PRESENTATION OF THE ORGANISATION

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.

Handicap International is an independent and impartial aid and development organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since the organisation was first founded in 1982, we have set up emergency and development programmes in 62 countries. Today, HI has a budget of around 170 million euros, with about 3,500 employees worldwide.

HI is engaged in an employment policy in favour of workers living with a disability.

For further information about the association: www.hi.org

COUNTRY CONTEXT:

The Libyan uprising nine years ago left the country in a state of turmoil. Since 2011, continued conflict in many parts of the country and political instability have resulted in a vacuum of effective governance and caused significant collapse in the country’s political-institutional system. Security, rule of law and social and economic well-being of the Libyan population have all been severely affected and over 400,000 persons are now internally displaced across the country. The lack of a unified, national government combined with high levels of corruption and free-flowing weaponry have led to a weak, divided state under the control of a multitude of armed groups. This is gradually affecting the social and community cohesion of the country, as people are torn between their tribal and family allegiances and their hope to live again as a united country. The resilience of the Libyan population is steadily reducing, as individuals and communities are facing uncertainty regarding their future, with a very limited capacity of the authorities and relevant institutions to respond to their needs.

The healthcare system in Libya is one of the hardest hit, having deteriorated to the point of collapse. Ongoing challenges include increased rates of chronic illness, disability and access to essential services such as medicine and rehabilitation. Hospitals struggle to absorb the number of patients and to cope with a lack of resources, including a shortage of staff and essential medicines and supplies. According to the World Health Organization, around 1.3 million people have no access to life-saving health care services. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing vulnerability of the Libyan population, adding up to the effects from years of conflict, and a collapsing healthcare system. Number of cases have reached a peak in August of September, the majority of confirmed cases being in the main urban areas, such Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi or Sebha.

While Libya already faced high Explosive Ordnance (EO) contamination due to nine years of conflict, Explosive ordnance contamination in the greater Tripoli area and in Sirt has increased considerably since the LNA offensive in April 2019 and the counter offensive of GNA in March 2020. Meanwhile most humanitarian mine action operations were suspended in areas affected by the hostilities in the second quarter of 2019. Indiscriminate shelling, Explosive Ordnance (EO) left by the various forces involved in the conflict and the increased use of improvised explosive devices caused new displacements, a new layer of land contamination, and a rise in EO related accidents, killing and injuring civilians and non-civilians, including mine clearance and humanitarian workers.

The identification of the most vulnerable individuals, including people with disabilities or injuries, and the rapid response to essential needs is a priority for the humanitarian community working throughout Libya. The political conflict and humanitarian crisis is likely to continue throughout the year 2020; whilst at the same time continue to hamper the delivery of primarily medical and socio-economic services, complicating access and increasing the vulnerability of the general population.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

HI is currently implementing several programmes in Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, supporting vulnerable persons and their families such as people with disabilities (including people living with mental health problems), people with chronic diseases, older persons and displaced persons and families. Activities include provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical therapy and psychosocial support, provision of assistive & mobility devices as per needed; capacity building, technical support and donations of assistive devices and/or materials and equipment to health partners; training on inclusion principles to other humanitarian actors and health workers;

Since early 2019 HI is implementing a three-year project entitled ‘Action for Mental Health Assistance in Libya’ (AMAL) as part of wider initiatives to improve the access and quality of health care services in Libya. Implemented in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Health and a Tunisian NGO, the overall objective of the project is to allow the most vulnerable people in Libya from host communities, those internally displaced and returnees and migrants, suffering from mental health disorders/psychosocial disabilities to regain or to preserve good mental health by accessing quality interventions at community level, primary health care level, and secondary and tertiary level.

From July 2020, HI also started a one-year project in partnership with UNDP, which aims to enhance the development of a culture of peace, cooperation and responsibility - with a focus on youth (male and female) - through improved provision of MHPSS services at community level. This project will strongly rely on Libyan Civil Society Organisations.

HI is also involved in Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) activities, HI supports the Libyan Mine Action Centre (LibMAC), UNMAS and other ministries in developing a victim assistance strategy and action plan. As a response to increased ERW related accidents, HI is also resuming its Risk Education activities in greater Tripoli in November.

The post holder will be expected to travel regularly between his / her operational bases in Tripoli and Misrata, and Tunis, where is based HI Maghreb regional office. This being said, important challenges exist to move in and out of the country. Indeed, since March 2020, heavy sanitary measures have been enforced both in Libya and Tunisia, such as border closures and travel restrictions, disruption of supply chain, lockdown, curfews, movement’s restrictions and social distancing. As a result, the expatriates working for HI Libya mission are currently operating on a “semi-remote” management mode and the senior country team is expected to adapt accordingly its management style, communication and support / control mechanisms.**

DESCRIPTION OF THE MISSION/PROJECT

Type of activity, volume, main internal and external contacts (especially partners) and the nature of relationships, potential challenges.

From operational bases in Tripoli and Misrata, and Benghazi, HI is currently implementing a humanitarian and development programme, with the following activities:

· Provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical therapy and psychosocial support for persons with disabilities or injuries, and provision of assistive devices as per need;

· Capacity building, technical support and provision of assistive & mobility devices and materials and equipment to health partners (hospitals, health centers and rehabilitation centres);

· Training on inclusion principles to other humanitarian actors and health workers;

· Provision of Risk Education to conflict affected communities on the risks and effects caused by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW);

· Provision of specialised MHPSS services at community level, primary health care level, and secondary and tertiary level and support to the Libyan Ministry of Health, in partnership with Nebras, a Tunisian NGO

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

Under the responsibility of the Libya Country Manager, the Area Manager contributes to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Handicap International in west Libya. He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the projects implemented in west Libya, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. He/she shares with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes.

The Area Manager is responsible for ensuring the overall coordination and oversight of HI’s operations in west Libya in the current operational sectors for HI, i.e. Health, and protection (including humanitarian mine action).

JOB DESCRIPTION

General mission:

The Area Manager will be in charge of:

  • Developing and implementing, the projects part of the Libya Programme operational strategy, may it be in emergency response, protracted or development approach, in the field of Health, Protection and Humanitarian Mine Action;
  • Under the guidance of his/ her line management and other relevant departments (support, programming), he/she deploys all adequate tools that will allow project monitoring, financial controlling and compliance with HI policies and frameworks (in particular HI Project Monitoring & Evaluation policy), and the respect of contractual obligations towards donors.
  • He/she contributes to monitor and analyse context developments in his/her geographical area, in order to identify operational risks and opportunities, and proposes actions to the country director.
  • He/she contributes to organizational transformation in line with Lean, Shared Services and ROOTS projects.
  • By delegation from the Country Director and in close collaboration with the Safety Advisor, he/she is following-up closely the security and safety management in west Libya, and can to a certain extent act for the safety and protection of the base staff
  • He/she coordinate shared services and operations team on a daily basis to facilitate activities implementation

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Management

1.1. Be the manager (direct report) of the Project managers’ team in the area of assignment

· Foster a team spirit and team functioning guaranteeing synergies and exchange of good practices between the Project managers.

· Size and plan human resources needs of the projects in the Area.

· Recruit and contribute to the professional development, autonomy and well-being at work of the project managers: set formalized individual objectives, ensure coherence between HI’s needs and competencies and motivation of his/her teams, develop and monitor competence development plan, evaluate individual performance, contribute to career evolution.

· Acknowledge individual and collective efforts and performance.

· Embody and transmit HI values, ensure compliance with code of conduct and institutional policies, ensure the expected mind set and individual and collective behaviours, and disciplinary measures when necessary.

· Ensure good collaboration between project managers and support teams (technical and shared services, functional link), in order to facilitate project implementation in the area; conduct regular project reviews with project managers and relevant departments.

· Participate to the Programme Steering Committee conducted by the line manager when relevant.

1.2. Steer organization transformation, in particular through managerial and work practice change and continuous improvement of working processes.

2. Contribution to the Programme’s Operational strategy and HI frameworks & regulations

2.1: Contribute to the development of the Programme’s Operational Strategy, and to its implementation and annual monitoring

· With assessment of ongoing projects, contribution to context and sectorial analysis, contribution to fundraising strategy, to resource sizing, to M&E tool…

· Contribute, with his/her portfolio of projects and donors’ data, to the annual monitoring of the StratOp and to next year’s Programme planning (namely support missions and evaluations).

· In case of crisis/emergency, implement the framework and set-up decided by HI Operations Director.

2.2: Implement the project part of the Programme’s Operational Strategy:

· Size and plan necessary resources, recruit the project managers (ensure the fit between competencies and the projects’ challenges and ambitions), develop and monitor their competence development plan, in link with the corresponding professional channels and with Human Resources department.

· When relevant, develop regular contacts with current and potential donors at field level and liaise with line Manager to check coherence with overall Programming and fundraising strategy.

· Within the operational framework defined in the StratOp, identify and transform funding opportunities in the area of assignment, conduct the design and writing of new projects (country perimeter) and contribute to the design, writing and fundraising of major multi-country projects (under the responsibility of the Regional Direction).

· In link with the Technical Unit, identify and develop local partnerships and/or consortia with NGOs, institutions, companies; on technical priorities or important topics in the area.

2.3: Ensure the deployment of and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies and standards.

These include: the mandatory reference frameworks (such as HI Mission & Values or HI Theory of Change: Access to services), all HI's institutional policies (Security / Code of Conduct and Safeguarding / Bribery prevention / PME and Project Quality Framework / Age-Gender-Disability), all institutional directives and processes; delegation thresholds; security levels…

2.4: Ensure sound management and monitoring of projects under his/her responsibility:

  • In link with the Technical Unit and the MEAL Unit, ensure that HI technical quality standards are applied in the projects, and monitor the implementation of recommendations from support missions, evaluations and donor audits.
  • Ensure compliance with project donors’ rules and regulations, including visibility.
  • With the support of the MEAL Unit, deploy all adequate tools that will allow financial control and project monitoring, compliance with HI policies and frameworks, and the respect of contractual obligations towards donors: consolidation, control and reporting to the line Manager of operational and organizational elements (dashboards and corrective measures, unrestricted funds consumption, beneficiaries’ data…).
  • Facilitate internal audits (operational, financial and organizational), and ensure the implementation of their recommendations on his/her responsibility area

2.5: With both operational opportunities and risks in mind, contribute to the monitoring and analysis made by the line Manager, and propose mitigation measures when relevant

  • In link with the line Manager, implement analysis and monitoring of risks & opportunities related to HI presence and activities; implement risk mitigation actions at his/her level;
  • Ensure the implementation of a humanitarian watch and (when decided by the Country Manager) of an emergency preparedness plan in the area.

2.6: Support the Country Manager in monitoring the security of the area and ensure adequate resources for employees according to the context

  • Analyze and monitor the security context under his area of responsibility on a daily basis.
  • In collaboration with the Country Manager and safety advisor, make decisions concerning whether or not to deploy / withdraw the project teams on / from sensitive area.
  • Report directly any incidents to the Country Manager and safety advisor
  • Develop a network of contacts with security/context staff of fellow INGOs, represent HI in access, security and safety meetings (at the request of the Country Manager and safety advisor)
  • Provide feedback and advice on security risks, as well as on security management resources, such as SOPs, and proposals
  • In collaboration with the Country Manager, safety advisor and Senior Management Team, update the security and contingency plans according to the evolution of the context
  • Support the Country Manager on exploratory mission assessments, identification of office/guesthouses, and the opening of new areas
  • Assist the Country Manager and safety advisor in sensitizing HI staff (national and international) to security risks and ensuring the understanding and implementation of security documents

3. Influence

3.1: Develop external influence of HI (forums, operational & strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) on his/her responsibilities area

  • Represent HI vis-à-vis local, national, traditional, political, military and diplomatic authorities and bodies; and international organizations and coordination mechanisms & system.
  • Relay messages of HI global advocacy to all relevant external parties.
  • Develop local partnerships, in link with the line Manager.

PROFILE SOUGHT

Qualification(s):

· Master degree in Political Sciences, International Relations, Humanitarian Project Management, Humanitarian Assistance or another relevant subject

Experience:

Essential

· At least 4 years of professional experience, preferably in humanitarian contexts;

· Previous project coordination experience;

· Previous coordination experience with local partners, INGOs and Clusters

· Proven managerial and representation experience

· Knowledge of the context in west Libya

Preferable

· Experience in the field of vulnerability/disability

· Experience in the field of mine action;

· Experience with donor’s rules

Skills:

· Strong team management skills;

· Strong communication and diplomacy skills;

· Good networking capacities to contribute building constructive relationships with humanitarian actors and institutional partners.

· Strong writing and reporting skills;

· Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English

· Strong computer skills (use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and other relevant software)*Preferable*

· French language would be an asset (Francophone colleagues for the Maghreb region and Tunisian partners for some projects).

Personal qualities:

· High level of autonomy and initiative;

· Strong organizational skills

· Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills;

· Ability to work under pressure;

· Ability to work in a tensed and volatile context with strict security measures

The position is opened for Libyan Nationals only

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you