- Job number: SRH05444
- Area of expertise: Regional Coordination / Country Director
- Status: Employee
- Position: Missions
- Country: Myanmar (Burma)
- Contract Type: Short term contract
About us
Desired start date: 15/10/2023
Duration of the mission: 1 or 2 years
Location: Yangon, MyanmarSOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
About the mission
SI has been in Myanmar since 2008, first responding to the devastating Nargis Cyclone. In 2011 and 2012, SI expanded to new regions focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH.
SI is currently mainly operating in Rakhine and in Kachin States with outreach emergency capacities through its local partners in Chin, Sagaing and Magway States. The operations are supported by the Coordination team based in Yangon.
While continuing to support the vulnerable communities suffering from a long-term protracted crisis, SI is also developing a stronger and more responsive Emergency component, either directly or through local partners, to tackle the growing needs spreading across the country.
While continuing to support the vulnerable communities suffering from a long-term protracted crisis, SI is also developing a stronger and more responsive Emergency component, either directly or through local partners, to tackle the growing needs spreading across the country.
In 2023, 14 international staff and more than 300 national staff are working with SI Myanmar to implement projects focusing on Wash, FSL and Emergency response. Projects range from immediate life-saving response (Water Scarcity in Rakhine, Emergency response to new displacements etc.) to the search for more sustainable solutions to protracted crisis (handover to communities and local organizations, capacity-building, community empowerment etc.) Projects are currently funded by FCDO, ECHO, CIAA, CDCS and UN agencies with potential for development in terms of geographical coverage and activities’ scope to address the emerging needs.
SI has 2 regional operational bases:
- In Rakhine State - Sittwe regional base with two areas of intervention in Pauktaw, and Sittwe Townships. Sittwe regional base is composed of 239 national staff and 4 expatriates.
Each base is directly supported by the Coordination team in Yangon, composed of 21 national staffs and 9 internationals (CD, DCD-Program, WASH Coordinator, FSL Coordination, Emergency Coordinator, Finance Coordinator, Logistics Coordinator, Grant Manager and Reporting and Communication Officer).
In 2022, the mission budget reached 7 million euros and around 8 to 10 million is expected in 2023. The main financial partners of the mission are ECHO, FCDO, CIAA, CDCS, AFD and UN agencies.
To learn more about the Myanmar mission, please click here.
About the job
The role:
The Country Director is Solidarités International’s official representative in a country.
S/He oversees the smooth running of the mission. S/He proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation once it has been validated. S/He monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with the Solidarités International charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures. S/He mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources. S/He coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission. S/He is the direct liaison for Solidarités International’s HQ. S/He supervises a team of 8 coordinators.
Specific stakes and challenges:
Access challenges and remote management: due to bureaucratic and administrative impediments, access to the country and, within the country, access to the areas of intervention remains a constant challenge to adapt to with impacts on completion of activities, budget consumption etc. While the most critical barrier is access to the field, the current situation prevents SI to secure visas in a short-term perspective. As such, the position will initially be held remotely.Principled positioning: Myanmar is marked by constant challenges on principled humanitarian response due to instrumentalization of aid, frequent access disruptions and intense pressure on NGOs’ operations from authorities and other stakeholders.
Partnership approach: a strong focus is put on localization in all areas of intervention. This requires adaptation to new operational modalities and a strong support to local partners. It also has a strong impact on some key departments at coordination level, with additional work to be considered.
Multiplicity of funding & donors: mission has recently increased in size, securing new donors and new projects. Despite a scale-up in some departments, the increase requirements in terms of reporting, compliance and the operationalization of new funding secured will require close monitoring.
Your profile
Education:
University level degree, preferably a master’s degree in political science, International Relations, Humanitarian Aid.
Experience:
Minimum 5 years of humanitarian experience preferred with a minimum of 2 years in a similar role. Experienced in the representation of a humanitarian INGO and its humanitarian principles. Experienced with country-wide humanitarian short, mid-term and long-term operations management, including finance, HR, communications, logistics, proposal development, security, procurement. Experienced with humanitarian context analysis and variety of challenging humanitarian operations (including negotiating humanitarian access, advocacy, external communication etc.). Experienced in political and security analysis at both local and global levels. Experience in dealing with bilateral and multilateral institutional donors. Comfortable and experienced in working with key humanitarian actors (humanitarian independent INGOs, LNGOs, populations self-resilience organizations, UN, HCT, …) Experienced in HR and organizational management of large-scale missions. Experienced in working within stressful organizational and contextual constraints. Experience in Crisis communication is an asset.
Technical skills and knowledge:
Humanitarian analysis and the advocacy on humanitarian principles. Management of large scale and varied HR resources in a proven efficient and respectful manner, including coaching skills. Regular, clear, fluid, transparent and efficient communication. Networking (with local populations, local staff, Aid organisations, all types of stakeholders, donors, …). Sharing interest in strategic, tactical, and technical components of humanitarian programs. Sharing interest in humanitarian questions and the positioning of other actors. In terms of conflict prevention and solving, and in building team spirit.
Transferable skills:
Ability to take decisions and work in autonomy is essential. The candidate must display diplomatic and smooth leadership skills. An understanding of and commitment to SI’s mission and values. Show a clear calm, stable, mature, and rational personality with a culturally sensitive approach. Willingness to work under challenging conditions. Able to work under pressure, be dynamic and highly motivated to meet populations’ humanitarian needs.
Language:
Bilingual in English and capacity to work with non-native English speakers. Burmese or French are a plus.SI will offer you
A salaried position
According to experience, starting from EUR 3740 gross / per month (EUR 3400 base salary, gross / month + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) + a monthly Per Diem of USD 700.
SI covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.
The Field Coordinator lives in a shared guesthouse with the other international colleagues.
Breaks:
During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every 3 months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7 working days break at 3, 6 and 9 months (with USD 850 allocated by SI). In addition to these, SI adds 1 additional rest day per month of work, i.e. 12 additional days off for a one-year contract.
Insurance package:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which covers 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.
Living conditions:
Due to access constraints for international staff and current inability to secure visa, the position is expected to be held remotely during minimum the first 6 months of the contract. As of now, there is no visibility on ability to secure visas from a middle-term perspective.
As such, the expatriate will be stationed outside of Myanmar, in a country in South-East Asia (possibly Thailand). Should visas be secured, the candidate will be based in Yangon.
Application process
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org Apply