Colombia / Venezuela: Area Coordinator – Caracas, Venezuela At ACTED

Fixed term | 6 months | ASAP

ACTED

Created in 1993, ACTED is an international non-governmental organization pursuing a dual mandate of emergency response and development interventions in 40 of some of the world’s most vulnerable countries affected by conflicts, disasters or socio-economic hardship. With a team of 7,000 national staff and 400 international staff, ACTED implements 500 projects a year to support more than 20 million beneficiaries, notably in hard-to-reach areas.

ACTED goes to the last mile through programs and approaches that look beyond the immediate emergency towards opportunities for longer term livelihood reconstruction and sustainable development. Guided by the motto “Think Local, Act Global” and its 3Zero –Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty – strategy, ACTED puts local territories at the centre and provides a tailored support to local needs.

ACTED Colombia – Venezuela

For the past few decades Colombia has been affected by complex events of internal displacement due to the internal conflict and/or natural disasters. Since 2012, the country has experienced a sustained flow of migrants from its neighbour, Venezuela. This flow has recently intensified due to the increased economic constraints in the country and according to official sources; over 1.2 million migrants are currently present in Colombia, with more entering the country every day.

Additionally, the country is still facing complex internal conflicts situations that have been exacerbated by the increased criminal activity in the border areas. Moreover, Riohacha and the department of Guajira have been historically affected by prolonged droughts and overall lack of access to water, particularly in the rural areas inhabited by the Wayu indigenous people.

You will be in charge of

1.Positioning

Context analysis: ensure ACTED has an up-to-date understanding of the area’s socio-economic situation, trends, needs and gaps, and who does what and where (3W).

Strategy Implementation: take a lead role in implemeting ACTED’s country program strategy in the area identifying strategic opportunities for expanding ACTED’s work in the area, and in particular:

• Identify new opportunities and new sectors of intervention;
• Consolidate and stabilize programming;
• Review the geographic and thematic footprint;
• Ensure activities are relevant and meeting area/beneficiary needs;
• Identify ACTED added-value;
• Ensure humanitarian principals are adhered to;
• Contribute to identifying new donors, private sector partners, national and international NGOs, think tanks, academia, etc. to work with in the area based on complementarity and added value;

Networking, positioning and general representation:

• Participate in donor meetings at area level and communicate relevant information to the Country Director and other relevant staff;
• Establish, maintain and improve activities and regular working relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, clusters, working groups, consortia, etc. at area level ensuring maximum visibility of ACTED;
• Establish, maintain, and improve activities and regular working relationships with local authorities and where necessary non-state actors and obtain required authorizations and buy-in for ACTED’s activities at area level;
• Ensure ACTED is represented in key clusters, working groups, NGO coordination bodies, etc. at area level;

Proposal development:

• Lead assessment(s) at area level to ensure proposals are relevant;
• Support the Country Director and Project Development Department in proposal conceptualisation (problem statement, logframe) within the framework of the country, regional and global strategy;
• Contribute to budget design and ensure that budget needs at area level have been taken into consideration;

Advocacy: Contribute to drafting issues papers, advocacy notes, press releases on relevant humanitarian and development issues in the area of operation.

Promotion of ACTED network: Keep abreast with and contribute to ACTED’s global initiatives and global trends, in particular Impact (REACH, Agora), Convergences and Oxus.

2.Management and Internal Coordination

Staff Management:

• Ensure that all staff in the area understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities related to area operations and link with the capital Head of Departments;
• Promote team building, productivity and staff welfare;
• Mentor and support the team to build capacities, and improve efficiency and performance, and follow career management;
• Manage interpersonal conflicts among staff at area level;

Internal Coordination:

• Facilitate interdepartmental communication and information sharing for a positive working environment;
• Ensure implementation of ACTED coordination mechanism at area level (WAM, MAR, FLAT meeting, etc.);

3.Project Implementation Follow-up

Project Implementation Tracking:

• Supervise Project Managers in the area and provide support to project implementation through trouble shooting and eliminating blocking points;
• Monitor output achievement, cash burn rates and ensure a time completion of projects through review of PMFs, BFUs and project reports;
• Ensure that relevant project information are up-to-date and available for reporting purposes;
• Ensure coordination and complementarity amongst projects within the area of intervention;

Project Quality Control:

• Ensure the application of a practical field-based M&E system/plan for each project;
• Conduct frequent field visits to project sites to assess activities and ensure efficient use of resources;
• Advise Project Managers to adapt projects according to monitoring and evaluation findings;
• Ensure beneficiary feedback mechanisms are in place;
• Ensure capitalisation of best practices and lessons learnt for projects in the area of operations;

Partner Management:

• Identify potential local partners in the area based on an assessment of complementarity and added value;
• Provide support to partners in project implementation and ensure timely and qualitative implementation of projects by partners in line with ACTED and donor requirements;

4.FLATS Management

Finance Management:

• Control project budgets at area level to avoid under/over spending;
• Ensure accurate budget forecasting and efficient cash flow management;
• Ensure timely and accurate area finance TITANIC reporting;

Logistics & IT Management:

• Ensure timely procurement and adherence to rules of origin and nationality at area level;
• Ensure quality supply management at area level;
• Ensure proper asset management at area level and enforce asset investment policy;
• Ensure proper stock management at area level;
• Ensure proper IT systems, data back-up and protection from malware at area level;
• Ensure sufficient and reliable means of communication at area level;
• Ensure timely and accurate area logistics TITANIC reporting;

Administration and HR Management:

• Ensure transparent and timely recruitment of national staff and contribute to international staff recruitment upon capital request;
• Proactively adapt the staffing structure to needs and funding;
• Ensure regular performance appraisal and career management for staff at area level;
• Ensure timely and accurate area HR TITANIC reporting;
• Ensure timely exit forms;

Transparency/Compliance Management:

• Minimize risk of fraud and corruption by ensuring adherence to ACTED FLATS procedures;
• Ensure that staff is aware of ACTED’s transparency and whistle blowing policy;

Security Management:

• Analyse the security context at area level and in close collaboration with the Country Security Manager contribute to defining, analysing and evaluating risks;
• Engage with relevant key stakeholders at area level to ensure access and support of interventions;
• Address security and safety risks by implementing standard operating procedures defined for the area;
• Ensure the offices and houses conform to recommended security, health and safety standards;
• Ensure all staff in the area adhere to security procedures;
• Ensure security incidents at area level are promptly reported to the capital.

Expected skills and qualifications

• University education in a relevant field such as international development, emergency operations, humanitarian programming, technical degree in camp management, or the like;
• Extensive project management experience (management, planning, staff development and training skills) in emergency and/or development programmes;
• Base management skills preferred;
• At least four years relevant work experience, preferably including camp settings;
• Proven capabilities in leadership and management required;
• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure;
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, and flexibility in cultural and organizational terms;
• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure;
• Knowledge of local language and/or regional experience an asset.

Conditions

• Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid depending on education level, expertise, security level and experience
• Living allowance of 300 USD
• Lodging and food provided in the ACTED Guesthouse
• Flight tickets in and out + Visa taken in charge by ACTED
• Provision of medical and repatriation insurances