Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is looking for a very experienced and capable Country Director to head our programmes in South Sudan.
DRC has been present in South Sudan since 2005 with the overall objective of providing physical and organisational support to facilitate the return of, and durable solutions for, refugees and IDPs.
Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, security has overall improved in the South. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced families have now returned to their ancestral lands in Southern Sudan. Initially operating only in four counties in Central Equatorial State: Kajo Keji, Yei, Lainya and Morobo for the past four years, DRC’s operation have expanded to other areas in the country, specially Juba Country - the site of the capital - and Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. This expansion has mainly been a result of the existing humanitarian needs associated with the high rates of returnees and due to border clashes in the disputed border town Abyei. DRC has opened additional offices in Juba and in Aweil (Northern Bahr el Ghazal) to serve more than 1,5 million people across the country.
BACKGROUND
The overall objective for DRC in South Sudan is the protection and promotion of durable solutions to displacement affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights with more immediate objectives focusing both on the immediate subsistence needs, livelihood including agricultural development and self-reliance support as well as a more long term focus on capacity building and sustainable solutions. The objectives are sought through non-food distribution, income generation and livelihood support, shelter and infrastructure, legal aid and protection, and various capacity building initiatives in cooperation with local organisations, international NGOs and authorities. Including the Country Director, DRC has 5 international staff members based in Yei, Juba and Aweil and app.78 local staff at present.
In spite of improvements over the last years, the security situation in South Sudan remains very volatile. Unsolved issues between North Sudan and – the new country – South Sudan, on-going conflicts between tribes and clans, LRA and frequent cattle rustlings all contribute to renewed displacements and general unrest.
DRC is a rights-based organisation and a member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), and therefore committed to documenting our accountability to the beneficiary population and the impact of our activities. DRC adopts a community-based approach, where beneficiaries and local authorities are included in the prioritising, planning and implementation of activities as an important measure of rehabilitation and capacity building.
Assuring the adherence with international human rights and HAP compliance constitutes some of the main challenges and priorities for the South Sudan Country Director. This is relevant both in terms of consolidating and at the same time developing the programme, continue the process of developing solid impact measurement mechanisms, strengthening accountability initiatives and ensuring that the financial management and organisational setup is adapted to the new and larger DRC South Sudan operation.
DUTIES
The Country Director is overall responsible for the DRC operation in South Sudan, and may have responsibilities as part of regional initiatives. The Country Director refers to and works in close co-ordination with the DRC Head of Desk in Copenhagen. The more specific responsibilities include:
Management
• Overall management of the operation – coaching of and co-ordination between managers, recruitment and development of staff
• Direct supervision of (at present) two other Project Managers and one Programme Manager in Juba and in local offices in Aweil and Yei concerning national staff performance, and in close collaboration with same managers taking action in terms of recruitment, promotions and dismissal
• Direct management of the Head of Finance and Administration and the national staff based in Juba
• Ensure that the programme implementation is well coordinated between the field offices and that these are supported by the Juba office as required
• Frequent travel to the field (up to 1-2 weeks per month for direct operational support and representation).
Programme development
• In co-ordination with the Head of Desk, oversee and conduct strategic planning and the continued process of organizational development and change in response to scenario changes in the country’s various regions and corresponding programme strategies - including human resource development strategy
• Overall responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the programme to ensure that activities/projects are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, implementation plans, and donor requirements
• Ensure that DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (Code of Conduct, DRC Management handbooks, HAP standards etc.) are followed
• Explore synergies between the DRC programmes in Darfur and South Sudan and ensure appropriate co-ordination and streamlining between the operations where relevant.
Finance and administration
• Together with the Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA), also stationed in Juba, provide overall budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements and ensuring that the necessary systems are in place.
Security
• Overall responsible for security, including development of security procedures, and of monitoring the development in the security situation, analysis and provision of recommendations
• Ensuring that required and appropriate security measures are in place and adhered to by all staff. This includes ensuring the upkeep of the DRC MOSS standards and regular update of the security and evacuation plans
• Ensure that appropriate information regarding security in the area of operation is available
• Ensure that security incidents are reported to DRC HQ.
Reporting & Monitoring
• Overall responsibility of compliance with internal and external reporting requirements, including procurement
• Ensure and coordinate a continued upkeep and development of efficient internal financial and progress monitoring
• Ensure that timely narrative and financial reports are provided to the donors and to the DRC Headquarter on time
• Overall responsible for outgoing public reports and other reports prepared by DRC in close coordination with the HQ Head of Desk
• Plan and oversee regular reviews and evaluation of DRC South Sudan’s performance.
Representation
• Act as representative for the DRC South Sudan programme to authorities, donors, partners, and various others in co-ordination forums
• Strengthen DRC’s position nationally and possibly regionally. The Country Director maintains extensive contact with local and national authorities in Juba and in the local areas of operation.
Fundraising
• The Country Director maintains frequent contact with representatives of Danish Representation, UNHCR, WFP, EC/ECHO, UN/OCHA, INGOs, and other donors and partners in Juba an regionally
• As the majority of the fundraising is done locally, the Country Director will - together with the Project Managers - identify opportunities for new projects and pursue possible funding opportunities as well as lead the process of broadening the funding basis
• The Country Director will take the lead in writing concept papers, project proposals and budgets in line with the DRC strategy.
QUALIFICATIONS
DRC invites qualified applicants – irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age – with extensive management experience, and who match the requirements listed above, to apply for the position.
In addition, applicants must have following qualifications:
• At least 5 years’ experience within humanitarian/development work, including strategic planning
• Experience from operating and travelling in a very volatile security environment and preferably as well in a remote management setting
• Experience in donor contact, fundraising and networking (experience with ECHO, EC and UNHCR would be preferable)
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• A good and operative insight in financial management and taking an active responsibility in budget and expenditure planning and control
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent drafting skills
• Relevant educational background at Master level (Political and Social Sciences, Management, International Development, or similar)
• Very familiar with humanitarian principles and practises, and used to represent an international organisation, both internally and to external partners and authorities
• Good negotiation, advocacy and communication skills
• Preferably working experience from African countries. Field experience from South Sudan is an added advantage.
Personal and inter-personal skills
• Humanitarian motivation
• Strong sense of responsibility
• Ability to work independently while at the same time cooperating with other staff members as well as beneficiaries in a participatory manner.
CONDITIONS
Availability: 3 January 2012
Duty station: Juba. Frequent trips to field offices in Aweil.
Contract: 1 year with a possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.
Salary and other conditions in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates, which can be found on our website www.drc.dk/Vacancies. The position is placed at Level A2.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact Head of Desk for Sudan, Anders Engberg, tel +45 3373 5023, for additional information about the position.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Mr. Engberg. We only accept application sent via our online system accessible at www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Country Director – South Sudan. Applications sent directly to Mr. Engberg will NOT be considered.
For information about our work and organisation, please visit our website www.drc.dk.
APPLICATION AND CV
Only applications with CV and application letter that address the stipulated duties and responsibilities and meet the required qualifications will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered.
Please send application and CV, in English and marked “Country Director – South Sudan”, no later than 30. October 2011 via our online system on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Country Director – South Sudan.
Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your on-line application.
ABOUT DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRCs work.
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