Regional Director, Sahel (m/f/x) At Doctors of the World – Belgium

WHO ARE WE ?

Médecins du Monde is an international medical development NGO that is part of an international network. We provide medical assistance to vulnerable groups, in Belgium and around the world. We want universal health coverage where everyone has access to care, without obstacles.

In Belgium and around the world, our projects are aimed at all people who do not have or no longer have access to health care. In particular, they are structured around five axes: people on the margins of society, children in vulnerable situations, women, migrants or displaced persons and victims of crises or conflicts.

To carry out our mission, we rely on three pillars:

• Care : provide real access to care for populations.
• Change : more than helping, we want to change things in the long term.
• Bearing witness : we do not remain silent. Thanks to our experience and our presence on the ground, we challenge the authorities (local, regional and (inter)national) with facts, figures and realities.

Our projects follow a series of values ​​common to our entire organization: Social Justice, Empowerment, Independence, Commitment, Balance.

CONTEXT

Médecins du Monde Belgium is implementing its decentralization plan in the Sahel region following a localization objective . The position of Regional Director Sahel is newly created in the organization and is part of a new set up currently being structured. Under the responsibility of the Director of International Operations based in Brussels, the Regional Director Sahel contributes to the implementation of the mandate and strategy of Médecins du Monde Belgium in the region. She/He ensures the optimization of the quality and impact of the program activities with appropriate control mechanisms. She/He shares with the members of the regional coordination the responsibility for sound management and proper functioning of the overall organization.

THE ESSENTIAL

Under the supervision of the Director of International Operations, you are responsible for developing and operationalizing a strategy in the Sahel region in full alignment with the vision of Médecins du Monde Belgium.

The role will involve supervising a team of approximately 10-15 employees (indicative range) in the field, as well as one employee at headquarters.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Regional Program Development

• Responsible for designing the region’s programmatic strategy in close collaboration with the regional coordination team, MdM-BE teams and partners from the countries concerned in the region, and the International Operations Directorate based in Brussels.
• Ensures the alignment of the regional strategy with the MdM-BE strategy and ensures that the regional strategy meets the development needs of MdM-BE operations and its partners in the countries of the region.
• Responsible for implementing MdM-BE’s operational strategy, following its localization approach and its theories of change by “flagship theme” both at the regional level and in each of the countries concerned (in collaboration with the country representatives).
• In its geographical area, actively monitors and analyses the evolution of the political, security, economic and health context in order to identify the risks and opportunities for the development of MdM-BE programs.
• Responsible for fundraising and planning the proper use of resources.
• Ensures that the partnership and fundraising strategy is aligned with MdM-BE’s ethical principles and the NGO’s socio-economic development plan.
• Develops regular contacts with donors and other key institutional, academic and civil society actors at the regional level and in the countries of the region.
• Ensures the establishment and execution of collaboration agreements between institutional partners, civil society, local authorities and donors in the region, in collaboration with country representatives.
• Responsible for implementing the MdM-BE decentralization plan in the region.

Regional Program Steering

• Ensures the development and execution of annual action plans in the region, as well as their monitoring in all countries of its portfolio, and their adequacy with the global strategy of MdM-BE.
• Ensures the development and monitoring of the annual budget of the regional program.
• Ensures the proper implementation of programs and projects, ensuring synergy within and between MdM-BE operational partners in the region.
• Ensures the implementation of a monitoring system for the quality and impact of MdM-BE operations in the countries of the region (meal).
• Plans and ensures the overall monitoring and evaluation of operations in the region and the implementation of corrective actions if necessary.
• Ensures that expenditures are made within approved budgets, compliance with purchasing procedures, and guarantees optimal financial coverage of the regional program.
• Supervises the implementation of action plans for technical, support and operations departments in the countries of the region in collaboration with his regional technical team.
• Ensures optimal allocation of resources to meet the ambitions of the programme and plans budget management accordingly.
• Coordinates all actions with the International Operations Department and representatives of MdM-BE and partners from each country concerned by the NGO’s programs.

Representation & Advocacy

• In his/her region, the Regional Director is the legal representative of the organization, consequently he/she promotes a high-level reputation and a positive image of MdM-BE.
• Develops MdM-BE’s reputation and ability to influence in the region (via the construction of bilateral and multilateral alliances, facilitation and participation in high-level events, etc.).
• Publicly carries the organization’s struggles and advocacy messages in the region.
• Develops regional advocacy and communication strategies as well as those of the countries concerned by MdM-BE operations in the region, in accordance with the theories of change and the positions of the NGO, always in coordination with the teams and partners of MdM-BE in the region and with the International Operations Department of MdM-BE.

Team management:

• Ensures the management and leadership of his team’s staff (setting and monitoring objectives, leave management, recruitment, security, skills management & development).
• Supports and coaches members of the regional team.
• Ensures the arbitration of the measures to be taken in the event of malfunctions and/or incidents.
• Establishes the conditions for a secure, dynamic, stimulating and motivating professional environment.
• Guarantees compliance with the national and institutional legal framework of MdM (e.g.: code of conduct, PPE, PSEA, Integrity, etc.)

Security & Crisis Management

• Responsible for security management: in conjunction with the international Humanitarian Access and Security representative (Network security advisor) and the International Operations Department based in Brussels.
• Develops a culture of safety and security at the regional level.
• Ensures that safety documents are up to date and that all necessary measures are in place.
• Ensures incident management and reporting in accordance with MdM-BE frameworks.
• Ensures the deployment of global frameworks, institutional policies and standards of MdM-BE and the compliance of all its countries with these elements.

These responsibilities will be implemented in a specific and transversal manner on the basis of the annual individual action plan (including the identification of projects), established in collaboration between the manager and the holder of the position in question.

Activities may need to change depending on the context.

YOUR PROFILE

Selection criteria:

• At least 7 years’ experience in a complex program management and management position, including at least 3 years within an international humanitarian and/or development NGO, preferably in the Sahel.
• At least 2 years of experience in a country/mission management/coordination position.

Essential criteria:

• Mastery of the Sahelian context and security and political issues
• Strong leadership and team management and animation skills
• Mastery of financial management at the strategic level (planning and budgetary management)
• Mastery of the region’s main donors in terms of access to health rights and protection for people in vulnerable situations.
• Experience in developing a strong network of financial, institutional and operational partners in the region
• Significant experience in building partnerships and managing consortia.
• Mastery of the project cycle and the theory of change.
• Excellent command of French and English (oral and written).

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in managing missions in fragile situations, and in closing/opening a base/mission
• Experience in implementing programs using an intersectional and feminist approach.
• Experience in localization processes (“locally lead programs”) is an asset.

WE OFFER

• A field mission at the heart of the activities of Médecins du Monde Belgium.
• Expatriate contract (single posting or couple) for a fixed term (CDD) of 12 months, renewable ;
• Salary conditions:
  • Expatriate status, gross monthly salary of €4,696 for 5 years of experience; €4,936 for 10 years of experience; per diem of €643 per month.
  • Depending on your tax residence, a withholding tax may be deducted.
  • National status , local law fixed-term contract, salary conditions according to the salary scale and conditions offered locally.
• Start date: 04/01/2025
• Mission location: Mali or Niger with travel to Burkina Faso and Benin
• Accommodation: Supported by MdM-BE for international staff only.