Regional Projects Manager

Position Title: Regional Projects Manager

Supervised by: Regional Head of Multi-Country Operations

Reporting to: Regional Head of Multi-Country Operations

Duty Station: Dakar

Area of Operation: Region of West Africa

Employment Period: 12 months (renewabble)

Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee): Expatriate or National

Salary & Benefits: Band Management F – Accompanied position, small family package

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

DRC has been providing relief and development services in West Africa since 1998 and in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2011. Using a human rights framework, the DRC WANALA operation focuses on people who are affected by displacement, including refugees, internally displaced, migrants, and host communities in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, Venezuela. Led by the Regional Executive Director, the DRC WANALA oversees, supports, and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the above-mentioned regions. The WANALA Regional office also supports multi-country projects and non-operational initiatives, focusing on protection analysis and displacement trends, civil society engagement, as well as advocacy and policy initiatives related to displacement. DRC portfolio in the WANALA region covers all DRC core sectors (Protection, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding, Shelter and CCCM) through the entire response framework (Emergency response, Durable Solutions and Root causes).

A department of multi-country grants and operations has been established since February 2021 with multi country and cross border projects and regionally held grants. The Regional Projects Manager’s portfolio is composed of multi-country and multi-year programmes (including in consortia) that operationalize triple nexus in strategic partnerships with local/international actors and integrate multiple sectors (economic recovery, protection, peacebuilding).

2. Purpose

The Regional Projects Manager is overall responsible for ensuring the timely and compliant delivery of DRC’s programme activities in the field for multi-country and cross-border projects as outlined in programme documents and sector strategies, and in line with the programme technical guidelines.

A key member of DRC West Africa’s Department of Multi-country Operations, the Regional Projects Manager works collaboratively with technical experts of the regional office to ensure sufficient technical guidance and support is available to implement regional projects effectively (Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding, Economic Recovery, Protection). The Regional Projects Manager also works collaboratively with the Support Services team to ensure that processes to enable smooth delivery of operations in the field are being consistently applied and improved (e.g. HR, Admin, IT, Finance, Supply Chain, etc.).

Country offices, Area Managers and Project Managers are primarily responsible for the timely and quality implementation of multi-country operations in their countries and regions. The Regional Projects Manager works in support to the Country Programmes Area Managers where regional and/or multi country grants are implemented. The Regional Projects Manager ensures technical support in grant management and project cycle management is available to Area Managers and monitors the timely implementation of activities in these areas.

The Regional Projects Manager will have, during the first months of his assignment, to focus on the launch of an innovative project on localization where DRC is the lead of the consortium under ECHO funding. The Regional Project Manager will be the consortium coordinator for this project.

3. Responsibilities

Management:

• Supervise, monitor and evaluate multi-country projects implementation by project Managers and Area Managers/Head of Bases.
• Manage the regional projects team (currently a multi-country operations specialist but the number might increase in 2024).
• Develop multi-country project management through the implementation of internal services contracts between countries and Regional Office.
• Support concerned Project Managers in countries in planning operations and activities; contribute to their training plan and capacity building and develop toolboxes to improve operations planning and monitoring.
• Ensure close cooperation with technical and support teams in the regional office and in countries

Partnerships:

• Supervise and develop strategic partnerships involved in the regional projects.
• Support Project Managers in managing partnerships at the local level.
• Develop tools for partnership management in the region.

Accountability:

• Champion a positive approach to gender and diversity mainstreaming in DRC’s regional projects.
• Support the roll out of accountability processes in Regional Projects.

Representation:

• Represent DRC WANALA in relevant forums at Country level as requested by the Country Director, when regional activities are concerned.
• Assist the Regional Head of Multi-country Operations and Regional Operation Director in representing DRC in meeting with regional projects financial partners and donors.

When manageable, the Regional Project Manager may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Regional Head of Multi-Country Operation.

4. Required Qualifications

Mandatory:

• Relevant university degree (Master or Postgraduate) in international relations and/or development, political science or similar field
• Min. 5 years’ experience overseas in complex humanitarian emergencies and development, preferably with refugees and/or IDPs
• Substantial project management experience in NGO, including in consortia and leading strategic programming and planning, implementation, monitoring and learning
• Substantial experience in managing and developing partnerships with local and international organisations
• Experience in managing HR, administration, finance, grants and donor relations
• Ability to transversal management with multidisciplinary teams, large workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Good understanding of displacement issues and related international standards/frameworks
• Team player with excellent communication and strong participatory leadership skills
• Excellent written and spoken French and English
• Excellent Computer Skills (MS Office, Internet)

Desirable :

• Previous experience in a Central / Western African country

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

. Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process

. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback

. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation

. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly

. Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment

• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

6. General Regulations

The employee shall follow :

• DRC regulations on safety, health, COVID-19 norms and hygiene
• The Code of Conduct and all ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Rules for the use of the DRC guesthouse, which is a working accommodation

In addition :

• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request