Ethiopia: Project Coordinator
Country: Ethiopia
Closing date: 12 Aug 2013
Merlin Job Description 1Job DescriptionPosition: Project CoordinatorResponsible To: Operations ManagerWorks With: Country Management Team, Log/ Admin Officer, Project Medical Coordinator, Finance, Logistics and medical teams.Location: Ethiopia, Afder Zone, Somali Regional stateContract Duration: 12 monthsStarting Date: asapSalary: £26,430- £27,180 per annum (dependant on relevant experience),Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.Position is subject to funding.MerlinMerlin is an international health charity, saving lives in the world’s toughest places. Merlin responds with healthcare, when people are overwhelmed by natural disaster, conflict or disease and in need of immediate help. We focus on treating those who are beyond the reach of existing health services. After the immediate crisis, Merlin stays on to assist recovery. Using our expertise, we support health workers and strengthen existing health services. We build resilience by helping those at risk of future health disasters, to be better prepared.We think everyone should have access to lasting healthcare. We believe good health is fundamental to transforming people’s lives, that’s why Merlin is A Force for Health.As of 16 July, Merlin is joining Save the Children to create a world-class humanitarian health force for children and their families living in some of the toughest places in the world. By combining Merlin’s unique network of frontline health workers with Save the Children’s life-saving work in over 120 countries, more children affected by disaster or conflict will be reached.Both organisations are really excited by this opportunity to dramatically increase our reach and impact for children and their families.For those teams transferring as part of this plan, our expectation is that there will be a phased transition of Merlin’s overseas programme operations and head office teams to Save the Children, which we are aiming to complete within 18 months. During this timeMerlin Job Description 2Merlin’s life-saving work for children and their families around the world will continue.Context and BackgroundEthiopia remains one of Africa's poorest states, with a very low income per capita and a population that is almost two-thirds illiterate. The agricultural sector has suffered from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. The devastating drought in 2003 led to widespread malnutrition and diarrhoeal disease, and resulted in more than 8 million people becoming dependent on international agencies for food. Nearly half the population of Ethiopia is without access to healthcare.Since March 2003 Merlin has been working in Ethiopia. At that time operations were started in Oromiya Region, one of the areas worst affected by a prolonged drought. Merlin’s programs focus mainly on the provision of primary healthcare services through mobile and static clinics but include also community-based water and sanitation programs and community based nutrition programmes. Currently MERLIN is maintaining three interventions in the country. MERLIN’s health programs in Ethiopia are implemented in coordination with the respective Regional Health Bureaus (MoH).In April 2008 Merlin started an Emergency health care support project in Somali Region, in the South-Eastern part of Ethiopia and bordering neighbouring Somalia. It is said to be the poorest region in Ethiopia and has an approximate population of more than 4.5 million. Recent assessments in the region show a deterioration of the humanitarian situation with food prices increasing on a monthly basis and trade restrictions continue to adversely affect an already very fragile food security situation. Cyclical droughts and floods in the past four years have led to the depletion of livestock and the reduction of agricultural output in a largely pastoral community. A long-standing violent conflict between two armed rebel groups and the Ethiopian Army and influx from displaced people from Somalia fleeing the conflict and the drought continues to aggravate the situation for the population and access of humanitarian aid to certain areas is sometimes impeded.Merlin’s current emergency primary health care and nutrition intervention in Afder Zone (Somali Region) is currently funded by UNICEF and has been operational since July 2012. During June 2013 Merlin expects to substantially scale up its program – with additional funding form OFDA and UNOCHA-ERF – to include primary health care and CMAM support to approximately 60 MoH health facilities through the provision of drugs, nutritional supplies, basic equipment and capacity building of health workers in four districts (woredas) of Afder; namely Barey, Qarsadula, Guradamole, and Gorobakaksa. The program seeks to address acute malnourishment, expand community access to health care, and contribute to long-term development of the local health system, in close collaboration with our community and MoH counterparts.Main purpose of the roleMerlin Job Description 3The Programme Coordinator will be responsible for all Merlin activities in Afder. They will have a specific focus on overseeing project implementation, reporting, financial monitoring, human resources, representation, coordination, logistics and supervising the administrative functions of relevant departments, specifically logistics and finance. The context in Somali Region requires good analytical skills, the ability to develop strong relationships with community and stakeholders, and experienced security management.Overall Objectives (scope)? To be an effective and efficient manager of the project consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.? To develop and maintain an effective team? To ensure team safety, compliance with security regulations and sound contextual analysis? To represent Merlin to the Regional and Zonal government offices, other NGOs, UN agencies and other relevant parties? To ensure appropriate Merlin administrative, financial and logistical systems/procedures are in place, maintained and adhered to so that all support functions are carried out effectively and efficientlyResponsibilitiesProgramme Management and Development? Work in close collaboration with the Project Medical Coordinator in Korahe and field medical staff to ensure effective and efficient management of the project resources consistent with the project management cycle, program objectives, activities and indicators.? Draw up plans, proposals and budgets for new projects/project extensions in conjunction with the relevant operations, logistics, medical and financial staff? Ensure all relevant stakeholders are included in the planning and implementation of projects as appropriate including conducting regular grant and project review meetings? Pro-actively contribute to programme development and strategy? In conjunction with the Project Medical Coordinator ensure that monitoring systems are in place and that project reviews/ audits are undertaken.? Ensure the project compliance to bureaucratic requirements, GoE regulations/Laws and donor requirements? Monitor the evolving humanitarian situation in the project area, with timely information analyses, discussion, and action-orientated recommendations.? Line-manage four senior national staff and ensure effective management of approximately 30 national staff.Security? Prioritise team safety by attending relevant meeting / forums and proactively monitoring the political, military, and security situation in the project areas.? In collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator, Operations Manager and CountryMerlin Job Description 4? Director, regularly update and ensure adherence to the security guidelines and regulations? Providing timely verbal and written security incident reports to the Country Director.? Briefing all staff on arrival in the field on the security context and its implications? Facilitate the evacuation of field-based teams if necessary.? Ensure a healthy balance between staff security and programme needs through liaison and discussion with the Country Director.Logistics/ Finance/ Administration? In conjunction with the relevant staff, ensure a solid transition plan for administration and logistics function is in place for the programme.? As budget holder, ensure the appropriate administrative, financial and logistical? Merlin systems/procedures are in place within Merlin and adhered to so that all support functions are consistently carried out effectively, efficiently and in a transparent manner? Maintain familiarity with donor compliance issues, ensuring all projects are compliant with donor and Merlin procedures? Document the project for transparency and future donor inspection/audit? In collaboration with relevant field and Addis Ababa staff, oversee the field’s logistical activities including international and local procurement? Accurately manage and control the project budget through the preparation and submission of projected expenditures, forecasting and monthly monitoring of expenditure versus the budget reports? Ensure good communications are established and maintained between the field? offices and the Addis Ababa Logistics and Finance departmentsHuman Resource Management? Overall responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all field staff in project areas? Maintain good teamwork and communications? Assist in recruitment planning for national and international staff including development of job description and skills requirement, interviewing and selection? Ensure that regular appraisals are carried out and as per Merlin standard requirements and procedures, focusing on clear objectives, training needs analysis and follow up? With the Health Coordinators, ensure appropriate capacity development and training? of all project national and international personnelRepresentation? Participate in donor visits and relevant discussions with donors.? Represent the project/ Merlin to local government authorities and other parties as necessaryMerlin Job Description 5? Ensure all relevant parties are kept informed on Merlin activities as appropriate.Other? Provide coverage for other posts when necessary and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Operations ManagerPerson SpecificationEssentialQualifications, experience and competences? Masters degree in a related field? Strong experience in a humanitarian project management capacity, including in remote and insecure areas.? Good experience in a humanitarian and/or development context preferably in a coordination/management/operations role, including experience of logistics, report writing, project cycle management and financial and administrative management.? Experience of security management experience in an unstable environment, including negotiation of access.? Experience of conducting needs assessments, project development and new project start-up.? Good organisational skills with a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a heavy workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines? Strong problem solving skills and experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues,? Excellent relationship building and diplomacy skills, including in a multi-cultural context.? Good leadership skills with a supportive, consultative and decisive management style.? Excellent team worker with experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues and addressing conflict.? Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English.? Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office? An understanding of, and commitment to, Merlin’s mission and values? An ability to live and work in a hot and dry environmentMerlin Job Description 6DesirableQualifications, experience and competences? Previous experience of working in Africa within health care projects/public health? Experience in the fields of primary health care, nutrition, and/or food security programming.? Understanding of pastoralist communities, particularly in an East African context.? Previous experience of working with local implementing partners
How to apply:
To apply for this positionTo apply for this job, please go to www.merlin.org.uk/jobs and apply using our online recruitment system. In order to apply for a job with Merlin online you will need to complete a short registration process and create an account – the online recruitment system explains how to do this. Once your account has been created, you will be able to save the information that you have entered in your application and re-visit it at any time before you submit it.If you are unable to apply online for any technical reason, please contact applications@merlin.org.uk.Please note that we do not accept CVs. Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.Data ProtectionPlease note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
