Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 31 Aug 2017
ABOUT THE MISSION
Posted on: 05/05/2017
Desired start date: 15/07/2017
Duration of the mission: 12 months
Location: Dhaka, with frequent field visits to bases
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 frequency and impact of natural disasters, as well as the exposure of the country to climate change justifies the involvement of SI in Bangladesh, from a humanitarian point of view. 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 - CXB) 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. SI’s programs teach the communities how to become more resilient towards future hazard events, this includes how to evacuate people and possessions as soon as possible, how to protect villages and fields by building small-scale infrastructures (dykes, causeways), and how to incorporate adaptive coping strategies for farmers by establishing agricultural practices and livelihoods that are less vulnerable to natural disasters.
New situation in CXB:
The attacks on three border posts along the Myanmar–Bangladesh border on 9 October by Harakah al-Yaqin, a resurgent group in Rakhine state resulted in a military crackdown against Rohingya population, leading more than 74,000 Rohingyas to flee the country, escaping persecutions and violence. The newly arrived Rohingyas mainly settled in the registered, unregistered camps (makeshifts) and in the host communities of Ukhia and Teknaf, putting an additional pressure on already over scarce natural resources and limited basic services.
Security context:
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. Following the attack an important crackdown on suspected groups by law enforcers was done.
Recently (March and April), several important operations by authorities occurred to flush militants out. At the end of March 2017, 3 suicide-attacks in one week targeting law enforcers were claimed by IS.
ABOUT THE JOB
Intervention:
SI strategy for 2017 focuses on 3 axes:
• Emergency preparedness in SI's working areas and emergency response (ER) in all the country.
• Integrated WASH/FSL approach with DRR as a mainstream in all current and future projects.
• Local advocacy approach in CXB and at national level to sensitize the stakeholders about protection issues and humanitarian priorities in Bangladesh.
SI expertise allows the mission to intervene both in emergency and recovery situations, and gradually integrate interventions aiming at fostering long term resilience of populations in disaster prone areas. SI is currently involved in:
• A WaSH and DRR intervention in CXB which aims at improving access to WASH to Rohingyas and host communities and reduce the potential tensions related to the scarcity of resources in this area.
• An emergency response (ending in June) following the influx leading to an increase of 74’000 Rohingyas in CXB. The emergency response has started mid-Dec. 2016 to answer to the 1st needs of these new arrivals fleeing persecutions from Myanmar Army. SI has been distributing water, NFI kits, emergency latrine kits, water filters, and is increasing sanitation and water facilities (communal latrines and water infrastructures) in villages with high density of new arrivals.
• A resilience project focusing on DRR with an integrated approach in WASH and FSL in CXB and Bandarban, is starting, targeting both host communities and minorities, especially Rohingyas. FSL is a critical need in those areas, it is a pilot activity for SI where important political constraints in CXB could make the project implementation challenging. This project is in consortium with ACF.
Another project with an integrated approach between WASH and FSL in CXB should also start in July.
Strategy to develop projects in Dhaka slums to improve water and sanitation access, and also to continue FSL activities in Satkhira where SI ended a project in March 2017.
Responsibilities:
• The Country Director is the Solidarités International official representative in Bangladesh.
• S/He is in charge of the smooth running of the mission.
• S/He Updates the mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context and ensures its implementation.
• S/He monitors projects, ensuring that they are progressing in accordance with Solidarités International charter and Code of Ethic and Conduct 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 HQ.
YOUR PROFILE
Qualification :
• Post graduate level in development / humanitarian studies (desirable but can be balanced by experience)
Experience :
• Substantial experience in a similar or senior management position in an overseas INGO environment, ideally in both emergency and longer-term contexts
• Experience of strategic planning
• Experience of managing large teams in multiple locations with various problematic
• Experience of managing security
• Experience of budget management and donor compliance
• Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues and partners from different functions and cultures
Technical skill and competence:
• Excellent representational skills, to represent SI to a broad range of people and organizations including donors and government officials.
• An ability to reflect on and learn from own performance and the performance of the program; and to act upon that learning
• Ability to consider, understand and make use of the historical background of SI presence in Bangladesh
• A good understanding of security management
• A good understanding of humanitarian issues including refugees, protection, advocacy, DRR and climate change issues
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office
Personal quality:
• An ability to analyze information quickly and accurately
• Good problem solving skills in day to day and crisis situations
• A flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks with tight deadlines
• Ability to take decisions and work in autonomy
• An understanding of and commitment to SI’s mission and values
Language :
• Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
Desirable:
• Previous experience in South Asia could be a plus
• Previous experience with SI is a plus
WE OFFER
SI will offer you:
A salaried post: according to experience from 2500 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)
For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/
CONTACT
Sebastaino Siringo, 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