DDG MA/MRE Coordinator

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Copenhagen-based international humanitarian organization. DRC had undertaken several operations in Ukraine since 1998, and returned to the country with its specialized unit, the Danish Demining Group (DDG), in November 2014 to render its expertise at the onset of the humanitarian crisis. Since 2016, DRC, while continuing to answer to emergency needs, is gradually linking these to activities aiming at recovering from the crisis (livelihoods, capacity building of duty-bearers legal assistance, shelter reconstruction, mine action). The DRC Ukraine country programme implements its operations from a national office in Kyiv and field offices in Mariupol, Slovyansk, and Severodonetsk.

Overall purpose of the role

DRC-DDG is seeking a highly qualified, enthusiastic and action-oriented individual for the position of DDG MA/MRE Coordinator to coordinate teams in the implementation of two projects in three sectors – Mine Action (MRE and clearance), Livelihoods and Protection. Projects are funded by the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), the EU's main mechanism to support security initiatives and peace-building activities in partner countries, and by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), which is responsible for leading and coordinating the U.S. government’s response to disasters overseas.

The activities will be implemented between a 18-24 month period in six different communities in government-controlled area (GCA) Luhansk Oblast. The intervention will combine mine action activities such as Mine Risk Education (MRE), non-technical survey, clearance and minefield marking with livelihoods activities and targeted community support projects, designed specifically to improve the resilience of communities and contribute towards the establishment of durable solutions for people living in economically marginalised and conflict-affected regions.

The DDG MA/MRE Coordinator has a direct reporting line to the DDG Head of Programmes and coordinates the implementation of activities directly with DRC-DDG field offices in Ukraine (Slovyansk, Severodonetsk, Mariupol).

Mine Action sector responsibilities:As per project activities, and in close coordination with the demining team, assure the completion of manual mine clearance, clearance of former battle areas, surveys of expected and confirmed mined or UXO areas and capacity building of national demining institutions.

Mine Risk Education sector responsibilities: The MA/MRE Coordinator is responsible for the overall implementation of and reporting on all MRE activities implemented in Ukraine including: the coordination of a large-scale MRE intervention and engagement with national actors and building a strong national capacity; detailed planning of projects roll-out, activities, and phase-out; supervising technical projects implementation and staff in their duties; training and retraining of MRE staff; high-level liaison work with stakeholders, including local government authorities and other mine action organizations in the projects implementation locations; technical support to future NTS implementation; development of further DDG-specific projects; support to the DRC-DDG Ukraine offices in relation to the implementation planning; act in close coordination with respective Area Managers.

Livelihoods and Protection sector responsibilities: In coordination and with the technical support of the Livelihoods and Protection Programme Managers, ensure delivery of business grants, livelihoods restoration activities and community-based projects in the targeted communities. This role is central to the core activity of the EU-funded project. The Project Coordinatorwill serve as the project's grassroots community relations development representative. Together with livelihoods and protection personnel assigned to this project, the DDG MA/MRE Coordinator will facilitate grant making and technical support activities aimed at area development of the targeted communities. The Project Coordinator  should ensure that livelihoods and protection activities are synergized with demining interventions, in order to achieve sustainable impact in the targeted rural areas. The Project Coordinator will also support in the selection of beneficiaries, monitoring and follow-up of the project grantees, various assessments initiated by the project and evaluation of the economic impact of the funded initiatives.

Geographic scope: Country

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Main responsibilities

This position considers   

Project Coordination and implementation

• Under OFDA funding, coordinate a large-scale MRE intervention and engaging with national actors with a view to strengthening their approach to planning and delivering high quality MRE at scale.
• Under IcSP funding coordinate, plan and monitor project activities related to clearance of distinct areas
• Ensure the highest quality of the sectoral interventions, and the coherence between all projects, ongoing and proposed, according to the overall strategy
• Ensure high level of coordination with Livelihoods and Protection Programme managers during planning and implementation of livelihoods and protection activities
• Take a lead of the project in terms of high quality and timely deliveries, narrative reporting and financial overviews, close cooperation with donors, Government counterparts and coordination mechanism on site and in synergy with other DRC interventions in the area
• Formalize and develop project related operational tools and training modules
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports
• Provide overall budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control for the project activities, including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements

  Program development and strategy

• Representation of DRC and active participation in sectoral and relevant sub sectors/working groups
• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs
• Drive the development and growth of the relevant programs within the DRC program objectives and feed into country-wide strategy development

  Accountability and reporting

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project program as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement

  Supervisor responsibilities:

• Monitor the day-to-day activities and supervise employees.
• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for staff members
• May contribute to performance appraisals of supervised employees
• May contribute to the recruitment of supervised employees

Reports to DDG HeadofProgramme

Required experience and technical competencies Applicants are expected to have a demonstrated generalist background in the development or humanitarian field with significant experience in project cycle management, and representation with community and governmental representatives.

• Minimum 5 years of proven international experience in NGO projects

• Experience coordinating OFDA and EU-funded projects is strongly preferred
• Experience in Humanitarian Mine Action sector is essential, technical expertise in mine risk education is strongly preferred
• Experience working in the development or humanitarian field outside of mine action is also required; experience in the livelihood project area is strongly preferred
• Full professional proficiency in English, knowledge of the Russian or Ukrainian language is strong advantage
• Experience of working in post-Soviet countries is an asset
• Excellent writing and editing skills for external audiences (including governments and donors)
• Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, programme tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.)
• Experience working with monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in producing high quality reports is essential

  All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC's vision and values.

Required education Relevant university degree(e.g.political science,international development,economics)

Duty Station: Ukraine, Slovyansk

Contract length: 24 months. Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates as posted at www.drc.ngo under Vacancies grade G. Expected date of deployment in Ukraine as soon as possible. Signature of the contract is subject to funding availability.

Level: G

Application deadline: 28 August 2019

Start date: ASAP

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online system on https://drc.ngo/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies Applications sent by email will not be considered.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.