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Cross-border Coordinator for DDG’s programme in the Sahel Region

Bamako

  • Organization: DRC - Danish Refugee Council
  • Location: Bamako
  • Grade: Mid level - International Volunteer - Internationally recruited Volunteer
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Border and Customs
  • Closing Date: Closed

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) is looking for a highly experienced and highly qualified Cross-border Coordinator to ensure efficient and quality delivery of Armed Violence Reduction activities of the DDG programme in the Sahel Region.  
 
Background 
 
Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a specialized unit within the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) that focuses on Armed Violence Reduction and Humanitarian Mine Action. DDG initiated its operations in West Africa in Cote d’Ivoire in 2013 and expanded to the Sahel region in 2014 with a Border Security and Management (BSM) programme covering Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The BSM programme is focused on the Liptako-Gourma region and seeks to improve the capacity of local communities and border authorities to safely and securely manage border regions in order to prevent armed violence, ensure community safety and promote effective border security and management. DDG’s BSM programme involves the following components: 
  • Building the capacity of government and civil society to address safety needs  
  • Supporting border authorities, particularly in terms of strengthening their relationships with communities  
  • Strengthening Small Arms management and control 
  • Addressing the threats posed by explosive remnants of war  
  • Building community and local government capacity to prevent and manage conflicts  
 
DDG’s programme portfolio is set to expand within the Sahel region beyond BSM to also encompass mine action and other AVR-related activities.  
 
The job: 
 
The overall objective of this position is to support DDG’s Sahel Programme Manager with the overall responsibility for ensuring efficient and quality delivery of AVR activities.  
DDG’s Cross-border Coordinator will ensure the efficient and effective coordination and implementation of DDG BSM/AVR activities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Liptako Gourma region.  
The DDG Cross-border Coordinator will also be responsible for ensuring that DDG’s field activities are implemented according to DDG’s objectives, strategies, guidelines/procedures and values.  
 
In close coordination with the Sahel Programme Manager, the Sahel AVR Advisor, the Field AVR Coordinator and the M&E Officer, the Cross-border Coordinator anticipates difficulties, suggests and implements adequate solutions in order to deliver quality Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) / Border Security and Management activities.  
 
This position requires flexibility, willingness to travel regularly, and ability to work across teams in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, in both capitals and field locations. This position demands extensive travel in order to ensure quality programme delivery in field locations and is therefore 50% roving in field locations, and 50% Bamako-based. 
 
Reporting lines 
 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator reports to the Sahel Programme Manager (Sahel PM).   
  • The Cross-border Coordinator also liaises with the following teams:  
- DRC-DDG support unit teams in each country – at capital and field levels (Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso) 
- Frontline staff: BSM supervisors and project officers 
- M&E team based in Bamako 
- DDG senior team: Sahel AVR Advisor, AVR Field Coordinator 
 
Tasks and responsibilities: 
 
Operations management 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator ensures, in liaison with the DRC/DDG support team of each country, procurement follow-up and delivery of equipment and infrastructure to border authorities and communities, in close coordination with national and international counterparts.  
  • He/she acts as focal point with the latter and ensures that technical and quality-insurance requirements are met, according to national standards and priorities. 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator oversees operational planning of BSM activities in all three countries, and ensures that all resources have been expressed and brought to the DRC-DDG support units, with a special focus on coordination of activities,  
  • The Cross-border Coordinator ensures that regular meetings with all field programme and DRC/DDG support staff are held (monthly) in all field locations, with a focused agenda and problem solving approach applied 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator ensures that the Sahel PM is well informed on issues related to emergency response and emergency risk management pertaining to all areas of operations. 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator contributes to the production of high quality, analytical reports. 
  • The Cross-border Coordinator assists the collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant information and data. 
 
Technical support to deliver construction work and equipment provision 
In close collaboration with the field staff (supervisors and Project Officers) and the Support team of each of the three countries (Niger, Mali and Burkina) the Cross-border coordinator will: 
  • Carry out periodic needs assessments and update for the security services partners working at the border in the Liptako Gourma in terms of need for new constructions, rehabilitation, and equipment provision.  
  • Contribute to the recruitment of part-time construction technical staff for the assessment and the monitoring in each country. 
  • Contribute, when required, to the realisation of technical drawings, estimated quantitative and technical specifications for construction or rehabilitation works and equipment provision, ensuring compliance with local and national construction standards and the specific constraints and realities of the environment. 
  • Provide technical supervision to local tenders and restricted consultations through a transparent process in accordance with the planning established by the program; 
  • Ensure that construction (new construction, renovation and rehabilitations) activities are completed according to established planning and time allocation; 
  • Act as the main focal point for DRC-DDG including issues relating to the quality of works, validation and payment of invoices and monitoring of contracts with their possible amendments; 
  • Assess the feasibility of alternative initiatives and procedures for remote sites, difficult to access or with specific difficulties; 
  • Establish and share a monthly report of activities   
  • Ensure that the part-time technician oversees the day-to-day construction management of the project. 
  • Manage the construction effort and be the construction representative of DDG with Clients.  
  • Plan, develop and organize the construction effort to formulate the most cost-effective plan for  timely completion within budget and ensure  the execution of the  plan in conformity with project specifications and proper documentation of lessons learned throughout the project 
  • Ensure that complete documentation (plans, contracts, endorsements, follow-up sheets, reports or any other document required by the program) exists and is kept up to date for each project; 
 
Security      
  • Monitor developments of the security situation, develop contingency plans, in liaison with the DRC/DDG support hub. 
  • Ensure that BSM activities are implemented in close coordination with national and regional security officers and in compliance with DRC/DDG security SOPs 
  • Share information and provide updates on changes to the security situation, in close coordination with the DRC/DDG security focal points, adapt programme and activity planning accordingly 
 
Team Management           
  • Support DDG’s Sahel PM by carrying out daily oversight and management of DDG’s field-based programme in Mali, Burkina and Niger and support staff (in Niger). 
  • Lead, support and motivate team members, ensuring that field staff have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance 
  • Assist the Sahel PM in ensuring that operational staffing needs (both national and international) for programmes are met. This will include leading on programme staffing structure, recruitment, and performance management. 
  • Support the DDG Sahel PM in the ongoing formal and informal appraisal/evaluation of programme staff performance, including follow up on Results Contracts and annual written appraisals of the DDG team members.  
  • Provide leadership to DDG field-based teams, ensuring the BSM programme delivers in all aspects of its operations. 
 
Liaison with counterparts (authorities, partners and other actors) 
  • The implementation of the BSM programme requires daily contact with population and border authorities, partners, donors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs and various local co-ordination forums. When required, the cross-border coordinator represents DDG’s BSM programme.  
 
Reporting and communication 
  • Ensure clear, well-written and timely reporting in compliance with internal reporting requirements including procurement.  
  • Review and provide timely and constructive feedback to part-time construction staff regarding the content of their field reports 
  • Regularly provide verbal and written briefings to the Sahel Programme Manager about BSM implementation, signaling challenges and proactively resolving problems. 
 
Accountability 
  • Work with BSM field staff, M&E officer and Sahel PM to oversee the institutionalization of programme M&E systems to ensure timely and effective delivery of project activities and outputs as well as appropriate accountability to donors, communities and local authorities 
  • Oversee compliance of operational activities with DDG policies and procedures and with relevant donor regulations and agreements, Code of Conduct and DRC/DDG standards 
  • Ensure strong accountability to beneficiaries 
 
 
Required Qualifications: 
 
  • MA/MSc level in construction, logistics, and other relevant disciplines from an internationally recognised university;  
  • Proven experience with programme operations management, preferably in a complex and fragile environment, with significant experience in the Sahel region and/or West Africa. 
  • At least five (05) years’ work experience with international Humanitarian Mine Action or AVR organisations in Africa 
  • Previous experience of programme management across multiple locations 
  • Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes  
  • Security management experience in fragile or conflict affected areas  
  • In depth knowledge and experience of logistics systems and requirements in a multi field office, multi programme setting 
  • Strong communication skills 
  • Previous experience of managing medium to large multi-national team, including remote management experience  
  • Proven ability to mentor and coach others  
  • Experience of supporting M&E and beneficiary accountability systems in complex programmes 
  • Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy  
  • The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances  
 
All employees should master DRC's core competencies:  
 
Striving for excellence: Ability to focus on reaching results while ensuring efficiency. Strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort. 
Collaborating: Excellent in cooperating with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinion and sharing key information with them. Support and trust others while encouraging feedback. 
Taking the lead: Ability to take ownership and prioritize job according to DRC’s overall vision and goals. Take the initiative when confronted with a challenge or an opportunity and aim for innovative solutions. 
Communicating: Excellent in writing and speaking effectively and honestly while adjusting style and tone to the situation. Listening actively to others and involve them in the dialogue. 
Demonstrating integrity: Act in line with DRC’s vison, values and collaboration standards.  Encourage inclusion and diversity to ensure sustainable solutions. Actively involve, respect and empower stakeholders. 
 
 
We offer: 
 
A challenging and rewarding job in one of the best NGOs in the world. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Demining Group/Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies for more information. The salary level for this position is A14. DDG/DRC has a generous benefits package, including R&R, pension, and duty station allowances. 
 
Contract length:                 12 months with the possibility of extension, subject to performance 
Duty Station:                      Based in Bamako:  50% in Bamako (Mali) and 50% in DDG field locations within the 
Sahel.  Bamako is a non-family duty station. 
Start date:                           As soon as possible 
 
 
Further information 
 
For further information, please contact DDG’s Programme Manager for Sahel, Housseini Ouedraogo, at pm@ddgsahel.org . For general information about the Danish Demining Group and the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.danishdeminingroup.dk and www.drc.dk. Applications sent directly to Yann Faivre will not be considered. 
 
 
Application process: 
 
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the “apply for position” button or go to www.drc.dk and find Current Vacancies.  All applicants should include a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, in English. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional referees. 
 
Applications close 25th January, 2017. Please note that DDG reserves the right to recruit a qualified candidate should one be identified before this closing date. 
Please note that applications are not to be sent to individuals within DDG, but should be submitted by clicking the below “apply for position” button. 
This vacancy is now closed.
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