Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 31 Dec 2016
Posted on: 28/11/2016
Desired start date: ASAP
Duration of the mission: 4 months (until 31/03/17)
Location: Satkhira
About the mission
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) opened its mission in Bangladesh at the end of 2007, following cyclone SIDR.
SI’s intervention and strategy in Bangladesh is to address primary needs of crisis affected people in terms of food security, livelihood, disaster risk reduction (DRR), water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) and shelter, by making use of an integrated disaster risk reduction approach and by taking into account the effects of climate change, whilst working in parallel on mid-long term resilience strategies.
The organization provides emergency response in the wake of natural disasters (cyclones, storms, floods, landslides) and slow onset disaster (waterlogging) in the South-West (Sathkira district) and humanitarian assistance to the communities in the South-East (Cox’s Bazar district) where a significant number of ethnic and religious minorities (especially Rohingya people) also residing amongst local communities, pressuring the natural resources as a result of the rapid population growth.
SI supports displaced people and affected communities immediately after a disaster through the distribution of various kits, cash for work, emergency access to safe drinking water) and in the early recovery phase by livelihood activities, reconstruction of dwellings, etc.
Organization of the mission
SI in 2016 is currently implementing three projects in different areas of intervention:
- In Satkhira District: a resilience livelihood and DRR program (ECHO funding) and a WASH pilot project (AUD funding) and a WASH program (ECHO and BPRM funding)
- In Cox's Bazaar District: WASH and DRR programs (ECHO and BPRM funding).
The projects amount is 2, 2 million euros and implemented by a team of 88 national employees and 4 expatriate employees.
About the job
The PM will work under the supervision of the Field Coordinator.
(S)he is responsible for overseeing operational teams assigned to the program.
(S)he guarantees the good performance and the quality of the implemented activities, and, where appropriate, proposes adjustments or developments to ensure relevance.
(S)he might be required to support for emergency interventions in any other township.
She/he will primarily be in charge of quality and timely implementation of the project finishing in March 2017).
Security context:
In Bangladesh:
Besides the hardening of the political situation, the country is facing the increase of radical Islamism. The moderate Islam normally associated with Bangladesh is threatened by the rise of political Islam, encouraged partly by short-term party political considerations and by the current rise of radicalized Islam globally. 1st – 2nd July 2016 the attack in an upscale restaurant in the diplomatic area of Dhaka took 23 lives (including 17 foreigners) and claimed by IS, confirmed the escalation of the Islamic threat in the country.
In Satkhira:
Basically the escalation of radicalized Islam in the country, specifically in this area with JEI back-ground, and the location of this city near Kolkata, India, raised some concerns on the security context. However, after an assessment of the security by SI’s HQ Security Advisor and in the absence of any significant security incidents in Satkhira, it was agreed to stay on security level 2, as the context has actually been relatively quiet. Plus, since Oct. a new Field Coordinator monitors closely the security situation of the area.
Living conditions:
Satkhira is a medium town in Bangladesh counting more than 450,000 inhabitants and offering minimum services (local restaurants, local shops…), close to Khulna (3h by car) the third largest city of Bangladesh and easily accessible from Dhaka (half day trip including internal flight).
Satkhira base offered all the comfort (electricity, water, Wi-Fi, AC) but the Guest House would be in the same building than the Office. Despite possibilities for time to time leisure periods in Dhaka, the restriction of movements due to security reasons and the absence of permanent international presence from other organizations make it a project-focused humanitarian assignment.
On an overall point of view, this assignment will allow the PM to fulfill core humanitarian objectives, providing most-needed services to non-conflicting local populations with the support of dedicated SI national staff at base and coordination levels. The programs run by SI during these last years in Satkhira have always been benefiting from a strong support by ECHO. The completion of the activities in the timeframe defined with ECHO stands as a rewarding challenge that will be shared with local national colleagues, the coordination and the HQ.
Your profile
Qualification:
- Post graduate level in relevant field, preferably in food security - livelihood or wash
Experience:
- At least 2 years of international experience in project management in food security and livelihood sector
- Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
- Experience of donor reporting requirements
Technical skill and competence:
- Strong knowledge in project and team management,
- Knowledge in food security and livelihood approaches and methodologies appreciated
- Capacity to deal with many different issues, to self- update and learn very quickly from a highly and constantly evolving environment
- A flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks with tight deadlines is essential
- An ability to analyze information quickly and accurately
- Good problem solving skills in day to day
Personal quality:
- Ability to take initiatives, decisions and work in autonomy is essential;
- As functional manager, the candidate must display diplomatic and smooth leadership skills;
- An understanding of and commitment to SI’s mission and values;
Language: Good communication skills, with good written and spoken English
Other:
- Previous experience with SI (highly recommended)
- Previous experience in South Asia (recommended)
SI will offer you:
Salaried post: According to experience from 1600 euros gross per month, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 450 USD.
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.
Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).
During the assignment, the expatriate is entitled to R&R every three months: one week at three and nine months (with a 500 euro allowance) and two weeks at six months (with a plane ticket back home covered by Solidarités).
CONTACT: Anna FRANGI, Recruitment & Follow Up Officer
How to apply:
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