Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategy and Development

• In coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator, contribute to the development of the area-based approach elements of the Acted and IMPACT country programme strategies in alignment with global guidance and Acted and IMPACT strategies and mission level learning

• Work with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator in identifying strategic opportunities for expanding the area-based approach in the relevant area, and in communicating this effectively to higher-level coordination (CD/DCDP and the CC/DCC)

1. External Relations

All in close coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator: 

• Support the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator and the Program Development Unit by contributing to and reviewing program development and information produccts shared with donors. 

• Lead the coordination of donor visits in the field related to ABA projects in relevant areas. 

• Develop and maintain active and regular working relationships at area level with other NGOs, NES Forum coordination and working groups, and consortia on issues relevant to the area-based approach

• In coordination with relevant Acted staff, i.e. designated field partnerships support and PD Unit, actively identify and develop relationships with potential international and local partners relevant to the area-based approach projects. 

• In close coordination with the Area Coordinators and relevant staff, ensure establishment, maintenance, and improvement of active and regular working relationships with local authorities and, where necessary, non-state actors and obtain required authorizations and buy-in for area-based approach projects. 

• Execute facilitation and liaison activities to actively consult and involve beneficiaries, key informants, actors, partners, and stakeholders in all stages of area-based approach project implementation. 

• Ensure that contact with beneficiaries is at all times conducted in a sensitive, respectful, and participatory manner. 

• Work with relevant Acted and IMPACT units in country to support the development and dissemination of area-based approach related information products. 

1. Project Development

• With support from t the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator, coordinate with Program Coordinators and Program Managers at field level to ensure that design of technical activities for area-based approach projects are in line with global guidance, are relevant for progress toward resilience outcomes, and are technically sound.

1. Area-Based Approach Project Cycle Follow-Up

    

2. Project Planning

• In close coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator and Program Development Unit, contribute to project kick-off and close-out meetings in line with the Syria Governance Memo. 

• In close coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator and Program Managers and Program Coordinators at field level, ensure that all area-based approach projects have an implementation strategy and workplan aligned with global AGORA guidance and include lessons learned from previous implementation. 

• Coordinate closely with relevant Acted staff and units and IMPACT units to ensure that effective planning leads to the coherent implementation of the different activities of the area-based approach methodology. 

• Contribute to the localization and outreach of the area-based approach in coordination with designated partnerships support and the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator through ensuring implementing partners and other partners are considered, included, and consulted as part of the project design and in project planning. 

   

1. Project Implementation Follow-Up

    

• Coordinate regularly with technical program staff (Program Managers and Program Coordinators) Across Acted’s sectors of intervention in area-based approach project areas to ensure effective area-based approach activity implementation - ensuring that technical requirements and quality standards are considered and respected during project implementation, in line with global AGORA guidance and Acted / IMPACT standards and guidance and mission level lessons learned.

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• Anticipate and mitigate risks and implementation delays regarding area-based approach activities and provide ad-hoc support to project implementation through trouble shooting and eliminating block points.

• Ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of project deliverables.

1. Project Quality Control and Capitalization

In close coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Officer: 

• Ensure the application of practical field-based MEAL systems/plans for each project, including new data collection methods focusing on resilience and area-based approach programming. 

• Ensure program led monitoring utilizes mainstreamed and resilience tools for easier analysis 

• Ensure implementation is done according to agreed technical methodology through field visits to project sites to assess activities

• Advise project managers to adapt projects according to monitoring and evaluation findings 

• Advise on and assist with project reviews conducted by MEAL Unit 

• Ensure capitalisation of best practices and lessons learned for area-based approach projects in areas of operation, together with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator and Officer, MEAL Unit and IMPACT teams. 

1. Implementing Partners

• Regularly conduct area-level stakeholder mappings of potential partnerships for area-based approach programming. 

• Lead on area-based approach project local partnerships by regularly reviewing partnerships with existing implementing partners and ensure that any issues or disputes are resolved in a timely manner. 

• Provide support to partners in project implementation and ensure timely and qualitative projects by partners in line with AGORA global guidance, Acted and donor requirements, and based on mission-level lessons learned and SOPs.

• With technical support from the Partnerships Unit and in coordination with designated field partnership support, lead review meetings with partners, with particular attention given to the relationship aspects of partnership collaboration. 

   

1. Guidance Development 

    

• Contribute to the development of country level area-based approach guidance and SOPs tailored to the country context, in close coordination with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator and Officer.  

• Lead the implementation of workshops and trainings at field-level for internal (staff) and external (community, beneficiaries, and partners) audiences/participants  

• Support and coordinate data collection / analysis towards research required to build the evidence base for area-based approach project development at area-level. This could take the form of research on local governance mechanisms underpinning livelihoods systems, informal neighbourhood zones, local and customary governance or state-community relations etc.

1. Internal Coordination and Communication

    

• Facilitate interdepartmental and inter-organization (Acted / IMPACT and relevant area-based approach partners when relevant) communication and information sharing with regards to area-based approach projects at field-level. 

• Setup, or actively maintain and contribute to existing regular area-based coordination and ensure that records are kept and shared with the Resilience and Recovery Technical Coordinator on regular basis.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required and above;

• Fluent English and Arabic (written and spoken);

• Excellent writing and communication skills;

• At least 6 years’ work experience with an INGO in an emergency and/or development setting 

• At least 4 years of experience in program management ( At least 4 years of experience in social cohesion (protection community engagement) and/or WASH and FSL technical background is an advantage)

• Ability to travel between all NES areas

• Master’s degree humanitarian sectors is an advantage. 

• Strong understanding of resilience-based humanitarian programming and community engagement 

• Demonstrated experience with coordination, external relations, including working with local partners

• Familiarity with the humanitarian system, and ability to understand donor and governmental requirements

• Ability to work under pressure in a high-pace and multi-cultural environment;

• Good organisational and prioritisation skills;

• Any related program management trainings;

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel ,  Word and PowerPoint ;

• At least 4 years of managerial role;

• Strong interpersonal skills;

• Proven ability to work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office.