BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Solidar Suisse is a Swiss non-governmental organisation founded in 1936 (formerly Swiss Labour Assistance), committed to promoting social justice, decent work, and equal opportunities worldwide. Today, Solidar Suisse implements humanitarian and development programmes in 16 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
In Venezuela, Solidar Suisse has initiated a humanitarian response following the earthquake on 24 June 2026. Through a strong partnership-based approach, Solidar Suisse seeks to support the most vulnerable populations affected by the disaster through emergency relief, recovery, and rehabilitation interventions. The organisation is committed to localisation and works closely with national and local actors to ensure sustainable, context-appropriate, and effective humanitarian assistance.
PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The consultant will support Solidar Suisse in the further development of its humanitarian engagement in Venezuela. The assignment will focus on the identification and assessment of suitable implementing partners, stakeholder engagement and coordination, project design and development, as well as the analysis of operational opportunities, risks and requirements for effective project implementation.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Partner Identification and Assessment
- Identify and assess potential national and local partner organisations.
- Conduct partner capacity assessments and due diligence processes in accordance with Solidar Suisse requirements.
- Analyse potential partners’ technical, operational, financial and organisational capacities, including relevant safeguarding and compliance capacities.
- Prepare a comparative assessment and provide a clear, evidence-based recommendation regarding partner selection and appropriate implementation modalities.
- Support initial discussions with the selected partner on roles, responsibilities, ways of working and implementation arrangements.
Project Design and Development
- Analyse humanitarian needs, response gaps and relevant intervention opportunities.
- Lead a participatory project design process in close collaboration with the selected partner and Solidar Suisse Headquarters.
- Develop the project concept, intervention strategy, implementation approach, results framework, indicators and workplan.
- Develop the complete project proposal, logframe, budget and required supporting documents in the applicable donor format (likely in the field of Protection and/or WASH).
- Ensure alignment with donor requirements, humanitarian standards, accountability commitments, safeguarding requirements and Solidar Suisse’s localisation approach.
- Integrate comments from Solidar Suisse and the selected partner and finalise the proposal package.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
- Establish and maintain relationships with relevant humanitarian actors, authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations and community stakeholders.
- Participate in relevant coordination mechanisms and information-sharing platforms.
- Represent Solidar Suisse in relevant meetings and consultations during the assignment.
- Strengthen Solidar Suisse’s understanding of the humanitarian context, coordination landscape and key actors relevant to the planned intervention.
Operational Analysis and Set-up
- Analyse the operational environment, including access constraints, security considerations and contextual and implementation risks.
- Assess the operational requirements and feasible implementation arrangements for the planned project.
- Identify relevant risks and proportionate mitigation measures for project implementation.
- Support the establishment of appropriate coordination, security, presence and operational arrangements required for the implementation of the planned project.
- Clarify relevant operational roles and responsibilities between Solidar Suisse and the selected partner.
Coordination and Reporting
- Maintain regular coordination with the Desk Officer at Solidar Suisse Headquarters and provide concise updates on progress, key findings, risks and decisions required.
- Promptly flag material concerns related to partner suitability, feasibility, compliance, safeguarding, security or project quality.
- Submit all final deliverables and supporting documentation in an organised and accessible format.
Other Duties
- Undertake other duties reasonably required to support the successful implementation of Solidar Suisse’s humanitarian programme in Venezuela.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education
- Advanced university degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, water resources management, psychology, social work, humanitarian action, international development, social sciences, or another relevant field.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian and/or development programming.
- Demonstrated experience in partnership management and localisation approaches.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting organisational capacity assessments and due diligence of partner organisations.
- Demonstrated experience in humanitarian needs assessments, project design and programme development.
- Extensive experience in developing high-quality humanitarian project proposals, budgets and logframes for institutional donors.
- Experience participating in humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
- Demonstrated technical experience in WASH and/or Protection programming.
- Experience providing technical support, quality assurance and capacity strengthening to partners.
- Previous experience in emergency response and start-up programmes is a strong asset.
- Extensive recent professional experience in Venezuela and a strong understanding of the humanitarian, political and operational context are required.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
- Excellent networking, negotiation, and representation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently in complex and evolving environments.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Strong commitment to humanitarian principles and localisation.
Languages
- Professional fluency in Spanish and English, both written and spoken.
Candidates already based in Venezuela or the wider Latin American region and able to undertake the assignment without significant deployment or relocation requirements are strongly preferred.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit their CVs along with a motivation letter to lukas.frohofer@solidar.ch.
Due to the urgency of the position, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Applications submitted in languages other than English, or from candidates who do not meet the above-mentioned requirements, will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Solidar Suisse reserves the right to close the recruitment process before the application deadline should a suitable candidate be identified.