Niger – Head of Mission At COOPI – International Cooperation

COOPI is looking for a Head of Mission in Niger

COOPI has been present in Niger since 2012 with a coordination office in Niamey, and field bases in Diffa, Agadez, Tahoua, Maradi and Tillabéry. Currently, COOPI works in the Diffa region in the sectors of protection, mental health, and education in emergency situations , in Niamey and Agadez in mixed migration with the management of transit huts and psychosocial support. refugees and migrants , in the regions of Tillabéry and Tahoua with interventions in the field of nutrition/health and emergency education , in Maradi with a protection project . The main donors are ECHO, the European Union, Swiss Cooperation, FHRAOC, Italian Cooperation (AICS), USAID/BHA, SRF and United Nations agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM) .

Job objective

The Head of Mission is responsible for COOPI activity in the Country. He participates in defining the country strategy and intervention priorities with the Area Manager, and he identifies potential new project opportunities with the various donors on site. He ensures the application and compliance with general COOPI and donor procedures in all COOPI activities in the Country. It ensures that internal regulations are present in the country and that they are respected in the implementation of projects. He represents COOPI before institutions, donors, organizations and all counterparties in Niger.

Responsibilities

Institutional relations

Represent the organization in the country , taking care of institutional relations with government, civil society, local authorities, donors, international agencies and all NGOs
Promote activities aimed at identifying new donors in the country, in compliance with COOPI procedures and with the support of headquarters
Manage relationships with major institutional donors and potential donors
Participate in thematic meetings in capital and in the field depending on the priority of programs and projects
Define and propose to headquarters, an annual plan for communication and visibility, ensuring compliance with the principles of the organization

Strategy and planning

Consolidate COOPI’s presence in the country by proposing updates to the country strategy plan (strategic programming) at headquarters, also formulating an operational plan for coordination and new initiatives
Coordinate feasibility studies and all other inherent studies
Ensure the drafting of new project proposals with the support of its staff and the headquarters support offices

Program quality

Coordinate the development, writing and sending of documents necessary for the presentation of new projects
Ensure the sending of any document requested by headquarters for the presentation of new project proposals
Ensure the writing and sending of narrative and financial reports for projects, and the preparation of monitoring documents requested by the Milan headquarters
Ensure monitoring of the National Coordination operational plan
Ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities are properly planned and implemented in the Country

Logistics and security

Ensure monitoring of the logistics function in the country , in compliance with procedures
Ensure the correct application of security procedures in the country

Economic-financial management

Responsible for the country’s economic performance
Ensure the preparation of the annual country budget and its revisions during the year; ensure supervision of the economic-financial management of projects and Coordination; supervise the financial and economic planning of the country

Human Resource Management

Ensure the management of local staff and the safety of all COOPI staff in Niger
Participate and support the regional coordinator and the human resources office in the selection of expatriate staff
Coordinate and control the management of the country’s expatriate staff
Ensure the evaluation of expatriate staff and, where applicable, directly evaluate expatriate staff
Ensure the development and updating of country regulations in accordance with COOPI internal procedures

Visibility and communication

Coordinate COOPI visibility and communication activities in the Country , in compliance with COOPI guidelines
Ensure compliance with procedures and contractual obligations of donors in terms of visibility as well as COOPI procedures

Candidate profile

Essential

University or postgraduate training in development economics, management, social sciences, politics or other relevant profiles, or mix of training and equivalent experience
At least 6 years of experience in humanitarian interventions and project management
Mastery of the procedures of the main donors: European Commission, ECHO, USAID/BHA, UNICEF and others
Excellent command of French, spoken and written
Excellent ability to work in a team and by objectives
Excellent organizational skills; flexibility, strong sense of initiative and autonomy in work
Excellent ability to work under pressure
Ability to work in a sensitive and complex political and security context and in a multicultural environment
Excellent negotiation and communication skills
Excellent writing skills and knowledge of the Office package
Interest and motivation to work in an NGO while respecting its values and principles

Desirable

Good knowledge of English and Italian
Experience working in Africa and/or Niger and/or in conflict/post-conflict contexts

COOPI reserves the right to close a recruitment before the deadline of the advertisement. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will take place on a continuous basis and the position will be closed as soon as it is filled, thank you for your understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is a secular and independent Italian humanitarian organization that fights all forms of poverty to improve the world. Founded in 1965, COOPI is now present in 33 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, with emergency and development projects led by expatriate staff – on average more than 270 people per year – and national staff. The main institutional donors are the European Union – ECHO and INTPA – USAID, UN agencies, the Italian government, local authorities and other European governments.