Mauritania: Representative, Mauritania

Position type and closing date

The closing date for applications is 15 June 2018.

Contract duration: 3 years with possibility for extension.

Please note that applicants are required to obtain an endorsement from the church to which they belong.**

Background

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition comprising 143 member churches in 79 countries all over the world, representing 70.5 million Christians. The World Service is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation, assisting people in need irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or gender. We implement programs worldwide, working with both local and international partners, helping communities achieve their full potential and advocate for their universal rights. Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UNHCR, with whom we are a key implementing partner. For additional information please see www.lutheranworld.org.

Purpose of the position

Provides leadership, management and supervision of the Lutheran World Federation World Service (LWF/WS) Country Program in Mauritania and ensures implementation of projects, programs, policies and guidelines for the achievement of goals and objectives as outlined in the LWF/WS Global Strategic Plan.

The LWF Mauritania Representative is responsible for the implementation of the LWF Mauritania Country Program.

Required Qualifications

University degree or equivalent in development studies, economics, social science or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant working experience at management level in humanitarian assistance or development oriented programs within an international environment and preferably with church-related or non-governmental organizations.
• Strong leadership, conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrated organizational, management and supervisory skills.
• Knowledge and experience of cooperation with the United Nations, governmental agencies and international development cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance, advocacy, human rights and sustainable development is essential.
• Team-oriented, flexible and with excellent communication skills.
• Experience from the region would be an additional asset.
• Broad knowledge of LWF, its member churches and related agencies desirable.

Language Skills

French advanced written and oral skills

English advanced written and oral skills

Arabic would be an additional asset

Main Duties

On Leadership:

1. Provides overall leadership to the LWF/WS Program;
2. Leads and ensures the effective coordination and operation of the country management team
3. Promotes, implements and upholds the vision, mission, core values and relevant objectives of the Global LWF/WS strategy, as well as the relevant Country Strategy;
4. Ensures effective leadership in all aspects of the LWF/WS Accountability Framework, including other accountability elements related to leadership and management, and adherence to the LWF staff Code of Conduct regarding Abuse of Power and Sexual Exploitation;
5. Facilitates and actively seeks to sharpen the profile of LWF/WS as an international humanitarian organization through continuously striving to improve the quality of the program according to LWF/WS’ empowerment, rights-based and integrated approach;
6. Promotes and facilitates the establishment and strengthening of national and regional networks relevant to the LWF/WS strategy for the country/region;

On Management:

1. Programmatic work:

2. Ensures that management systems in the country are established and strengthened to enable the smooth implementation of LWF programmatic work and facilitate learning and capacity building in the program;

3. Supports the planning, supervision, implementation, monitoring, documentation, administration and evaluation of the LWF/WS program in accordance with LWF/WS policies, priorities, procedures and guidelines;

4. Promotes partnership and collaboration with affected populations, primary focus groups and local civil society partners (NGOs) throughout the program cycle, as central to overall accountability;

5. Undertakes regular monitoring of program/project at sites in the country;

6. Makes proposals to LWF/WS Communion Office for any changes in the program, including new opportunities for service, program changes to better meet needs;

7. Ensures that timely, accurate and relevant reports are submitted according to agreements.

8. Human Resources:

9. Acts as the Direct Supervisor of the Program Coordinator and the Finance Manager;

10. Develops staffing plans in accordance with LWF policies and procedures, facilitates / supports ongoing recruitment and staffing of positions and supervises all matters pertaining to LWF/WS program personnel, both national and international;

11. Ensures that new staff are provided with thorough orientation to the LWF’s priorities and guiding principles as a humanitarian organization, the LWF/WS country program and the project to which they are assigned;

12. Is responsible for staff safety and security issues in the Country Program. Monitors and addresses security matters and informs/advises the LWF/WS Communion Office. Develops and adheres to a security plan developed for all levels of field staff and visitors to the program;

13. Ensures that recruitment and programming are gender-sensitive, with the goal of gender balance within the staff, both in terms of numbers and levels of responsibility and ensuring that the skills of national staff are developed and utilized to the fullest extent possible;

14. Prioritizes staff development and continual learning for staff of the Country Program and, as applicable, implementing partners and ACT Alliance members.

15. Fundraising and Finance:

16. Ensures the elaboration of high-quality project proposals in line with formats of the funding partners and supports the Program Coordinator in supervising the implementation of approved projects within the agreed budgets and subject to the availability of funds, including timely reporting;

17. Ensures the complementarity and close working relations of finance and program units ;

18. Ensures efficient financial management of the program activities and administration, including effective internal control systems to promote financial accountability, and ensures that the financial transactions are conducted in accordance with the relevant priorities and LWF/WS procedures;

19. Actively engages in negotiations with U.N. agencies, EU offices and other potential additional funding sources in order to develop a viable portfolio of projects and programs for LWF Mauritania.

On Program:

1. Ensures all emergency response, refugee assistance and humanitarian interventions are undertaken in accordance with the LWF/WS policies and guidelines, including the Sphere Project and the Core Humanitarian Standard;
2. Ensures that the different program approaches stated in the LWF/WS Global Strategy be incorporated into the projects, programs and policies of the Program;
3. Ensures that an integrated, rights-based and gender sensitive empowerment approach is used in all interventions;
4. Identifies and works in close collaboration with local partners based on mutual accountability, trust and respect;
5. Promotes accountability, especially to the affected population, in all LWF/WS emergency and development responses.

On Relations:

1. Maintains the requisite consultative relationships with the relevant governmental authorities and ensures that LWF/WS operates in line with national / local rules and regulations;
2. Maintains close communication and cooperation with LWF’s related agencies, and, if applicable, their local and regional offices;
3. Maintains a close working and consultative working relationship with the LWF/WS programs and emergency operations in the region, LWF Member Churches and other appropriate ecumenical and/or faith-based partners through frequent informal coordination and collaboration;
4. Plays an active role in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance forums, ensuring participation in strategic discussions, and providing support where possible;
5. Fosters and maintains good coordination and collaboration with international and bilateral cooperating and co-financing partners, particularly with U.N., governments and their agencies, and other international and national NGOs, and promotes the Principles of Partnership (PoP);
6. Carries out cooperation with relevant Department for Mission and Development (DMD) Area Secretary in the Geneva Communion Office on issues related to LWF member churches in the country/region.

Other duties

As may be assigned by the direct supervisor.

Major Challenges:

To ensure the stability and effectiveness of the Program in a highly unpredictable programming context, particularly in relation to conflict, logistics and security constraints. The Country Representative has to ensure the program remains vibrant, well-funded and develops its reputation as a reliable and effective partner for the focus groups, UN agencies, LWF Related Agencies, Institutional donors, other NGO partners and the Government

To apply, please follow the link:https://lutheranworld.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk01ql3?cjb_hash=O_hUMz55&apply_now=true