SYRIA – LIVELIHOOD PM (H/F) – RAQQA At Solidarités International

ABOUT THE MISSION

Desired start date: 20/10/21

Duration of the mission: 9 months

Location: Raqqa

• Mission: There are 3 implementing offices in Syria (2 in North East Syria/NES, 1 in North West Syria/NWS) with the coordination based in Amman. The total financial volume of the mission for 2020 was approximately of 26 million EUR. The mission has now reached a number of approximately 50 expatriates and 275 national employees (7 expatriates and 90 national employees in Ar-Raqqa base).
• Type and content of program:** Syria mission is dedicated to work in areas recently opened (in 2017 in Raqqa) and in challenging contexts to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. A turn from lifesaving activities to more post-emergency/development has also been undertaken. In Ar-Raqqa Governorate, main current activities are related to:
• Lifesaving

Wash – emergency package in IDPs settlements

Distribution of NFIs and cash for vulnerable populations.

COVID Response (WASH in Health, distributions)

• More sustainable activities:

Individuals’ houses rehabilitations,

Institutional rehabilitations and support: Water stations rehabilitations, capacity building of the Water Department, rehabilitation of schools.

Additionally, SI has a contingency and capacity to respond to emergencies in all NES.

In Raqqa, the strategy is also trying to include Livelihoods activities and look at irrigation system’ rehabilitation in its portfolio, with efforts being undertaken in assessments (internal assessments, consultancy).

During 2020, Raqqa base has also extended its activities in Tabqa (southeastern part of the Governorate), and in Kobane (northern NES).

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

The Cash and Livelihood Program Manager is in charge of implementing and achieving the cash and livelihoods programme portfolio on his/her assigned base.

More specifically, the program is two-fold, with a Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) component and an Early Recovery Market System (ERMS) approach to develop and implement. The last activity will require consistent preparation and assessments phases together with the ability to work with partners.

Since the ERMS component is a new sector for SI in area, the position requires technical Livelihoods expertise in transition/early recovery context, including small business development.

S/he guarantees the relevance, quality and suitability of the proposed activities and technical approaches and s/he is a creative force in the case where certain adaptations would be necessary in view of the evolution of the needs and the context.

S/he guarantees a proper preparation of the starting of the program, including the elaboration of a preliminary assessment and the set-up of an efficient monitoring system; the development of a robust beneficiary selection mechanism and the design of each activity.

S/he ensures SI’s representation to the technical and sectorial working groups and builds up the coordination that is highly expected within the relevant implementing partners.

S/he contributes to the process of institutional knowledge building and the improvement of Solidarités International methods and techniques in the field of Livelihoods

The main challenges:

This sector is new sector of intervention for SI Syria, which implies therefore some challenges as the department is to be entirely built and developped. Indeed, more than the financial challenges (medium-scaled budget), the position requires a strong capacity and appetite to assess, develop, and contribute to the lessons learnt/knowledge reinforcement of SI on this field.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Assess the local market context, opportunities and launch the LLH oriented activities, with prior assessment (new sector for SI in NES)
• Liaise with the relevant counterparts, including the partners of the consortium
• Ensure appropriate recruitments and elaborate trainings

Responsibilities and main activities:

• Ensure Project Management with updated workplans and data bases
• Manage, monitor and capacity build the WASH Team
• Contribute to strategic developments and keep working on technical alternatives to switch from a pure emergency response setup to a more Early Recovery and sustainable assistance
• Ensure budget management of the department, with several grants under the WASH PM’s responsibilities
• Ensure elaboration of procurement plan and anticipate purchases request
• Liaise with partners and sectorial working groups
• Ensure compliance with SOPs around water quality monitoring and that the consumables are appropriate and available in stock.

Management

• Current team set up on the field office: 1 PM, 2 Deputy PM, 3 Supervisors respectively managing field officers for water supply, sanitation and HP activities (total of 30 pers.)

YOUR PROFILE

Specific skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, with a specialty in water or sanitation management
• Minimum 3 years with INGO and in WASH-focused humanitarian program management;
• Previous experience in team management
• Experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts, preferably with experience in supporting early recovery and exit strategy;
• Previous experience with SI is a plus.
• Desired experience in market based approach and community participation modality
• Desired experience in sludge treatment and or rehabilitation of sewage network is a plus

Soft skills:

• Respect/compliance of security rules;
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to cultural habits;
• Adaptability towards changing work environment and possible volatile security situation;
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;
• Team player, capacity to give a positive dynamic
• Acceptance towards being challenged by skilled national staff

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Small-scaled Civil engineering
• Water analysis
• Emergency Water Treatment
• Fecal sludge treatment knowledge is a plus
• Capacity to provide strong leadership;
• Good team spirit and team work capacities;
• Ability to delegate and transfer skills;
• Strong management and training/capacity-building skills;
• Knowledge of Solidarités’ rules, tools and procedures is a plus;
• Solid organizational and communication skills;
• Very comfortable with standard MS Office software, AutoCad, Kobo, Mapping tools, Power BI a plus.

Language:

• English: Full English proficiency
• Knowledge of Arabic would be appreciated

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 1980 euros gross per month (1800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly)

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.

Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of on 7 working days every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3/6 and 9 month (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités).

To these break periods, it is necessary to add the granting of 1 additional rest day per month worked > i.e. 12 days in addition for a 1-year contract**.**

Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

The candidate will be based in North East Syria. S/he will live in a guesthouse shared with the other CMU members.

S/he will make regular field visits and stay in partners’ field guesthouses to allow closer proximity to the sites of project implementation.

In the main base, living conditions are comfortable with some opportunities and places to socialize. In the operational bases, living conditions are more basic with less opportunities and places to socialize.

SECURITY:

Security inside NES is volatile and justifies specific arrangements for accommodation and movement in the areas of intervention. Adherence to strict security procedures is necessary, while the security levels can vary according to the different geographical locations and the changes of context.