BACKGROUND
Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development (Evangelisches Werk fur Diakonie und Entwicklung- EWDE) – Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH)- with headquarters in Germany, is a humanitarian agency providing funds for emergency aid worldwide.
DKH’s Regional Office West and Central Asia, based in Amman, Jordan,provides comprehensive program support to DKH Project Offices and local partners in the region. The Middle East Multiple Country Program (ME-MCP) currently implements programs in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza/oPT, and Iraq. Currently, most of the focus is on the earthquake emergency response and disaster risk management in Türkiye and Syria.
According to DKH’s approach, the majority if not all projects are implemented through local partner organizations. Presently, we focus on markets and livelihoods, protection, food security, DRR and climate change impact mitigation, and emergency response.
Furthermore, DKH initiated the Capacity Building Program as a systematic and continuous training program for partner organizations. DKH RO’s Capacity Building Initiative Asia Program (CBIA) aims at increasing the organizational, management, and technical capacities and skills of DKH RO's local partners. Our partners in Syria will continue benefiting from this program.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Country Program Coordinator
Location: Amman, Jordan
Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement: Primary work location is in Amman with the possibility to travel within the Middle East Multiple Country Program (ME-MCP) implemented programs (as requested
Starting date: 01.11. 2023 or earlier upon availability.
Contract duration: 1 year (extendable)
Reporting to: Head of Mission (HoM) ME-MCP
Supervisory Responsibility: Possibility for Program Officer, Finance Officer
Working under the supervision of the Head of Mission of ME-MCP and in close cooperation with other colleagues, the Country Program Coordinator is responsible for fulfilling the following tasks in one or more of the focus countries described above:
1. Strategic Guidance & Leadership
- Supporting and advising local partners throughout all stages of the PCM, from design and planning to implementation and closure; providing assistance and guidance in developing and implementing projects according to DKH and/or third-party donor agency regulations, Monitoring and Evaluation of projects through field visits and remotely, for a successful and smooth implementation.
- Ensuring that cooperation agreements are signed upon approval of proposals and all relevant documentation (admin/finance, logistics, etc.) are obtained from the donor and adequately filed.
- Support in developing and revising finance plans.
- Ensuring all projects are implemented according to log-frame, work plans, and budgets.
- Ensuring that reports are prepared in accordance with the requirements and regulations of third-party donors and DKH.
- Overseeing reporting schedules and supervising the development of narrative and financial reports;
- Following the administrative and other preparatory work for the planning and implementation of project components including procurement procedures, documentation, financial and work planning of partners;
- Facilitating and guiding (together with other Program finance colleagues) timely and effective auditing processes for the projects in the specified countries through the partners or directly;
- During monitoring visits to projects implemented by local partners, supporting the partner in managing records, files, folders, and other project documentation, as necessary;
- Organizing and participating in donor monitoring visits to projects;
- Based on periodic reports from local partners, drafting quarterly or monthly progress reports to be submitted to DKH HQ, indicating project status and planned versus actual comparisons including target figures and photo documentation;
- Leading and performing the project performance monitoring for all projects throughout the PCM;
- Identifying gaps and challenges in the management of projects and actively supporting or advising local partners in undertaking action for their improvement;
- Preparing Cash Transfer Requests to DKH HQ and ensuring that appropriate balances are maintained in banks to facilitate project implementation and operations in the field;
- Ensuring that local partners are oriented in terms of DKH and back-donor regulations (AA, BMZ, and other relevant back-donors);
2. Strategic Planning and Coordination
- Supporting the development of country strategies and annual action plans for focus countries and the region of West and Central Asia, where appropriate;
- Representing DKH in relevant networks, donor and partner meetings, towards media and other stakeholders whenever needed;
- Liaising with DKH Berlin Office and, whenever needed, third-party donors regarding project matters;
- Actively engaging in the program and team meetings and other activities organized by the ME-MCP, Asia Hub and /or Berlin office;
- Engaging in the global initiatives of DKH including workshops, social media-based activities, etc.;
- Promoting collaboration of all stakeholders of DKH in the field, from staff of DKH and local partners to target communities and other aid agencies and institutions active in the same area of operation;
- Attending coordination meetings in sectors that are relevant to DKH sectors of operation, when possible;
- Provide information to coordination platforms and networks in the country wherever needed and appropriate;
- Establishing and maintaining good contact with the ACT Alliance members and Fora in each focus country, if available;
- Monitoring the political, economic, social, and humanitarian context in the focus countries and changes in the security situation in assigned focus countries and beyond;
- Continuously analyzing the context and steering the institutional and programmatic development of the DKH RO yearly action plans;
3. Capacity Building
In close cooperation with the DKH RO Capacity Building Program Coordinator:
- Support in assessing the organizational capacity of local partners and identifying their capacity-building needs in accordance with the partners consent and endorsement;
- Designing and managing capacity-building programs, where needed;
- Preparing and updating training modules for PCM and delivering or supporting the delivery of trainings if needed;
- Providing sector-specific input and guidance on prevention, preparedness and response;
- Lead in facilitating Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning (EPRP) exercises to assigned partners, where needed.
4. Emergency preparedness and response
- Supporting the development of DKH’s emergency preparedness plan for the region
- Where needed, carry out one or more of the following tasks in the aftermath of a disaster in Asia:
- needs assessments
- designing emergency relief and recovery operations and writing project proposals
- setting up and staffing of field offices in a disaster zone
- identifying local partners and involving them in the relief and recovery operation
- establishing and reviewing institutional structures in field offices
- conducting impact evaluation studies of relief and recovery programs
4. Other tasks, as necessary
DKH reserves the right to alter the responsibilities according to programmatic demands and needs in line with the objectives of the office.
5. QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE AND SKILLS
- At least 5 years of progressive experience in program management focusing on humanitarian aid and disaster risk management.
- University degree (preferably M.Sc.) in a relevant field.
- Longstanding experience in working with local partner organizations based on equal partnership principles.
- Acceptable experience in managing highly complex emergency portfolios.
- Honed experience with various international institutional donors (preferably DG ECHO, German Federal Foreign Office, and German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development)
- Very good technical experience in one or more fields such as protection (and protection mainstreaming), emergency response, DRR, and/or CVA and livelihoods.
- Excellent project monitoring skills including finances.
- Excellent reporting skills at various stages of program management.
- Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English, other languages such as German, or Turkish are preferable.
- Preferably having experience working in the ME context.
- Excellent analytical and communication skills, proven ability to organize and present information in a concise, understandable, and interesting way for a variety of audiences.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
- Proactive and independent, yet an excellent team player.
- Outstanding personal attitude: especially the sense of responsibility, concern for quality, result orientation; integrity, commitment, and respect for diversity.
How to apply
If you recognize yourself in this profile, we welcome you to send your updated resume (max 4 pages) and a cover letter in English outlining specifically your motivation and skills relevant to the advertised position (not more than 1 page) to the following e-mail address:
applications.jor@diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.org
Please mention the Country Program Coordinator in the subject line.
The closing date for applications is Saturday, September 30th, 2023.
All applications will be treated confidentially. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
