NIGERIA - DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS (M/F) - ABUJA

About us

Desired start date: September 1st, 2025
Duration of the mission: July 31st, 2026
Location: Abuja

SOLIDARITES 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 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 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

Solidarites International launched its operation in Nigeria in 2016 as a consequence of the humanitarian needs of displaced populations and host communities caused by the current crisis with conflict and the ongoing violence in the North-East of Nigeria led by Armed Opposition Groups since 2009. The security situation and epidemics/outbreaks continue to affect millions of lives in Northeastern and North Western parts of Nigeria. As of June 2022, according to IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix, an estimated 2.2 million people are displaced within Borno State which remains, for a major part, inaccessible to humanitarian actors.

The targeted sectors of intervention are WASH, Shelter, RRM, Food Security & Livelihoods. The annual budget of the mission is around 8.3 million euros in 2022.

The mission is organized with a coordination office in Maiduguri and 3 bases located in Ngala, Dikwa and Monguno managed remotely from Maiduguri for the North-East. In the North-West, Solidarites International is conducting activities on 3 bases located in Gusau, Anka and Taleta in Zamfara State. Abuja is the representative for the mission Nigeria.

About the job

General objective:

The DCD-Programs’ prime objectives are to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming, overseeing the strengthening of SI’s programs development, quality and accountability.

The DCD-Programs ensures the internal coherence between program activities and is responsible for ensuring that programs are driven by needs, based on evidence, adaptable to contextual changes and conflict sensitive, monitored closely and resourced appropriately. He or She leads a team of technical coordinators and advisors dedicated to promoting technical expertise and quality programming in direct liaison with the Program Manger. He or She closely collaborates with Field Coordinators and Supports Services to mitigate operational constraints.

The DCD-Programs leads the roll-out of institutional workstreams and cross-cutting theme framework with the support of the Programs coordination team and in collaboration with the Field Coordinators.

The main challenges:

- Access challenges and remote management due to security contraints
- Strengthening programme quality monitoring processes, remote monitoring and means of verification
- Strategic positionning in a global trend of funding decrease
- Focus on partnership and localization in all areas of intervention. This requires adapted operational modalities and a support to local partners.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

-Support the programmatic strategy review exercise
- Reviewing evaluations, conducting needs assessments and defining intervention logics for project development
- Close monitoring the implementation of projects in line with deadlines and quality standards
- Follow-up of external representation efforts
- Monitoring of partnerships and capacity building plan

Security constraints:

No-walking policy everywhere in the country

Security situation calm in Abuja, level 2 (out of 5), Maiduguri is level 3 and level 4 in other bases/sub-bases.

Your profile

DIPLOMAS AND EXPERIENCE

MSc in Humanitarian affairs, programming, International affairs

Experience in the humanitarian sector : 5+ years

Experience on a similar position : 3-4 years

SKILLS

TECHNICAL SKILLS

- Extensive knowledge about project cycle management and monitoring tools
- Operational monitoring and improvement of programmatic delivery in insecure and remote areas
- Good knowledge of cross-cutting issues, such as environment & climate change adaptations, gender, protection mainstreaming, etc.
- Knowledge of SI sectors of intervention (WASH, FSL, Shelter)
- Experience in partnerships mapping and development

TRANSVERSAL SKILLS

- Autonomy, prioritization and self-organization
- Management and leadership
- Innovative and solutions oriented
- External representation
- Ability to provide training and capacity building

LANGUAGES

- English (fluent - mandatory)
- Haoussa (strong asset)
- French (an asset)

SI will offer you

A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 3080 gross per month (2800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 600 to 750 USD (depending on location).

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

Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.

Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds 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:

The DCDP is based in Abuja with frequent field visit expected in the regional offices (Maiduguri and potentially Gusau or Sokoto)
In Abuja, living condition are good and all commodities can be found (supermarket, restaurant, cinema, sport centers ...)

At base level, (maiduguri or Gusau), the bases offers a comfortable environment, in spite of limited movements outside of the compound for security reasons. The Guest House offers good living conditions, with private bedroom and bathroom and shared & comfortable common spaces. Electricity and internet are available at the office and at the GH at all times. Ping pong, pool table and some gym equipment are available in the GH in Maiduguri. All essential good (food, hygiene etc..) can be bought locally in the small shops around the office, or in the pre-validated supermarket. Visits to other NGOs are possible, as well as some pre-validated places (hotel and restaurants).
Occasional field visit in NW, and NE sub bases, to ensure a correct program overview depedning on the security context and validation.

How to apply

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

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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme - qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.

Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.

Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.

Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.