Djibouti Field Coordinator - CARE Canada

[Admin]

Field Coordinator – Health/Nutrition Ali Sabieh

Reports to: Country Representative

Directly supervises: Health/Nutrition team (1 international: Health/Nutrition coordinator) and support team (nationals admin/RH/Fin/Log assistants) Based in Ali Sabieh town with regular trips to Djibouti-Ville

Background: The Republic of Djibouti is a mainly Muslim country bordering Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The total population is estimated at 818,600, of which, more than 70% live in urban centres. In rural areas, an estimated two-thirds of the population are pastoralists. Djibouti has an arid climate, which is mostly made up of volcanic desert and rocky soil, creating an inhospitable environment for raising livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is therefore extremely limited and meets only 3% of the country’s food requirements. Two consecutive failed rains combined with soaring food and fuel prices have dramatically increased food insecurity in Djibouti. The crisis has resulted in substantial loss of livestock, destruction of livelihoods, and degradation of fields and pastures. The UN now estimates that 146,000 people are experiencing a food security crisis in Djibouti.

Djibouti also hosts over 18,000 refugees, mainly from Somalia (70% of which are women and children) in Ali Addeh camp located in Ali Sabieh District in Djibouti. According to the Camp Administrator, between 120 and 130 refugees are arriving on a weekly basis. Due to the scale of new arrivals and the limited capacity of UNHCR and its partners, the camp does not meet minimum standards. These new arrivals are putting substantial pressure on the host community, which has been severely affected by the current drought. Malnutrition, as well as lack of water (less than 10 litres of water per day) and limited livelihood opportunities mean that the host community finds itself in a particularly precarious situation. Due to the increasing number of refugees living in Ali Addeh camp and the poor living conditions in the host community, UNHCR and the Government of Djibouti have decided to re-open the Hol-Hol refugee camp, which was closed in 2006 following the large-scale voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees.

There are very few humanitarian actors working in Djibouti, including only a handful of UN Agencies (WFP, UNHCR, and UNICEF) and INGOs (ACF and AMDA). According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the lack of experienced humanitarian actors in Djibouti is leading to weak coordination and an insufficient humanitarian response to the current crisis. Further, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is in search of strong implementing partners, as one of its main partners, AMDA, a Japanese NGO, will cease operations in Djibouti at the end of 2011. In this context CARE is taking over AMDA’s activities in Ali Addeh camp and has been identified has a potential partner to manage activities in Hol Hol camp.

Position summary: The role will support CARE’s response to the refugee crisis in Djibouti through the day to day management of a field office (including logistics and administrative overview) and programme (including health and Nutrition rapid needs assessments, developing project concept notes and proposals, project planning, programme and budget monitoring). The Field Coordinator will be primarily focused on the new field office set up and activities start-up in Ali Sabieh.

Overall Objectives (scope)

To be an effective and efficient manager of the Health and Nutrition project consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.
To ensure appropriate CARE administrative, financial and logistical systems/ procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently.
To develop and maintain an effective field based team, technical and support staff.
To ensure team safety and compliance with security regulations.
To represent CARE to the other (I)NGOs, UN agencies, local government bodies and other relevant parties.
Responsibilities

General

Oversee the set up of the field office and support the establishment of CARE’s Health/Nutrition programmes
Assist in rapid needs assessments as required
Programme development and management
Programme administration at project level
Assist in the induction of international and national staff for field sites
Programme Management

Overall responsibility for effective and efficient management of the field Health/Nutrition project consistent with the project management cycle and CARE’s guidelines/procedures
Ensure quality of the program, in accordance with Sphere technical standards and WHO guidelines
Monitor expenditure and budget compliance on a regular basis, report any concerns to the Country Representative and develop plans to mitigate any under or over expenditure at project level.
Initiate and maintain regular project team meetings
Reporting in line with the relevant donor contracts and compliance requirements
Ensure monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/audits are carried out periodically in conjunction with the team, Country Representative, local stakeholders and project partners
Monitor the evolving humanitarian situation in the project region and consider strategic and immediate responses to it or adjust activities accordingly. Medical data reporting and epidemiological surveillance
Security

Ensure Health/Nutrition team security and safety in a changing security environment
Proactively monitor the political, military and security situation in the project areas and update the Country Representative accordingly
Ensure security guidelines are implemented and regularly updated for all project locations. Amend the guidelines following consultation with the Country Representative
Programme Development

Ensure all relevant authorities and stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of projects as appropriate
Draw up plans, proposals and budgets for new projects/extensions of projects in conjunction with the relevant teams: technical, financial and logistics teams
In charge of adapting/designing program strategy for provision of primary health care and nutritional care.
Logistics/Finance/Administration

Ensure familiarity with donor compliance issues, ensuring Health/Nutrition projects are compliant with these and CARE guidelines/procedures
Ensure appropriate administrative, financial and logistical CARE systems/procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficiently
Supervise medical stock management
Ensure CARE complies with all legal and bureaucratic requirements in country
Ensure regular communications with Country Representative are maintained
Responsible for the preparation of projected expenditures each month (cash forecast management)
Responsible for accurate budget control and overall responsibility for financial management at the Health/Nutrition project site in line with project proposals
Human Resources Management

To be responsible for the well-being of Health/Nutrition team members
Where relevant, contribute to recruitment and selection of national staff
Responsible for national staff selection, recruitment, and disciplinary and grievance procedures
Maintain good inter-team communications, engender good team dynamics, and take suitable action when problems occur
Support team members professionally and monitor and support stress management, including regular documented team meetings for planning and reporting purposes
Carry out appraisals as per CARE standard requirements and procedures
Ensure all new team members are adequately briefed on arrival in the field, and departing team members are debriefed
Organization and planning of trainings
Representation

Carry out representation with other NGOs, UN agencies, local and national government bodies, donors and other relevant parties
key interlocutor with MoH and WHO
When relevant and with the Country Representative approval, represent CARE to donors, authorities, NGOs and other parties as necessary.
Be the project’s contact with press and media, in discussion with the Country Representative, and capable of giving media interviews
Other

Provide cover for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Representative.

Person Specifications

Essential

Minimum 3 years of relevant field experience in a humanitarian context in a management/ co-ordination role, including the following experience: Relevant experience in Primary health care and nutritional care
Programming (including project proposal development, logical framework development, budget development, donor reporting)
Personnel management
Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English and French
Experience of emergency preparedness and response
Experience of financial, budget and administrative management
Experience and understanding of logistics systems
Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
Ability to work under stressful conditions and to remain flexible and calm under pressure
Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
Strong problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis situations
Experience of security management at the field site level
Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
Willing to live and work in challenging conditions
Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
An understanding of and commitment to CARE’s mission and values
Desirable

Knowledge of Arabic
Previous experience in the region (Horn of Africa)
Experience as a donor liaison
How to apply:
Contact information: Please apply online at www.careersunited.org or www.care.ca .You will need to register before submitting your resume.
The position will remain posted until a qualified candidate is selected. We thank all candidates for the responses to this advertisement. However, we regret that we will be able to contact only short listed candidates.