Economic Recovery Coordinator At Danish Refugee Council

DRC is recruiting for a highly qualified Economic Recovery Coordinator to lead and coordinate economic recovery activities in South Sudan.

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is operational in South Sudan since 2005, working with the overall aim of achieving durable solutions for displaced populations. The Humanitarian and Disarmament activities started in 2006.

Danish Refugee Council main programme objectives (2019-2021) in South Sudan are:

1. To save lives and alleviate suffering among displaced people and their hosts
2. To reduce displacement related risks and support and facilitate solutions
3. To promote peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies and address root causes to displacement

DRC primarily operates across Upper Nile and Unity states and other parts of the country, both of which are heavily affected by conflict and experience high numbers of internally displaced populations as well as refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC has operational bases in Maban, Malakal, Kodok and Aburoc in Upper Nile, in Bentiu, Mayom, Kodok, Central Equatoria (Magwi and Ngulere), Ajuong Thok in Unity state, and the Mobile Response Team and all are supported by a country-office in Juba.

DRC recently developed important multi-sectorial mobile response teams based in Juba able to rapidly respond to new and urgent humanitarian situations countrywide at short notice to conduct assessments and responses

Overall purpose of the role:

DRC South Sudan is looking for Economic Recovery Coordinator that will support DRC’s work in building resilience and self-reliance for conflict, climate and displacement affection populations within areas of operation in South Sudan. The Economic Recovery Coordinator will have overall responsibility for the development and coordination of DRC’s Economic Recovery sector interventions in South Sudan, primarily in Food Security, Livelihood opportunities, Resilience, and Decent Livelihoods. This position will take the lead in both the overall strategic direction of the Economic Recovery portfolio and will provide technical support to DRC Area Managers and field teams in design and delivery of effective and high quality Economic Recovery programming. The role will also require strong coordination; both internally with other technical coordinators to develop integrated programming modalities that support area-based programming and externally with FSL cluster, working groups, partners and donors.

The Economic Recovery Coordinator reports to the Head of Programmes, and works in close collaboration with other technical coordinators including Protection, CCCM, Durable Solutions and Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding. This position is based in Juba with frequent travel to field locations.

Responsibilities

To achieve the objectives of the position, the Economic Recovery Coordinator will perform the following tasks and undertake the following responsibilities;

Strategic programme development:

• Lead in the development and launch of a new country Economic Recovery strategy and programme guidance, including immediate, medium and long-term deliverables.
• Work closely with Head of Programmes, Area Managers and Livelihoods PMs/Officers in each field location to develop resilience strategies.
• Design new tools and innovative approaches where requested, based on needs identified in the field and compile lessons learned from existing approaches to promote best practices across sites.
• Ensure high quality and timely resilience, market, food security, and livelihood assessments and provide recommendations for programme interventions to the Country programme.
• Design effective response programmes in food security and livelihoods, with an emphasis on cross-sectoral program responses and strategy, in collaboration with country and Area teams.
• Select and implement appropriate monitoring systems; ensure consistent reporting and analysis of results to enhance program effectiveness and quality in collaboration with the country Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) personnel
• Identify axes of improvement on the quality and impact of DRC Economic Recovery programming in South Sudan and develop innovative approaches.
• Identify opportunities and facilitate strategic assessments in the field in coordination with the Head of Programme, MEAL Manager and Sector Managers in the field. Participate in assessments when required.
• Contribute to Economic Recovery proposal and budget development in consultation with DRC Grant Management team and Sector Managers; support the grants and finance teams to finalise proposals and response to any donor request for addition information.
• Ensure conflict-sensitivity and protection principles are mainstreamed throughout the Economic Recovery programme strategy and implementation, including land dispute issues, safety and dignity, and gender dynamics.

External relations:

• Represent DRC in the national FS/Livelihoods cluster, key sector forums and other relevant working groups.
• Present DRC Economic Recovery strategy, innovative approaches, assessment outcomes, or/and key achievement in donor meeting or/and in National and State Cluster meetings where relevant.
• Stay up to date with donor strategies and practices within South Sudan and provide technical backstopping to the Head of Programme in donor relations.
• Build and maintain key partnerships as required with donors, organisations and other stakeholders.
• Identify Economic Recovery funding opportunities for DRC in collaboration with Head of Programmes and Grants team
• Collaborate regularly with DRC Regional and Global Economic Recovery technical advisers.

Staff capacity building:

· Provide mentoring, capacity building and training of livelihood managers and officers based on technical needs identified amongst the staff.

• Identify axes of improvement and potential gaps in technical capacity of DRC staff.
• Prepare a training plan to build the capacity of DRC Economic Recovery staff, in coordination with DRC Area Managers.
• Ensure roll out of the agreed training plan in all sites including preparation of materials and training reports and follow up to the trainings.
• Build DRC staff capacity in the utilization of new and innovative economic recovery methodologies and resources, in collaboration with Regional and Global technical advisors.
• Provide induction to new staff of DRC’s Economic Recovery sector and the existing DRC South Sudan Economic Recovery portfolio.

Technical advice:

• Provide technical support on cash or voucher programming design and implementation, market strengthening, and internal collaboration among operational and programmatic stakeholders involved in cash/voucher programming to the country programme.
• Facilitate and/or participate in relevant meetings, workshops, seminars and trainings; support technical coordinators from other sectors to apply a resilience, livelihoods and market-sensitive lens to cross-sectoral assessments and program design
• Provide technical support and advice to FS/Livelihoods Managers and FS/Livelihoods staff on implementation of economic recovery activities.
• Promote a participatory approach (engagement of affected population) and sustainable approach to economic recovery in the DRC programme.

Coordination and Information sharing

• Strengthen economic recovery programmatic synergies between DRC different implementation areas and between DRC’s different projects and donors.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between DRC FS/Livelihoods staff based in different locations via information sharing, skype group, workshops and trainings. Ensure a strong information flow to and from field sites, including updates to and from the FS/Livelihoods Cluster.
• Ensure that DRC Economic Recovery programme meets overall programme quality and learning standards, ensuring support to Livelihoods staff with guidelines on quality, impact and accountability.
• Support coordination between the Economic Recovery field teams & DRC regional and global resources to ensure that DRC is implementing high quality programming in accordance with DRC regional and global standards as well as international standards and best practices.
• Ensure link and integration of livelihoods activities with other DRC sectors (CCCM, Protection/SGBV, NFI/Shelter, WASH and Durable Solutions, Mine Action and AVR). Support sector managers on donor reports preparation and review for projects – review performance/progress assessments against pre-defined project objectives, outputs, activities and indicators.

About You

Experience and technical competencies

The desired candidate is expected to have senior level management experience and a demonstrable successful track record of strategic programme development, capacity building and effective programme implementation and monitoring. s/he must also be able to conceptualize and articulate DRC vision and have the strong oral and written communication skill required to translate the vision into tangible action. The incumbent is expected to have extensive donor, government and partner engagement experiences.

Experience and understanding of refugee and displacement issues is an advantage and ideally the candidate will have a good understanding of the region and/or from other similar protection situations

Technical competencies

• A degree in agriculture, agribusiness, social sciences, international development or equivalent degree qualifications (Masters level preferred);
• At least 5 years’ experience in food security, economic recovery in fragile states, and conflict environments essential
• University degree, in resilience/international development, food security, agriculture, nutrition or related field
• Excellent understanding of resilience, food security and livelihoods technical concepts and experience conducting detailed market, food security and livelihood needs assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to work across functions and sectors to design and implement high-quality market-based programming, and in-depth knowledge of supply chain and financial management and controls of cash and/or voucher programs.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical expertise and standards and implement best practice approaches to implementing rapid, consistent, high quality emergency projects as well as protracted displacement situations.
• Experience managing donor funded programs and grants; including staff management, budget oversight, monitoring and evaluation systems, and technical input to proposal-budget development and donor reports.
• Fluent and articulate in spoken and written English.
• Experience working in security-sensitive environments
• Understanding of Self Reliance is essential

Personal competencies

• Excellent internal and external communication and coordination capabilities and excellent team building and management skills.
• Continuous Learning; a colleague who promotes continuous learning for self and others.
• Creativity and Initiative; someone that actively seeks new ways of improving programmes, services and partnership.
• Performance Management; a person who identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision.

Commitments

DRC adheres to the Core Humanitarian Standards. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of these standards.

Key Stakeholders

• FS/Livelihoods staff in the field
• Area Manager/ Head of Programme
• Cluster coordination bodies**
• Key donors

Desirable qualifications

• An understanding of the South Sudan context.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision;
• Experience working in security-sensitive environments and enforcement of team security protocols is an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the Regional team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverable.
• Collaborating: You lead regional initiatives and processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.

Conditions

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at Employment Band – G1 (Non-Management).