Trócaire Regional Humanitarian Coordinator Horn and East Africa Job Vacancy

Description of the unit / department:

Trócaire works in partnership with local organisations to overcome poverty and promote justice in developing countries. The Horn & East Africa Regional Office (HEARO) in Nairobi is responsible for the management and implementation of Trócaire’s development and humanitarian programme work in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda.

Background to the Role:

Given the frequency of natural disasters and conflict in the Horn & East Africa, the humanitarian response programme is the largest programme in the region and continues to grow.

This role plans and coordinates all of Trócaire’s humanitarian interventions, provides technical advice to programme staff and partners on proposed humanitarian interventions, and consolidates the trainings conducted in recent years with partners on Sphere, Good Enough Guide and LEGS

Reporting to: Regional Manger

Managing: One Humanitarian Project Officer, One Programme Assistant and providing technical support to two humanitarian programme officers

Contract Type: Temporary

Contract Duration: 2 years

Grade and Scale: Overseas Programme Officer

Location of Position: Nairobi, Kenya, Trócaire Horn & East Africa Regional Office with frequent regional and international travel

Scope of the Role: In close collaboration with Trócaire staff and partners, the post holder will manage and technically advise on humanitarian programme work and projects in the region.

The post holder will formulate contextually sound humanitarian management guidelines to include prevention, mitigation and response; plan and conduct assessments of potential emergencies; evaluate emergency response; build local emergency response capacity; ensure surveillance systems enable early identification of potential emergencies; provide the lead for early emergency response and : lead on fundraising and donor liaison for humanitarian interventions

Key Duties & Responsibilities Programmes

• Assess and manage humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes and projects in the region, including review of proposals from partners, monitoring visits, review of partner reports, provision of support to partners;
• Assess current and potential local capacity in region, and the capacity of partners, to appropriately respond (pro-actively) to (emerging) humanitarian situations;
• Provide technical leadership and support for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency programmes leading to the development of a DRR approach;
• Support country programmes in the region and provide appropriate support, advice and direction in approaches and technical areas of emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation programming to the Programme Officers and LNGO’s in the Horn & East Africa;
• Ensure that partners are familiar and compliant with donor regulations in the areas of procurement and budget expenditure, and that legal requirements are fulfilled;
• Provide or facilitate appropriate training for LNGO staff in the design and management of high quality programmes in emergency response and DRR;
• Develop and implement a concept for dissemination of International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct and basic humanitarian principles amongst partners;
• Submit periodic reports and programme reviews detailing the impact of programmes and lessons learned;
• Assist the PO’s in monitoring and analysis of disasters in the region, including the political dimension, in order to enhance both response and advocacy;
• Provide regular information/situation updates to HEARO and Maynooth/Belfast.

Monitoring

• Systematically reflects on Humanitarian programme experience, research, and overall trends in order to feed into the regional programme;
• Facilitate project reviews and evaluations as required and ensure their documentation and dissemination;
• Ensure monitoring visits to partners are continuous and constant. Report written on each visit;
• Ensure appropriate responses are made to emerging trends in region, including discussion with partners on strategies and programme modification if required.

Networking

• Strengthen and build on existing relationships with Humanitarian networks and key stakeholders at different levels including like-minded agencies such as CAFOD, CIDSE / Caritas partners, etc.
• Identify new initiatives/partners, where Trócaire might wish to have a greater focus in the future;
• Maintain relationships with donor agencies, Church partners and other groups working on humanitarian programmes, so as to keep informed of main developments;
• Where necessary, liaise with local government officials and ensure that partners keep local authorities informed of Trócaire-supported programmes;
• Accompany visitors (Trócaire or external) to the programme and carry out promotional or media work as required.

Finance

• Monitor programme budget and expenditure to ensure efficient and effective use of Trócaire and donor funds and resources;
• Enhance the financial capacity of local partner organisations
• Seek appropriate co-financing opportunities;
• Report to donors on progress and variations on budget expenditures.

Reporting

• Oversee preparation of quality reporting for Trócaire and donors;
• Keep HEARO staff regularly informed of progress, impact of programme and any problems encountered.

Representation

• Participate in appropriate networks to ensure Trócaire is properly represented with regard to humanitarian intervention, including relevant UN cluster meetings;
• Work with the media to ensure that Trócaire’s humanitarian work is profiled nationally and internationally.

Other

• Undertake other agreed tasks, related to Trócaire’s overall HEARO programme and the restructuring within Trócaire, at the request of the Regional Manager.

Person Specification – Essential (E)

Qualification:

• Graduate level education in development studies or a relevant subject at Masters Level.

Experience:

• At least 4 years’ experience in working in Humanitarian crisis.
• Knowledge and experience of managing or working on emergency response, recovery and sustainable livelihoods programmes.
• Knowledge of the key issues and trends in the development sector as a whole but especially on humanitarian issues.

Skills:

• Ability to manage and build capacity of partner organisations.
• Good understanding and experience of project/programme management cycle, and participatory appraisal techniques
• Good understanding of financial management systems and budget monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to train others
• Demonstrated capacity for analysis and writing.
• Good written and oral communications, interpersonal and team work skills

Qualities

• Sympathy with and understanding of the Catholic Church’s role in relief and development

Other:

• Availability to work outside normal hours and travel extensively within the region and outside when necessary

How to apply

To apply please send your CV and cover letter to Jason Rice, HR Officer, Trocaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare or email jobs@trocaire.ie

Closing date: 23 Mar 2011

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