Country: Turkey
Closing date: 07 Jun 2017
CANADEM is seeking seasoned professionals with previous relevant experience in the field of NGO Coordination and Facilitation who are available for an immediate deployment to Turkey as a seconded expert with OCHA.
Position Title: NGO Coordination/Facilitation
Duty Station: Gaziantep, Turkey
Level: P4/P5
Duration: 6 months
Brief description of emergency :
The cross-border operation to Syria from Turkey is facing a number of challenges that may compromise the ability to deliver humanitarian assistance at scale to northern Syria. One of these key challenges is a standstill in bureaucratic procedures from the host government, Turkey, with regards to bureaucratic procedures relating to NGOs. It is estimated that 80 percent of cross-border deliveries are undertaken by NGOs of a $1 billion annual operation. Ensuring coordination among NGOs and vis-a-vis the UN system and the Government of Turkey is therefore critical. The NGO Forum has been unable to deploy international coordinators with the required competencies since September 2016 due to these bureaucratic impediments. Without this deployment, there will be no international NGO coordinators in the country. OCHA is dependent on having credible interlocutors that can speak on behalf of the NGO community, as well as effectuate effective coordination within the NGO community. At this stage, all other possibilities of maintaining the presence of international NGO coordinators have been exhausted, as NGOs have been unable to take on this responsibility because of the bureaucratic impediments. Two standby partner staff will be required to undertake this work.
Details on security situation: The security level in Gaziantep is 3 (moderate). Living conditions are adequate, staff are able to live in private accommodation and access to health care and other services are more than adequate. However, education facilities are not sufficient for dependent children/students wishing to attend an international or non-Turkish speaking school.
Main tasks and duties to be executed:
• Facilitating coordination between the NGO Forum members within the existing coordination structures both in Turkey and in the Whole of Syria regional response.
• Represents the NGO Forum and advocates to external stakeholders, including donors, government officials, United Nations representatives and others, in close collaboration with the NGO community and NGO Forum Steering Committee.
• Provides information, briefings and presentations on the function, initiatives, interests and structure of the humanitarian NGO community in northern Syria and southern Turkey.
• Provides high level analysis and comprehensive situational overviews to the NGO community, donors and UN representatives.
• Ensures close collaboration with other coordination bodies, including Syrian coordination bodies, regional coordination structures and the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) counterparts.
• Develops productive relationships with key individuals in relevant local and national government offices as required, in close collaboration with the NGO forum Steering Committee, including ministries, civil society, counterpart institutions, diplomatic missions, and donors.
• Ensures transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing between NGOs.
• Facilitates NGO Forum meetings and NGO Forum Steering Committee meetings, drafts agendas, invites external speakers and follows up on relevant action points including the distribution of meeting minutes.
• Represents NGOs on the HLG (HCT), Inter-Sector Coordination Group, and ad hoc coordination groups, meetings and initiatives, including those at the regional Whole of Syria strategic level.
• Liaises with NGO coordination platforms in neighbouring countries in the region.
• Responsible for the management of the NGO Secretariat and the support services that are provided through this structure, including day-to-day management of secretariat personnel and resources, in order that they meet the needs and priorities of the NGO community.
• Provides leadership and direction, promotes professional working relationships, and encourages staff. Conducts regular performance appraisals identifying capacity building needs and further career objectives for NGO Forum personnel.
Specific required skills (languages, experience, etc)
• At least seven years of humanitarian experience, of which at least two years were as head of mission or director of programs level;
• At least two years' experience working on strategic level issues, including significant advocacy experience;
• Significant experience coordinating humanitarian activities within a UN-lead cluster system;
• Experience in representation within HCTs, ISCGs, and other IASC coordination mechanisms;
• Experience working with LNGOs and implementing partners;
• Experience managing remote operations;
• Extraordinary diplomacy skills and ability to rapidly read situations and determine appropriate responses; and
• Post-graduate degree in development, international relations, international law, or similar degree.
How to apply:
If you have all of the above-mentioned skills, please register with CANADEM before contacting us. This can be done on our website at www.CANADEM.ca/register . Then send an email no later than the 7th of June, 11:59 pm EDT to pantiwa.naksomboon@CANADEM.ca with a Subject Line: "OCHA-NGO Coordination-Turkey". In your email, please include an updated resume, date of availability, your current location, and a phone number where we can reach you.
