Title: MYANMAR – DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS (M/F) – YANGON
Job Description:
The main challenges:
Access challenges and remote management: due to bureaucratic and administrative impediments, access to the country and, within the country, access to the areas of intervention remains a constant challenge to adapt to with impacts on completion of activities, budget consumption etc. While the most critical barrier is access to the field, the current situation prevents SI to secure visas in a short-term perspective. As such, the position will initially be held remotely, with short-term visits in the country.
Principled positioning: Myanmar is marked by constant challenges on principled humanitarian response due to instrumentalization of aid, frequent access disruptions and intense pressure on NGOs’ operations from authorities and other stakeholders.
Roll-out of new (Protection Mainstreaming, Climate Change Adaptation, Environment and Natural Resources Management) and revised (Accountability to Affected Population, Monitoring, Project Cycle Management) frameworks of Solidarites International. Adaptation of such frameworks and associated roll-out plans to the remote management system of the mission.
Scope of programming: with activities ranging from pure emergency response through partners to development activities implemented by SI, the scope of programming of SI Myanmar covers a wide spectrum, although focusing primarily on WASH, FSL and shelter & NFI. Number and diversity of consortia established and envisioned at country level (both national and international partners) are requesting SI teams to improve its command and collaboration with Health, Nutrition and Protection responses.
Partnership approach: a strong focus is put on localization in all areas of intervention. This requires adaptation to new operational modalities and a strong support to local partners.
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
Close monitoring of program implementation, adaptation to remote settings: in a volatile environment plagued by bureaucratic and administrative impediments, and with a recently increased budget for the mission, a close monitoring of projects’ progress and budget consumption is required to adapt quickly to the situation, in line with donors’ contractual requirements, programming strategy etc.
Structure and manage the program department: with 3 Program Coordinators (WASH, FSL, and MEAL) and 2 technical Advisers (Shelter and Protection/Gender Mainstreaming) under line management but also multiple PMs across bases and a potential turnover in the coming months, the DCD will need to provide strong leadership to the program department. Specific attention should also be paid to the nationalization of management position at base level that has recently been taken place. The DCD will support the technical coordinators/advisers/managers in building capacities of the national staff.
Prepare the definition and adaptation of programming strategies at base level: with the 3 field coordinators, adapt the needs assessment and updated access capacities to review programming priorities (geographical areas, sectors, modalities).
Localization process: localization is a strong trend in Myanmar context, due to multiple reasons. Support should be provided to the coordination and bases’ teams to ensure identification of relevant partners and update a localization and partnership approach on the mission.
Desired start date: June 20th, 2024
Duration of the mission: 12 months
Location: Yangon/Bangkok
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
About the mission
SI has been in Myanmar since 2008, first responding to the devastating Nargis Cyclone. In 2011 and 2012, SI expanded to new regions focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH.
SI is currently mainly operating in Rakhine and in Kachin States with outreach emergency capacities through its local partners in Chin, Sagaing and Magway States. The operations are supported by the Coordination team based in Yangon.
While continuing to support the vulnerable communities suffering from a long-term protracted crisis, SI is also developing a stronger and more responsive Emergency component, either directly or through local partners, to tackle the growing needs spreading across the country.
In 2023, 16 international staff and more than 330 national staff are working with SI Myanmar to implement projects focusing on WASH, FSL and Emergency response. Projects range from immediate life-saving response (Water Scarcity in Rakhine, Emergency response to new displacements etc.) to the search for more sustainable solutions to protracted crisis (handover to communities and local organizations, capacity-building, community empowerment etc.) Projects are currently funded by FCDO, ECHO, CIAA, CDCS and UN agencies with potential for development in terms of geographical coverage and activities’ scope to address the emerging needs.
SI has 3 operational bases (with 3 Field Coordinators):
– In Rakhine State – Sittwe regional base with two areas of intervention in Pauktaw, and Sittwe Townships. Sittwe regional base is composed of 245 national staff and 4 expatriates.
– In Kachin State – Bhamo regional base for Southern Kachin. Bhamo regional base is composed of 52 national staff and 1 expatriate.
– In Yangon, a base dedicated to operations in the northwestern part of the country supporting national responders, with 7 national staff and 2 expatriates.
In 2023, the mission budget reached 9 million euros. The main financial partners of the mission are ECHO, FCDO, CIAA, CDCS, AFD and UN agencies.
In close collaboration with the Country Director (CD), the DCD-Programs’ prime objectives are to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming, overseeing the strengthening of SI’s programs development, quality and accountability. The DCD-Programs ensures the internal coherence between program activities and is responsible for ensuring that programs are driven by needs, based on evidence, adaptable to contextual changes and conflict sensitive, monitored closely and resourced appropriately. The DCD-Programs leads the roll-out of institutional workstreams and cross-cutting theme framework with the support of the Programs coordination team and in collaboration with the Field Coordinators.
He/she is in charge of:
Collaborate with the CD to develop, implement and assess the country and program strategies.
Support fundraising efforts, specifically considering donors and partners relationships management and representation.
Oversee Strategic Programme Development and Monitoring by providing cohesive leadership to SI programming, ensuring management of the Program Coordination team (6 persons) and timely communication on program issues to the CD and HQ
Provide guidance for the Quality Management of the programs by ensuring quality criteria and indicators are monitored and lead to decision making.
Collaborate with the Grants and Partnerships department to ensure new business development and programs implementation are matching donors’ requirements.
Ensure the programmatic positioning and framing for new potential proposals (with the support of the Programs Unit and in collaboration with the concerned Field Coordinators).
Ensure that procedures, guidelines and tools are updated and implemented in accordance with HQ recommendations.
Support on lessons learning and using the findings to guide future strategic direction, at country (with the CD) and base/regional (with the 3 Field Coordinators) levels.
Being proactive in proposing new activities based on the context evolution.
Education / academic background:
Master’s degree in a related field (Humanitarian Assistance and Programming; International Studies; One of the technical sectors of Solidarites International).
Specific skills and experience:
More than 5 years in the humanitarian sector
3-4 years of experience on a similar position
Substantial experience in a senior management position in an overseas NGO environment, ideally in both emergency and developmental contexts.
Previous experience in Programmatic strategy development.
Experience of program implementation in different fields: WASH, food security – livelihood and DRR with a strong community mobilization and localization focus.
Experience in leading program development across multiple bases with multiple donors, preferably with knowledge of using contextual understanding and evidence to strategically guide the mission’s development with regards to programs.
Experience of managing large teams and local partners in multiple locations with various challenges.
Experience of budget management and flexible programming.
Experience in Donor relations. Strong representation / public relation skills.
Extensive knowledge about project cycle management and monitoring tools (good understanding of MEAL systems expected).
Previous experience in South-East Asia (recommended).
Ability to take decisions and work in autonomy is essential.
The candidate must display diplomatic and smooth leadership skills.
An understanding of and commitment to SI’s mission and values.
Prioritization and self-organization.
A flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks with tight deadlines.
Experience in remote management.
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures.
A good understanding of cross-cutting issues, such as environment & climate change adaptations, gender, protection mainstreaming etc.
Rigor and diplomacy.
Language:
English (fluent – mandatory)
Burmese and French are added assets.