Project Manager for SharaKa for inclusive Climate Action At Hivos

Region: Middle East & North Africa

Office: Lebanon or Tunisia

Hours: 36 hours

Application deadline: October 8, 2023

POSITION IS PENDING CONFIRMATION OF FUNDING

The MENA region, which continues to suffer from political and economic unrest, is one of the most vulnerable regions negatively impacted by climate change. However, the MENA region receives the lowest share of international climate finance. Limited funds are also unjustly distributed and do not respond to local needs, emphasizing the lack of inclusive governance and unified efforts to respond to the climate crisis in the region.

To tackle this issue, the SharaKa for inclusive Climate Action Project aims to work with civil society and media in Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia to influence and co-create just, inclusive and rights-based climate actions. Hivos, in partnership with Internews, Arab Reform Initiative and ARIJ (Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism), intends to enhance cooperation between civil society organizations in the MENA region working on climate justice. The aim is to increase the capacities and resources of media actors to enable them to provide meaningful, fact-based information on the climate crisis to the wider public, thereby increasing citizens’ resilience to climate change and influencing more inclusive climate mitigation measures.

The objectives of the project implemented in Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan are:

1. Diverse CSOs and media collaborate to influence, co-create and contribute to inclusive climate policies and reforms at national, regional and global levels
2. Citizens are well-informed and have access to transparent and credible information on climate issues and actions
3. CSOs and media outlets are protected by safety and security mechanisms, networks and coordinated alliances.

Main goal of the position

The Project Manager will oversee the implementation of this project both strategically and operationally. The person we’re looking for is responsible for ensuring delivery of project results and for sound financial management & compliance, effective monitoring of partner implementation, stakeholder relationship management and upholding SharaKa’s values and principles. The PM manages and leads the project’s Steering Committee, which includes the Project Managers representing each consortium partner.

Overall, the PM is expected to provide strategic guidance and promote teamwork across the consortium towards fulfilment of project goals. The PM is responsible for operational & strategic relationship and contract management with the donor. In addition, the PM must be able to promote and represent Hivos MENA’s Climate Justice and Civic Rights agenda in professional fora, both internal and external.

Your responsibilities

Project management and accountability

• Guides and oversees timely, participatory and qualitative project planning, budgeting and implementation. Ensures that Local Climate and Media organizations and groups, and consortium members actively participate.
• Manages, motivates, trains, appraises, guides and inspires project staff and enables effective teamwork, achieves objectives, and works according to Hivos’ principles.
• Oversees and ensures full compliance according to Hivos and donor procedures and regulations & signed contracts, and promotes dynamic and mutual accountability by Hivos staff and partners.
• Leads on monitoring of partners and ensures adherence with strategic direction and relevance, timely delivery and adherence with approved budgets.
• Ensures transparent and timely quarterly narrative and financial donor reporting against agreed objectives and results framework, and continuous planning, including fulfilling internal reporting requirements.
• Proactively encourages and supports learning across the project and within the partnership, stimulates generation of knowledge and sharing of results and lessons learned, and ensures integration of learnings into practice.
• Provides guidance and support to monitoring and evaluation within the framework of the project and across the consortium.

Representation, networking, positioning and advocacy

• Acts as the ambassador of the project and build proactive relations with likeminded organizations and networks from the MENA region, as well as with decision-makers and other stakeholders.
• Ensures strategic participation and visibility of the project in relevant fora to have influence on the Climate Justice agenda and encourage debate in the MENA region. Creates space in such arenas for voices and ideas for local and regional actors.
• Establishes and maintains good relationships with stakeholders regionally and globally when relevant including current and potential donors, current and potential future partners and other strategically relevant organizations (civil society, government, private sector, development partners and media).
• Regularly documents and shares project highlights, learnings and achievements through various communication tools and platforms in such forms as blogs, articles, etc. in English.

Program design and business development

• Leads the proposal development process (in coordination with the Business Development Unit) for the new and follow-on regional projects
• Provides project design inputs in the development of new relevant programs.
• Participates in relevant program-BD discussions to share relevant strategic and donor information.

Other

• Supports other programs when there is work overload and absences within MENA team as needed.
• Supports non-program related tasks as may be requested.
• Other tasks as requested by Regional Director.

Your profile

• A masters’ degree in international development, climate governance, political science, public administration, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of seven years of experience in project management, with several years on projects in a similar thematic area (climate justice/media) and regional/multi-country & multi-partner.
• At least 2 years leading consortia with national and regional partners and networks.
• Substantial experience with sub-granting to other organizations, and monitoring partner delivery & budgets.
• Staff & team management experience.
• Solid knowledge and awareness of climate issues and concerns in the MENA region.
• Experience with locally shaped climate solutions and building joint climate actions in MENA is a strong advantage.
• Experience working with international NGO.
• Solid understanding of M&E and communications.
• Experience in advocacy and influencing is a strong advantage.
• Strong knowledge of donor and program compliance & budget management, and ability to enforce best practices.
• Keen understanding of country political and social dynamics in MENA in the programs’ focus countries; analytical and conceptual skills, and ability to translate these into relevant and timely actions.
• Excellent verbal, writing and communication skills in English and Arabic, with French as a strong advantage. Able to deliver well written reports in English is essential.
• Willingness and able to travel to focus countries as required.
• Excellent networking, relationship building and negotiation skills.
• Other job & behavioral skills: strategic, critical & analytical thinker, collaborative, positive attitude, team player, proactiveness, multi-tasking, flexibility; able to meet strict deadlines; able to handle competing priorities and heavy workload; trustworthy and reliable; and work requires minimal review.

What we offer

Pending funding of project, we offer a one year commitment in stimulating work environment in a professional international organization with very dedicated staff. We offer a national contract based on Hivos local labor conditions, with remuneration commensurate with the experience and expertise. Contract renewable depending on performance and funding.

For Tunisia-based applicants specifically:
Until the conclusion of Hivos’ registration as a foreign NGO in Tunisia, this position will be hosted at Al Bawsala, a Tunisian non-profit association. Upon the conclusion of Hivos’ registration in Tunis, Hivos intends to transfer the employee’s contract under Hivos.

About Hivos

Hivos is an international development organization guided by humanist values. Together with citizens and their organizations, we aim to contribute towards just, inclusive and life sustaining societies where people have equal access to opportunities, rights and resources. We work in partnership with others in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America on three impact areas: Civic Rights in a Digital Age; Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Climate Justice. Our approach is solution driven, and we build wider movements for change by amplifying and connecting voices.