiality of the information they are collecting;
• Identify training needs for national staff and local partners for program quality and accountability;
• Provide peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and support during field site visits, particularly field trainings and events, and other forms of staff capacity-building, in coordination with the program team;
• Abide by all security protocols and assist in ensuring their implementation by other staff;
• Conduct him/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING:

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Protection Monitoring Officers and Community Protection and Response Officers (national staff).

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior Program Manager (Protection)

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Country Director, Operations Manager, Finance Manager

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant field; MA/S in law, international relations, human rights or other relevant field preferred.
• At least 3 years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in protection-related programs, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings.
• Some knowledge of Libya and protection threats relevant to internal conflict preferred.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with, international humanitarian and human rights law.
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building and TOT training.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of conflict mitigation, peace building and negotiation and ability to translate them into capacity building elements for peace actors.
• Strong knowledge in gender, vulnerable groups and human rights theory, including the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and their implementation process with civic and government counterparts.
• Strong leadership, communication and project management skills.
• Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Proficiency in English essential; proficiency in Arabic preferred.
• Interest and willingness to learn about the Middle East region.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Project Manager will have an ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment. S/he will have a capacity to spark innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to programming and to inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. A proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results along with a willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs is critical. Having knowledge of security standards, equipment, precautionary measures, communication protocols, various unstable conditions and familiarity of the Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response is important and the Project Manager should be able to work independently and as part of a team, with a curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally and a fabulous sense of humor.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

This position will be based in Zintan or Misrata. Strict adherence to Mercy Corps security policies and procedures will be required as will respect for local cultural norms and traditions. Flexibility about work assignments in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment is also required. All expatriate staff in Libya currently live in group housing. Approximate amount of travel to the field sites is 60%.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

How to apply:

Apply online at our website:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...