Project Manager Response Prepardness Ivory Coast At Netherlands Red Cross

We help to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience by responding to disasters and crises and by supporting community and institutional risk reduction and preparedness. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion.

Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The Netherlands Red Cross seeks a Project Manager to provide technical and project management support for its response preparedness project in Ivory Coast with the Croix-Rouge Côte d’Ivoire (CRCI).

Position title: Project Management Delegate – Response Preparedness

Duty station: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Time period: 12 months with possibility of extension

Starting Date: June 2023

Status: Family posting

Rationale

Netherlands Red Cross Response Preparedness Program

The first phase of the Response Preparedness program has been implemented in Ivory Coast in 2022 with the orientation and Croix-Rouge Cote d’Ivoire’s (CRCI) response preparedness capacity assessment. After these first-year activities, a comprehensive proposal has been developed for the coming three years: 2023 to 2025.

The RP approach is quite new for the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire. The program will focus on strengthening their national response capacity and linking it to regional and global capacity of the RCRC Movement.

The RP will cover the gaps in the core activities that lie at the heart of disaster preparedness of CRCI, but also aims to address capacities that strengthen and facilitate these. In addition, the RP project will be contributing to global Red Cross and Red Crescent tools and guidelines on response preparedness through the IFRC Secretariat and the RCCCC.

Purpose of the position

The Response Preparedness Project Management Delegate is responsible for providing technical and programmatic support to CRCI in design, planning and monitoring. The Project Delegate is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient implementation, as well as strong narrative and financial reporting. The Project Delegate will work in collaboration with the local RP3 project staff from the CRCI, other staff members from the CRCI, the movement partners and authorities to assure high-quality interventions in response preparedness and disaster management.

Position in the organization

• The Project Delegate is based in Abidjan and reports to the NLRC Country Representative in Abidjan.
• You may also be expected to travel to different regions where RP3 will be implemented if needed;
• There is a direct working link (functional) with the following national staff: Program Coordinator, Disaster Manager, Operations Manager, Finance, Logistics, PMEAL, Communication, CEA;
• For all project related obligations and information, there is a functional link with the NLRC RP Program Manager and Desk colleagues from the NLRC Headquarter: (Partnership & Portfolio Coordinator, Portfolio Officer, Financial Controller, Project Administrator, Roving Finance Delegate, Desk Assistant, Logistics Officer, Technical advisors and PMEAL advisors).

Summary of responsibilities

Project Management & Implementation

• Work closely with the CRCI to strengthen its disaster preparedness and response management and improve its planning processes.
• Based on the IC context, ensure the timely revision of the RP project Plan of Action and budget.
• Ensure that the goals, objectives, and work plan are met in collaboration with the Country Representative, the Desk and relevant Advisors.
• Strengthen the CRCI Disaster Management unit by providing guidance on operational structure and members’ roles and responsibilities.
• Responsible for overall project management, in close collaboration with the Country Representative in IC, and working with the Technical advisors, PMEAL, Finance, Logistics and the Desk at HQ.
• Ensure effective working relationships with the project partly dedicated staff and provide appropriate mentorship, capacity building and technical support to CRCI staff, local branches and volunteers.
• Provide support to the CRCI staff in ensuring that cross-cutting themes (e.g. PGI, CEA, Green Response) are considered in interventions at all levels, especially in project design, work plans, and trainings.
• Monitor the project implementation with the support from the PMEAL/Technical advisors and ensure that the interventions under the project adhere to the quality standards and are done in a timely manner according to the established timeline.
• Assist the CRCI in producing regular, accurate and timely financial and narrative reports for the Netherlands Red Cross RP3 Program Manager, Finance team and the donor through mentoring and training in project and financial management as well as reporting.
• Ensure that the donor’s rules and requirements are followed throughout the entire project cycle.

Financial, Logistics and Administration Management

• Responsible for budget management (as NLRC budget-holder), undertaking midterm and end of project evaluations, preparing the procurement list, monitoring of expenditure, checking and validating vouchers, coding vouchers, compiling budgets, budget revisions and amendments and seeking formal approval from NLRC HQ.

Partnership, Coordination and Communication

• Support the cooperation of the CRCI with the local services, authorities, technical partners, as well as international organizations and other RC/RC Movement partners as described in the project proposal.
• Promote humanitarian principles and key cross-cutting issues such as PGI, CEA, Green Response and DRR.
• Represent NLRC in the relevant coordination mechanisms/clusters when applicable.
• Develop and maintain a strong working relationship and coordination with the Regional Technical Services, relevant international and local NGOs/agencies and relevant linking with the other projects and initiatives in the region.
• Present and communicate on a regular basis and in all transparency the results, difficulties and development of the project to the hierarchy, the HQ and other partners.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in development studies, (social) geography, political science, international relations, disaster management or equivalent
• A minimum of three to five years of experience of working for a humanitarian aid organization in developing countries (preferably in Disaster Management programming), with practical experience and understanding of the relevant technical competencies required
• A minimum of three to five years of field experience internationally in managing response preparedness projects and operations in emergency settings
• Experience working and living in another context than your domicile for at least a year
• Demonstrated experience in project/program management, design, (financial) reporting, monitoring and evaluation of multi-sectoral programs
• Strong knowledge of finance, logistics, administration, and cost control procedures
• Experience in team management
• Experience in dealing with and bringing together various stakeholders for the purpose of effective project implementation
• Able to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in different cultural and organizational settings
• Experience working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent is an asset
• Experience in and/or extensive knowledge on performing Emergency Needs Assessments (ENA), data collection and – analysis, IFRC evaluation tools, IFRC PER approach, CEA, simulations, contingency planning, logistics in emergencies and other core RP activities
• Computer literate (MS Office, spreadsheets, Outlook)
• Proven experience in security management and context analysis
• Fluency in French and English, written and spoken required
• (International) driving license

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is highly motivated to work in a challenging emergency context with attention for sustainability through capacity building of CRCI. Ideally you bring the following qualities:

• High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct
• Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and coaching skills
• Natural team-player, with demonstrated ability to train, inspire and support the team
• Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions
• Self-motivated and proactive, with good judgment and initiative
• Able to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Good cultural and organizational sensitivity
• Respectful and patient attitude

We offer

• A full time appointment on a family posting (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with the possibility of extension.
• A flexible and human centered working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.