Overall objective
The Country Director (CD) for Mali - Burkina Faso is responsible for managing all activities within the Mali & Burkina Faso program. The CD reports to the Regional Director based in Abidjan.
DRC is open in Mali and Burkina Faso since January 2013, Burkina Faso 2 field offices (Dori and Djibo) and a liaison office in Ouagadougou and Mali 3 field offices (Mopti, Gao and Tombouctou) and plan to open Menaka and Kidal with a liaison office in Bamako. DRC shares bases with Danish Demining Group, the Armed Violence Reduction unit of DRC.
The CD will coordinate the work of all expatriates working in Mali & Burkina Faso (currently: 13) including Security Manger, Operation Managers (LAF) who manage the Logistics, Administration, Finance for Mali and Burkina Faso aspect of DRC´s program, Protection Program Coordinator (PPC) and Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for as well as Head of Offices and Food security and Wash experts and the deputy country director for Burkina Faso.
The CD is responsible for the planning, implementation and monitoring of DRC programs and is a driver in fundraising (writing of project proposals and development of concept papers).
The CD is overall responsible for ensuring that DRC’s Mali & Burkina Faso program is delivered in a safe and secure manner.
Background
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operational in West Africa since 1998. DRC´s aim is to contribute to the peace and stabilisation, protection and promotion of durable solution to crisis-affected populations in the region. The overall strategic objective of the program is: Support peace and stabilization, protect and promote durable solutions to conflict-affected population in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinée, Burkina Faso and Mali on the basis of humanitarian principles and fundamental human rights.
DRC’s Burkina Faso programme focuses on community recovery and development within the sectors of Protection and Social Cohesion, Wash, Livelihoods and Early recovery, food security and cash. The program is currently funded by Danida, ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, DRC own fund and Private Donor. The current annual portfolio is app 2 to 3 million Euro, but set to grow over the coming year. The Burkina Faso Country Director will supervise 4 International staff , as well more than 60 local staff. A close working relationship will be maintained with the regional management team.
DRC’s Mali programme focuses on emergency, community recovery and development within the sectors of Protection and Social Cohesion, Livelihoods and Early recovery, food security and cash. The program is currently funded by Danida, ECHO, UNHCR, SDC, ARD, DRC own fund. The current annual portfolio is app 6 to 7 million Euro, but set to grow over the coming year. The Mali Country Director will supervise 9 to 10 International staff, as well more than 90 local staff. A close working relationship will be maintained with the regional management team.
Duties and Responsibilities
Overall program management
- The CD provides strategy guidance and management to all program sectors and is responsible for high quality, accountable, program design and delivery,
- Ensures representation of both DRC and DDG brands to external actors, ie donors, partners, etc in close coordination with the DDG Sahel Programme Manager
- Oversees the merger of DRC/DDG support structures in Mali and Burkina Faso
- Ensure that the DRC projects are implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (e.g. Code of Conduct, DRC Program Manual, DRC Operational Handbook, HAP, Strategic Focal Areas);
- Lead process of developing and updating local Humanitarian Accountability Framework and Quality Management System. Ensure that at all times contact with beneficiaries, target groups and representatives of authorities is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner;
- Ensure input for and participates in the operationalization of the DRC Regional West Africa Strategy
- Ensure that program implementation follows a Rights Based Approach (RBA) and that protection principles are mainstreamed into all sectors.
Representation, Coordination with Stakeholders
- High level representation with Government and UN agencies at local and national level, with ability to work with high level officials to negotiate DRC program priorities in Mali & Burkina Faso,
- Cultivate good relations with key humanitarian actors, including ECHO, UNHCR, OCHA, UNICEF and INGOs engaged particularly in protection programming, through regular attendance at technical meetings /clusters and bilateral meetings.
- Engage in, and where effective, lead coordination processes amongst key stakeholders.
- Prepare a program communication strategy, guide staff to communicate, advocate and network clearly, appropriately and strategically
- Ensure that programme activities are well-coordinated with activities of other humanitarian actors in the area
Fundraising, Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Drive fundraising efforts and play key role in donor contact
- Formulate project proposals, concept papers and budgets using the DRC Program & Operations Handbook;
- Identify opportunities for new projects and organize assessment and fact finding missions;
- Ensure that timely and quality reports are provided internally and externally, on time according to DRC & donors requirement using DRC´s Grants Management System ( GMS)
- Responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements;
Finance, HR & Administration, Logistics
- Finance: Responsible for all project funds in country.
- Ensures that funds are spent appropriately, according to the donor contract and to the full.
- Ensures that under-spendings & overspendings are monitored and signaled in good time.
- Responsible for safe handling of cash in country; Ensures that all control measures are in place to limit the opportunities for fraud & corruption
- Ensures that all Cash books reach the Regional HoFA on time for them to be sent to HQ and that updated BFU are sent back to relevant field managers.
- HR: Supervises national staff & international staff performance, and provide recommendations on recruitment, promotions, training, Coaching and dismissal to RD & DRC HQ;
- Ensures that are in place at capital level and in all offices: Contracts & ToRs for all staff , Staff Policy and Office Manual, Code of Conduct, Staff Complaint Mechanism, Holidays and sick leave monitoring file, Overtime monitoring file, Severance payment overview, Taxation overview, Performance appraisals, Versus salary file
- Logistics: Responsible for all procurement in mission, ensures that for all procurement the proper documentation exists and is archived correctly
- Ensures that logistics guidelines are applied for the use of vehicles, fuel, communication equipment, generators etc.
Security
- Overall responsible for the security of DRC/DDG staff in country and the programs
- Responsible for security planning including regular updating of security and evacuation plans and measures, and implementation of security and contingency plan and update of DRC´s SLS ( Safety Level Systems)
- Ensure the follow up of DRC Security procedures and that the DRC set up in Mali follows them including Chapter 19 & 20 of the Operations Handbook. Responsible for developing local security rules.
- Ensure that DRC is part of security networks with all possible stakeholders at the national level and that appropriate information regarding security in the area of operations is collected
- Ensure that all DRC security management protocols and procedures are updated, made locally relevant and applied consistently.
- Ensures that security incidents are reported to RD & DRC HQ immediately.
Qualifications
Required
- Professional background in humanitarian work with proven ability with respect to the design, management and implementation of programs with a focus on protection and emergency response for refugees and displaced persons;
- Minimum of 8 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least 5 years working in the field in refugee/IDP situations; at least 5 years in a senior management position.
- Experience with relief/emergency response activities, especially assessment and set up
- Experience with implementation of operations in insecure environments. Proven experience in security management is a must
- Experience in sectors such as protection, food security, early recovery and livelihoods
- Experience with donors such as ECHO, OFDA, BPRM and UNHCR
- Demonstrated management capacity as well as hands on experience in administration, HR, finance and logistics sectors. Prior experience overseeing organizational change processes an asset.
- Willingness to live and work in an insecure environment with limited physical amenities
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
- Fluency in French and English (spoken and written) is a must
Preferable
- Notions of Arabic
- Previous work experience in the Sahel area
- Experience in working with remote management
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.
We offer
DRC will offer the successful applicant a 12 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work as soon as possible and be willing and able to work in Bamako - Non Family Duty Station (frequent travels to field offices in Mali (Gao, Tombouctou, Mopti) and in Burkina Faso (Dori, Djibo, Ouagadougou).
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at A4.
Need further information?
For more details on this position please contact Jean Christophe Saint Esteben, Regional Director West Africa: rd-wa@drc.dk
Please note that applications sent directly to Mr. Saint Esteben will not be considered.
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button here. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.
If you are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk
Applications close 30 November 2015. Please note as this position is urgent, applicants may be shortlisted and interviewed prior to the closing date.
