Jordan: PROGRAM OFFICER for Turkey and Jordan (MATERNITY COVER)

BACKGROUND

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), with headquarters in Germany, is a humanitarian agency providing funds for emergency aid worldwide. DKH provides program support to DKH Project Offices and local partners in the region of West and Central Asia. It is DKH’s approach to implement Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Risk Reduction projects mainly through local Partner Organizations. The focus area of DKH in West and Central Asia includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, Gaza, Iraq and Turkey, furthermore, in relation to the current Syria crisis, it covers now also Lebanon, Jordan as well as Syria itself. DKH is also on stand-by in case of need for partner support in acute emergencies in South and Southeast Asia.

DKH provides technical and other backstopping support to all partner organizations within its area of responsibility. It also continuously aims at increasing and further strengthening relations with local partners on the ground and building their capacities. For this purpose, in addition to the ongoing relief and DRR projects, DKH has launched a partner-tailored regional Capacity Building program in 2014, targeting all strategic partners in West and Central Asia.

DKH is now looking for a Program Officer (maternity cover with possibility of extension) who will be responsible for overseeing DKH funded projects in Turkey and Jordan.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: Istanbul or Amman, with frequent travels to the field

Period: 15 September 2016 – 15 March 2017 – with possible extension

Working under the supervision of and in close collaboration with the DKH RO Program Coordinator, the Program Officer is responsible to fulfil the following tasks:

Program Management Support

· Supporting, advising on project planning and implementation by local partners.

· Monitoring and evaluation of projects through field visits and remotely, for a successful and smooth implementation;

· Ensure all projects are implemented according to strategy, work plans, and budget;

· Overseeing reporting schedules and supervising the development of narrative and financial reports; Ensuring that reports are prepared in accordance with the requirements and regulations of third party donors and DKH.

· Following the administrative and other preparatory work for the planning and implementation of project components including procurement procedures, financial and work planning of partners.

· During monitoring visits to projects implemented by local partners, supporting the partner in managing records, files, folders, and other project documentations, as necessary.

· Organize and participate 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.

· Identifying gaps in the management of projects and supporting or advising local partners in undertaking action for their improvement.

· Assist local partners in developing project proposals to be submitted to DKH HQ or third party donor agencies.

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.

· Representing DKH in relevant networks, donor and partner meetings, towards media and other stakeholders whenever needed.

· Liaise with donors regarding project matters.

· 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.

· Establishing and maintaining good contact with the ACT Alliance members and Forum 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 analysing the context and steer the institutional and programmatic development of the DKH RO yearly action plans.

Capacity Building

In close cooperation with the DKH RO Capacity Building Program Officer:

· Assessing organizational capacity of local partners and identifying their capacity building needs in accordance with the partners

· 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 within prevention, preparedness and response.

Emergency preparedness and response (as necessary)

· Where needed, carrying out one or more of the following tasks in the aftermath of a disaster in Asia:

o needs assessments

o designing emergency relief and recovery operations and writing project proposals

o setting up and staffing of field offices in a disaster zone

o identifying local partners and involving them in the relief and recovery operation

o establishing and reviewing institutional structures in field offices

o conducting impact evaluation studies of relief and recovery programs

Other tasks, as necessary

QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE AND SKILLS

· At least 2 years of experience in managing and/or coordinating projects in the field of humanitarian assistance;

· University degree (or comparable work experience) in a relevant field;

· Sound knowledge of and skills in project cycle management, needs assessment, project planning, proposal writing, and monitoring & evaluation;

· Experience in emergency relief, with special emphasis on the following sectors: Protection, Cash Based Assistance, Food Security, Nutrition, Psychosocial Support (other relevant experience can be considered)

· Experience in working through local partner organizations based on equal partnership principle and in providing them technical and other backstopping support;

· Knowledge of and experience in rules and regulations as well as implementation of back donor funded projects, specifically ECHO and AA;

· Good understanding of key principles of international NGOs including accountability, impartiality, neutrality, independence

· Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English. Arabic and/or Turkish is a strong asset;

· Excellent training, coaching and mentoring skills with the ability to multitask.

· Experience working in different cultural work environments & ability to perform tasks with sensitivity to the local culture, to interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socio-economic, educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds;

· Excellent problem solving and analytical skills:

· Excellent listening and communication skills: ability to organize and present information, views and concepts in a concise, understandable and interesting way for a variety of audiences, both written and oral;

· Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to work under pressure with minimal supervision,

· Proactive, able to come up with initiatives or undertake actions with minimal supervision

· Energetic, independent yet excellent team player.

· Outstanding personal attitude: especially sense of responsibility, concern for quality, result orientation;

· Outstanding personal values: integrity, commitment, respect for diversity, excellent interpersonal skills, and nonetheless sense of humor.

DKH is an equal opportunities employer. Interested persons should send their application consisting of the following (all in English language):

· Scanned and signed coverletter outlining qualifications, experience relevant to the advertised position and motivation (not more than 2 pages);

· Updated detailed C.V. (Pdf format) including three professional references (not more than 3 pages)**.**

Applications should be submitted by 30^th August 2016 to the following address: applications.tur@diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.org

Please put in subject line: Application DKH – POTJ

Due to the urgency, we may contact suitable candidates for an interview prior to the application deadline. Please kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.