COOPI is looking for a Area Coordinator / Project Manager in Sudan

COOPI has been present in Sudan since 2004 and in more in specific in Kassala. The recent history of Sudan is marked by strong disorders and violence, expressions of a civil war that on several occasions has shaken the country since its independence. Since 2019, COOPI's interventions focused also in the Kassala region that for a long time has been the scene of armed clashes and particularly hit by periods of severe drought.

Description of the role

The Area Coordinator is responsible for overall management and strategic direction of COOPI programmes in North Darfur. The programmes cover but are not limited to FSL, WASH, Shelter. The Area Coordinator will represent COOPI with the local and regional government bodies, especially government agencies, partners, beneficiaries and other (I)NGO's as part of regular and quality communications to maintain good relations. The post holder will need to clearly understand and ensure fair, accountable and transparent management of programme, finance and human resources and promote a learning environment for staff and the organisation. The Area Coordinator will also be responsible for compliance to Standard Operating Procedures for safety, security and general operations. Moreover, the Area Coordinator will be responsible of the direct implementation of the projects assigned

Main responsibilities

Programme Management

• Overall responsibility for the design, implementation and effective monitoring of agreed projects and activities;
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of all activities and processes. Ensuring the analysis of data collected to improve programme quality;
• Ensure the development and implementation of all activities in line with Common Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and COOPI programme policies;
• Proactively seeking funding opportunities to scale up and/or expand activities working closely with the Country Director and Head of Programs. This includes identifying and undertaking assessments and writing concepts and proposals;
• Oversee North Darfur programming with field visits and ensure quality of programme delivery;
• To be engaged strategically with all technical sectors as need and provide management and strategic input;
• Oversee and provide strategic support to program teams;

Coordination of field operations

• Participate directly in work of those supervised to provide hands-on training and support;
• Provide support to Project Managers to solve programs’ implementation problems related to logistics, procurement and security;
• Ensure the compliancy with COOPI procedures (logistic, finance, security);
• Ensure that the procurement, logistic and administration departments are efficiently managed;
• Prepare internal and donors reports.

Staff management

• Act as human resources focal point person for program and support staff, including expatriates based in North Darfur, assuring, in coordination with the Administrator, a sound implementation of COOPI staff policy;
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate staff in performance of their duties;
• Assess staff skills needs and organize relevant staff training and upgrading session.

Security

• Manage the security implementation plan in program areas in all its aspects;
• Assure that equipment related to security is properly functioning;
• Coordinate regular collection of information from areas of intervention. Prepare Security reports and timely inform the Country Director on security matters;
• Participate to ad hoc security coordination meetings;
• Consult with aid agencies and other relevant stakeholders on the ongoing security situation as well as their security procedures;
• In coordination with the Country Director, regularly revise and update COOPI Sudan – North Darfur internal security procedures.

Liaison and networking

• Coordination of liaison activities with the Government of Sudan bodies in North Darfur, which includes registration procedures, preparation of agreements, preparation of documentation for permits;
• In coordination with the Country Director, represent the organization in coordination for a, with donors and with international and local agencies;
• Regularly participate to coordination meetings in North Darfur concerning implementation, operational and security matters. Assure that feedback of information is channeled internally.

Requirements

Essentials

• University degree in social or technical sciences (preferable in the field of food, agriculture and/or livestock);
• A minimum of five years of relevant working experience is required;
• At least three years of demonstrated successful experience in international relief and development in a similar position is required;
• Previous experience in FSL is required;
• Proven capacity to work in a team is essential;
• Demonstrated ability to work in stressful environments and under pressure;
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication, negotiation skills, multi-tasking and organizational skills;
• Experience in liaising with governmental/local authorities, IOs and NGOs;
• Fluency in English language;
• Computer literate.

Plus

• Experience in logistics, procurement and security matters is a strong advantage;
• Previous work experience in Sudan is a plus;
• Experience in working in conflict-prone environments a plus;
• Arabic knowledge is a plus.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application closing date, once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled, thanks for understanding.

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. For more than 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.