Within the last decades, Liberia has experienced three significant catastrophes that have left devastating impacts on the country's health system, economy, and social structures. The civil war, the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have ravaged the country, causing disruptions of basic services and infrastructures. Despite significant progress in maternal and child health in recent years, the Liberia health system still faces challenges including high maternal mortality. Liberia also has some of the worst food security indicators in the world for a peaceful country with over 30% of children under 5 being chronically malnourished.
Action Against Hunger (ACF) has been present in Liberia since 1990, arriving amidst the Civil War, and has since became one of the main humanitarian and development actors in the country. ACF’s work in Liberia has evolved significantly over the years from emergency response to longer-term development, focusing on nutrition, health, MHPSS as well as food security and livelihoods, WASH, and advocacy to address the underlying and root causes of nutrition insecurity.
In 2024, ACF is launching a new three-year health system strengthening project in three counties, thus extending its geographical coverage. This project will be a fantastic opportunity to work with the Liberia country team on strengthening local partnerships and accountability to beneficiaries for greater impact in the coming years.
We are looking for a Deputy Country Director for Programs based in Liberia, Monrovia, to strengthen coordination and synergies between project teams, roll out accountability mechanisms at field level, launch next Irish Aid-funded project, and support the Country Director in pursing funding opportunities.
Under the supervision of the Country Director, your responsability will be to oversee, coordinate and ensure the quality of the design, implementation and monitoring of programs in line with the Liberia Country Strategy and ACF guidelines and policies.
You will participate in the Health System Strengthening Project (ongoing), the Integrated response to address chronic malnutrition and climate change (upcoming)
and support to fishing communities to adapt to climate change.
More precisely, your missions will be to :
Both national and international applications will be processed.
You hold a Masters degree in development, humanitarian aid, international relations or a relevant field, with at least 5 years of field experience.
You have demonstrated leadership and management skills.
You have a strong understanding and experience in MEAL, especially implementing accountability mechanisms.
You have a consolidated experience of project cycle management and using participatory tools and methodologies (strategic planning, program design, proposal writing).
You have experience and/or personal commitment in mainstreaming Gender, Protection and/or Environment across the different programs.
You know well main ACF sectors of intervention (Nutrition & Health, WASH, FSL, MHPSS) and main donors' policy, requirements, and partnerships (knowledge of AFD rules in particular would be an asset).
You have excellent managerial, communication and personal skills. You also have strong analytical and conceptual thinking and are able to understand complex issues.
You are able to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through.
You speak and write English fluently. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
For international candidates :
For national candidates :
Field trips in ACF Counties of intervention: Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba
ACF is committed to people with disabilities and actively fights against all forms of discrimination.
Action Against Hunger’s small but growing and definitively dynamic team (around 40 staff) implements integrated multi-sector projects to strengthen local capacities and systems, to ensure access to healthcare and to improve food security by strongly collaborating with local civil society and national NGOs as well as the Government of Liberia while also maintaining emergency response capacities.
This is a new position with the opportunity to make suggestions and changes to strengthen ACF's presence in the country.
The office is rather small, which means that you can be close to field implementation.
The upcoming Irish Aid funded project will be the opportunity to start integrating climate change adaptation in our programs.
The Country Office has recently developed a Gender and Protection Plan and has recruited a dedicated staff to support it.