Back MOZAMBIQUE- FIELD COORDINATOR (M/F)- PALMA

Desired start date: ASAP
Duration of the mission: 6 months
Location: Palma, Mozambique

ABOUT THE MISSION

• Mission: size, bases, budget, number of expatriates and national staffs.

Solidarités International intervened in Mozambique in March 2019 for a few months following the passage of Cyclone Idai, which hit the Province of Sofala and the city of Beira hard. Operations were suspended after the emergency phase and the mission closed. The evolution of the situation in Cabo Delgado province, hit by several cyclones and severely affected by the violent actions of armed groups claiming to be IS, which caused the displacement of nearly 800 000 people, led to an assessment in May 2021 and to the reopening of the mission. The assessment, carried out in the most affected district highlighted needs, particularly in the WASH sector, and the lack of emergency actors. The mission is opening in a complex security and administrative environment, where access will be a major issue.

Solidarites International was one of the first INGO actors to respond to the growing crisis in Cabo Delgado, leading emergency response and distributions in hard-to-reach areas. SI has completed its opening phase, and is massively scaling up in 2022. The base of Palma opened in June 2022 and is progressively growing up since then. After the March 2021 attacks in Palma Sede, all the inhabitants fled the city, coming back progressively since June 2021 and up to 2022. We are only 2 INGO present there: SI and MSF. Palma is just 25km away from the Afungi compound, held by TOTAL Energies and their various partners to exploit the liquefied natural gas found on the shores of the coast.

• Type and content of program

Multisector programs including emergency response and humanitarian activities in camp, non-camp, and conflict-affected settings as well as more sustainable projects (infrastructure rehabs). The area of intervention is Palma and Mocimboa da Praia district in the north of Cabo Delgado Province. Activities are encompassing WASH (mainly emergency), RRM, and FSL (food distribution and agriculture and fishery recovery). They are covered under several different donors and grants (ECHO, CDC, BHA). Many activities are quite flexible in terms of geographical targeting as well as the content in order to be adapted to the actual needs of the population.

ABOUT THE JOB

• General objectives

The Field Coordinator has the role of delegated Country Director for a region of a country. He/she proposes a regional strategy according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensure its implementation. He/she checks and ensures that projects are carried out in accordance with the Solidarités International charter, respecting all internal and contractual procedures. He/she mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for programs to run smoothly, and supervises resource management. He/she coordinates the teams in place and is responsible for their security.

• Specific stakes and challenges
• • Secu / Access: Dynamic IS context requiring strong daily monitoring and decision making, maintaining / developing a wide network contacts among civilians and armed forces, coordination with partners (mainly MSF, today the only other INGO with permanent presence in Palma district). For now, we are limited in term of geographical coverage due to the restrictions by the militaries of some axis, with an escort imposed. The presence of militaries is quite heavy in the area, both the Rwandan Defense Forces and the Mozambican forces.
• • HR: In a context were high risks of corruption, diversion and SEA are identified combined with a low humanitarian culture, a thorough follow up of the HR aspect is expected by the Field Coordinator, with sensitive decisions to make and possible investigation to complete. - HR: a big challenge is finding local people qualified enough to perform the job and speaking the local languages. Very few people have done studies after the 12a classe (high school) and the fact that many qualified people has been brought to Palma to work from TOTAL and their partners has been one of the reason of the rebellion. Local profiles need to be advantaged to certain position: every officer position, watchmen, etc, as much as we can. Regional profiles that can speak some of local languages has to advantage as well from other candidates coming from southern provinces.
• • Positioning with TOTAL/Ethics: TOTAL and their partners have been the biggest employers for years in the district. Very few NGO were present before the March 2021 attacks. TOTAL is funding kind of humanitarian/reliefs assistance via their various partners, local or international. We need to reinforce our strategy of positioning toward them, especially when they will fully resume their activities in Afungi. For now, the plan was to avoid as much as we can to intervene in Afungi peninsula since the people (IDPs included) have been assisted by TOTAL’s partner. We need to be seen as totally separated from TOTAL mainly for acceptance purposes.
• • Logistics: To bring and deliver to Palma Sede is a challenge; - The road is under compulsory escort, limiting the transport from Pemba or Mueda; - The only flight available are UNHAS and do not allow transportation of big quantity or equipment; - The sea shipment is under almost a monopole from TOTAL’s partner; - The nearest boarder with Tanzania is closed,
• • Increasing number of international NGOs are starting to implement projects in Palma district and will require additional coordination. Many NGOs are promising for month but except us and MSF no one is present since this day.
• priorities for the first 2/3 months
• • Continue the assessment in every accessible part of the district in order to have an overall overview and start planning the concrete activities according to the needs.
• • Start the technical activity (WASH and FSL) and continue the food distribution + other potential distribution with a focus on the beneficiary targeting and reinforcement of sensibilisation to lower the expectations of the inhabitants,
• • Keep formal relations with the various authority: keep them updated on our activities, discuss security situations, etc: SDPI, secretaria permanente, district administrator, delegations of public technical services, police, etc

Education: Any generalist background with a high sensitivity on context analysis is welcome

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience as manager in humanitarian environments, in highly sensitive contexts;
• Experience in multi-cultural environment;
• Experience in capacity buildings of teams;
• Skills in humanitarian analysis and external representation;
• Experience on security management in complex environment;
• Experience in Mozambique is an asset;

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge on project management and PCM;
• Diplomatic skills
• Experience in WASH and Food security project is an asset
• Training and capacity building skills;
• MS office.

Languages: English are mandatory and Portuguese needs to be learned (fluent in Spanish or Italian is a strong asset). Kiswahili is a very strong asset;

Other desirable qualities: leadership and management / coordination with partners / planning and prioritization / flexibility / capacity to work under stress / solution making oriented / Team player

• • Development of SI culture among national colleagues and strong focus on the promotion of CoC

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post:
According to experience, starting from 2600 euros gross per month (+ 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.

Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Does this description fit you? Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only applications will not be considered.

NB: The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your comprehension

For further information about SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/