We are looking for an experienced country representative who can represent NLRC in further developing and maintaining the relationship with Sudan Red Crescent and all other (Red Cross Red Crescent movement) stakeholders in Sudan, including IFRC and ICRC. This will need to be done in a complex and challenging context of Sudan, where a conflict broke out since April 2023 and where currently only limited access is possible. As a result the NLRC delegation is currently temporarily working remotely from Nairobi, Kenya, like other SRCS partners. As soon as the situation allows, our delegation is expected to be stationed in Sudan again.

Position title: Country Representative Sudan

Duty station: Khartoum or Port Sudan, Sudan, with temporary placement in Nairobi, Kenya (please note that this is an international mobile staff position)

Time period: 1 year with possible extension

Starting Date: preferably per February 1st 2024

Status: Single posting

Purpose of the position

We are looking for an experienced country representative who can represent NLRC in further developing and maintaining the relationship with SRCS and all other (Movement) Stakeholders in Sudan, including IFRC and ICRC. We expect the Country Representative to take the lead in rolling out and further develop NLRCs’ Sudan strategy aligned to SRCS’s strategy and to take the lead in safeguarding the quality of the portfolio implementation and development. Besides, the Country Representative is overall responsible for the NLRC delegation in Sudan (or temporarily in Nairobi), including security, financial and HR management of a team of 2-4 international staff and 3 national staff. All of the above has to be done in a complex and challenging context of Sudan, where a conflict broke out since April 2023 and where currently only limited access is possible. As a result the NLRC delegation is currently temporarily working remotely from Nairobi, Kenya, like other SRCS partners. As soon as the situation allows, our delegation is expected to be stationed in Sudan again.

Background

Sudan is one of the 12 bilateral partnership countries of the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) and since 1984 NLRC and the Sudan Red Crescent (SRCS) have been successfully cooperating on several humanitarian actions and initiatives in support of the most vulnerable in Sudan. To further strengthen and build on this existing partnership for the longer-term and with renewed perspectives, the NLRC is engaging the SRCS in a Programmatic Partnership. Via its strategic objective of Community Resilience, NLRC is offering three areas of Expertise: Water (Water management and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene); Data and Digitalization and Financial Sustainability. Since resilience means the ability of communities to recover from disasters, NLRC is also focusing on several phases of the disaster cycle, in particular Disaster Preparedness and Response through Early Warning and Anticipatory Action. NLRC strives to always include cross cutting elements in its projects, like Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA).

Currently NLRC is supporting (conflict response and WASH) projects in Gedaref and a(Chronic Crisis) project in Kassala and further developing: Localization programme; a four-year EU project focusing on Food Security and Natural Resources Management and a partnership with ICRC on the ‘Water at the Heart of Climate Action’ project in 2023/2024.

The Sudan Red Crescent is currently adjusting its working modalities to the volatile context of Sudan, by establishing 5 regional hubs to support all 18 branches in Sudan. Due to the conflict, the NLRC delegation is currently working remotely from Nairobi, Kenya, with sporadic travels to Port Sudan. With the rolling out of the Regional Hubs by SRCS throughout Sudan and with the establishment of a permanent SRCS HQ in Port Sudan, and under the condition of security clearance by ICRC and NLRC, we expect that the NLRC delegation can return and work from Sudan in the course of 2024.

Position in the organization

In this position you report to the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator (PPC) (desk manager) based in The Hague. The international staff in the delegation report directly to the Country Representative. The national staff in the delegation report directly to the Sudan Red Crescent but have a direct technical line to the Country Representative.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Main responsibilities of the Country Representative include the following:

Strengthen and maintaining our long term partnership with SRCS

• Develop and implement the NLRC long term strategy and vision for Sudan, including implementation of the Country Operational Plan (COP) 2024.
• Special attention should be given to supporting SRCS in implementing the Business Continuity Plan and setting up the Regional Hubs in among other Gedaref.
• Keep a communication line with SRCS and support day to day project management processes that require SRCS engagement or action.
• Follow up the security and socio-political dynamics in the country

Maintain and further develop relationships with Red Cross Partners, Donors and other Stakeholders

• Lead/participate/co-chair RCRC Movement working groups, coordination meetings, etc. related to Sudan in coordination with other PNS, IFRC and ICRC. We are facilitators in the WASH, NSD and IM working groups.
• Maintain strategic discussion with other partners engaged in Sudan.

Support NLRC delegation and current project portfolio

• Support closure of pending projects, including any audits
• Overall responsible for the implementation of current portfolio, including project budget management
• Be the Security Focal point for our NLRC delegation and NLRC visitors and regularly update the Country Security Plan.
• Support the finance, HR and admin procedures needed to set up the delegation in Nairobi (Kenya) and Port Sudan/ Khartoum (Sudan) when we get clearance from ICRC.

Maintain and develop the portfolio of NLRC in Sudan via significant Resource Mobilization activities.

• Support the adaptation of Water at Heart in Sudan.
• Be focal person for institutional donors, like EUD and Netherlands Embassy.

Requirements/Qualifications

• At least 8-10 years’ experience in the development and/or humanitarian field, preferably in similar positions.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a management role.
• Experience in the area of capacity building and development of non-governmental organizations, preferably of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• Work experience in a management role in another context/country than the country of your domicile is a must
• Experience in program management , including program identification, formulation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, preferably within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
• Working experience in the region is preferred, as knowledge on the political, economic and socio-cultural climate of Sudan
• Able to adhere to policy and procedures of the NLRC whilst effectively managing programs and people
• Demonstrated experience in security management
• Fluent in spoken and written English, Arabic is a pre
• Excellent narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing skills
• Practical knowledge of computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Winpaccs, Document Management programs)

Your talents

• Able to make sound judgements and decisions
• Good social/diplomatic skills and culturally sensitive, flexible and creative
• Excellent strategic leadership and management
• Able to work independently, as well in a team
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Pro-active

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with a possible extension
• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.
• Please note that this is an International mobile staff position. This means that you will need to be eligible to be dispatched to Sudan (and temporarily Kenya)