Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilians’ victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency.
The association leads in average 190 projects by year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 5 million people in 21 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe and France.
Humanitarian situation and needs
Crisis context
Libya’s political transition has been disrupted by armed non-state groups and threatened by the indecision and infighting of interim leaders. After an armed uprising ended the 40-plus year rule of Muammar al Qadhafi in late 2011, interim authorities proved unable to form a stable government, address pressing security issues, reshape the country’s public finances, or create a viable framework for post-conflict justice and reconciliation.
In 2016, continued political instability and ongoing armed conflict in Libya has led to deteriorating living conditions and reduced access to essential services for a significant part of the country. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remain one of the most vulnerable population groups as they seek out temporary shelter and scarce livelihood opportunities in urban centres, many without access to basic services. The power vacuum that gave way to the rise of armed groups in Libya, and the ongoing violence has caused thousands more Libyans to flee their homes in search of protection and assistance. In February 2016, while the political situation in Libya remains tumultuous, new patterns of displacement are occurring, with a growing trend of return reported in the East.
Over 435 000 people in Libya have been forcibly displaced, almost doubling the number reported in 2014. Humanitarian organizations face serious difficulties to reach communities and vulnerable IDP families affected by the ongoing violence in the country.
Health and protection needs of the affected population stand out in terms of scope, scale and severity. This is the result of major shortages of essential medicines and a debilitated primary healthcare system, which have led to an increase in serious illnesses and disease. The conflict has restricted access to basic services, led to forced displacement and impacted people’s safety and security. The displaced are the most vulnerable due to limited coping capacity and loss of assets, particularly displaced women, children, the elderly and those with low economic means. Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants are also considered some of the most vulnerable, due to their exposed risk to discrimination and exploitation based on their status. According to OCHA, the most severe needs in terms of geographic areas are those of affected people in the east and south of the country.
The worsening economic situation and political crises have exacerbated the vulnerability of the people in Libya, where the main source of household income remains salaries from the state. In the preliminary findings of the MSNA conducted by UN agencies, 71 per cent of households reported that their incomes have either remained the same or decreased. Given the protracted nature of the current crisis, the primary objective is to improve resilience of affected communities. This entails building capacity at national and local levels to generate the evidence base needed to monitor the impacts of crisis, to plan key interventions as needed to address humanitarian and early recovery priorities, and to support the recovery of local economies and rehabilitation of critical damaged infrastructures and public services.
The Libya Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) is based on a number of needs assessments conducted in 2016, including the UN inter-agency Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA), sector needs and gap analysis based on information from ongoing humanitarian operations in Libya and available secondary sources. In areas where conflict and insecurity impeded access to affected people, there are some significant gaps in information in terms of the scale and scope of humanitarian needs. There are also information gaps for some of the sectors, especially where national information collection and reporting systems are weak, such as for protection. (OCHA)
Due to the security context, the majority of the humanitarian internvetion in Libya are being managed remotely from Tunis.
Our action in the field
In light with the humanitarian situation described above, Premiere Urgence Internationale is preparing an first intervention in Libya, focusing in Benghazi area, in partnership with a local NGO, Libyan Psychological Association (LAPS), on health activities. This intervention should also include a partnership with LibAid, a Libyan organization in charge on the humanitarian intervention. This project would be the first intervention of PUI in the country and would ensure the opening of PUI mission in Libya.
Following several exploratory mission and results of an MHPSS assessment conducted by LAPS, PUI is launching a health intervention in Benghazi which aims to improve access to quality healthcare for population affected by the ongoing conflict in Benghazi and its surroundings. The main objective is the reduction of morbidity and mortality among conflict affected populations in Libya.
The project aims at providing an emergency response to the accurate needs for primary health care services in Eastern region of Libya. Targeted as a priority for the humanitarian community by the latest HRP designed in October, the health system has completely collapsed in Libya. This project aims at :
- improve access to primary health care through mobile health care clinics, including mental health and psychosocial support interventions, information and guidance on local services, including referral where necessary,
- support to improve personal health care behaviors for existing displaced populations by reinforcement of community prevention, information and communication
- Improve emergency response to new large scale displacement by supporting the creation and the strengthening of an early warning system to develop coordination and cooperation with local actors and relevant authorities to ensure a timely comprehensive response in case of population displacement.
This intervention has been designed thanks to the conduction of a workshop with both LibAid and LAPS that has been organized in Tunis from 13th to 14th of October 2016.
Due to the security situation, as most of the intervention, this program should be managed remotely from Tunis with potential visit in Libya depending on security clearance. Following the evolution of the context, the remote management could be reduced. Due to this context, a priority should be given to the recruitment and the training of the national staff who would implement the project in the field.
As part of our activities in Libya, we are looking for a Head of Mission.
The Head of Mission is responsible for the smooth functioning and the development of the mission.
- Safety & Security: S/he is responsible for the safety & security of the mission.
- Programmes: S/he coordinates the teams and ensures that the programmes implemented on the mission are properly carried out. S/he also monitors needs and suggests new operations and development tracks for the mission.
- Human Resources: S/he ensures that the mission is adequately staffed and supervises the teams (defining objectives, follow-up).
- Logistical, administrative and financial monitoring: S/he ensures that logistical and administrative practices in place respect PUI procedures and formats and are in compliance with donors’ rules and regulations.
- Medical and technical monitoring: S/he ensures that medical and technical practices respect PUI’s procedures and formats and are in compliance with PUI’s operational framework and policy.
- Representation: S/he represents the association in its relations with partners, donors,the media and different authorities.
- Relations with Headquarters: S/he ensures that information is properly circulated between Headquarters and the field and ensures that due dates are respected.
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Training and experiences
Formation:
- Security management
Experience:
Humanitarian
- 3 years of humanitarian experience in project co-ordination.
- Successful experience in expatriate team management and multi-sector programmes.
International
Technical
Knowledge and skills:
- Excellent writing skills
- Team management
- Project management
- Detailed knowledge of the donors (OFDA, ECHO, UN agencies, EuropeAid, AAP…)
Software:
- Pack Office
Required Personal Characteristics:
- Leadership skills and the ability to make decisions
- Trustworthiness and a sense of responsibility
- Charisma and the ability to awake enthusiasm for the work the project involves
- Ability to use authority, when necessary
- Analysis and synthesis abilities (discenrment, pragmatism)
- Ability to adapt
- Organisational skills, ability to be thorough and respect due dates
- Strong listening and negotiation skills
- Good people and communication skills
- Ability to remain calm and level-headed
- General ability to resist stress and particularly in unstable circumstances
Languages
- Required: English and French
- Desirable: Arabic
Proposed Terms
- Employed with a Fixed-Term Contract – 10 months
- Starting date: February 2017
- Monthly gross income: From 3 190 to 3 520 Euros depending on the experience in International Solidarity + 50 Euros per semester seniority with PUI
- Cost covered: Round-trip transportation to and from home / mission, visas, vaccines…
- Insurance including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
- Housingin collective accommodation
- Daily living Expenses (« Per diem »)
- Break Policy: 5 working days at 3 and 9 months + break allowance
- Paid Leaves Policy: 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send your application (Resume and Cover Letter) to Alexandre Darcas, Recruitment and Careers Manager, at recrutement@premiere-urgence.org with the following subject: "HoM-LBE".
