Aid Coordination Officer LACS Prime Minister Office Palestinian Authorities Ramallah P-3 NORDEM

NORCAP, part of the Norwegian Refugee Council, solves challenges in the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors to better protect vulnerable people’s lives and rights. We build partnerships, promote more effective ways of working and provide skilled experts to develop capacity.

We work with and through our partners to address challenges via three core activities:   

• We develop partnerships with regional and global organisations and national stakeholders. We believe working together in a coordinated and sustainable manner is the best way to reduce needs, risks, and vulnerability over time.   
• We seek and promote more effective ways of working at the global level and in the field. Our aim is not only to reduce needs but also to create choice and opportunity for people in need
• Together with our partners we identify capacity needs and respond accordingly with expertise and knowledge to achieve sustainability. As an independent entity we are well placed to identify and address challenges, improve collaboration and encourage new and innovative approaches   

Our Democracy, Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme (NORDEM), strengthens the capacity of international organizations and national stakeholders to promote and protection democracy and credible elections, human rights, rule of law and peace. 

The Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS) supports local aid coordination structures in the State of Palestine in providing coherent technical assistance and financial support to the Palestinian people based on national priorities and in line with the OECD-DAC Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness of 2005. The Palestinian Authority (PA) receives and manages support from a number of international donor countries, in all sectors of government. Since its foundation LACS has supported the coordination of aid between the Palestinian authority, donor countries and other actors.

LACS promotes transparency and synergy by facilitating policy and technical dialogue through facilitating policy and technical sector meetings and advises line ministries on aid coordination and donor dialogue.LACS further serves as an information hub for the development community in Palestine, by collecting and presenting information on ongoing and envisaged donor support, by providing and disseminating information on aid coordination activities, by disseminating minutes of meetings, reports and other relevant information. At the end of 2019, LACS’ Co-Chairs agreed to move LACS under the daily management of the Prime Minister’s Office. 

NORCAP, with support from Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) has deployed Norwegian experts to LACS since 2007 and experts to other organizations in Palestine since 1997.

The Aid Coordination Officer act as the Secretariat for SWGs and other informal coordination forums established in the sectors as per the National Development Plan and as assigned by Head of LACS:

Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the chair and deputy chair of the SWG, prepare, organize and follow up on SWG meetings, reporting on meetings and any other relevant meetings as deemed necessary. This task includes the preparation of invitations, relevant documentation and necessary follow-up on SWG decisions;
• Ensure the timely dissemination of relevant background documents;
• Draft minutes of SWG meetings and finalize them securing input from chair, deputy chair and technical advisor of the SWG and other relevant participants;
•  Assist GoP counterparts in preparing inputs for meetings, (e.g. presentations, briefings, talking points, etc.) producing summaries of meetings if requested;
•  Assist the SWGs in producing reports to the Donor Advisory Group (DAG)
•  Assist the chair and deputy chair in drafting Terms of Reference and workplans for the SWG,
• Assist LACS in mainstreaming of crossing cutting issues, including but not limited to, gender, human rights, youth, etc.
• Support the work of the thematic groups as identified by LACS HoO and Chair and Deputy Chair.
• Advise the SWG in identifying best practices for the sector and aid effectiveness principles in accordance with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, Accra Agenda for Action and the GoP Aid Effectiveness Plan;
• Establish and manage a depository of documents relating to the work of SWGs including the LACS database and website; periodically review coordination and sector-related documents and update as required;
• Liaise with relevant SWG counterparts, chair and deputy chair of the SWG, LACS Secretariat staff to ensure coherence/clarity of SWG work within the overall aid coordination effort and GoP planning priorities;
• Work, as appropriate, with the chair, deputy chair and technical advisor of the related SWGs and Head of LACS to:
  1. Identify possible areas of common or coordinated intervention;
  2. Gather sectoral information on GoP needs and achievements and donor funding / shortfalls;

Expected Results: An active series of coordination meetings covering all sector stakeholders, aligned and harmonized donor support to the National Development Plan priorities and sector strategies; support to GoP to enhance national leadership of development assistance coordination; 

Responsibilies DAG meetings:

• Preparation of DAG meetings, invitations/agenda, minutes of meetings/action points, relevant documents and dissemination, 
• Follow-up LACS Steering committee decisions, and prepare issues for consideration;
• Support for DAG meetings to engage with issues raised at SWG/Thematic groups e.g. regular reports, or issues needing solving at higher levels

Expected Results: LACS impact at the goal level is to promote the local aid coordination structure and to facilitate the implementation of the new Aid Coordination Structure by providing secretariat support and timely information to all LDF members hence strengthening Palestinian ownership of the aid coordination system, maintaining strong donor engagement and supporting the implementation of the National Policy Agenda priorities and its sector strategies in line with aid effectiveness principles.

Responsibilities Sector Working Groups (SWG):

• In close consultation with the chair and deputy chair of the SWGs and the Head of LACS produce updates on progress in the implementation of workplans, Sector Action Plans and Sector Strategies as required and in accordance with the Terms of Reference for the work of the SWGs
• Provide secretariat services to committees, ad hoc task forces and groups as required;
• Provide information to donors and other relevant parties on donor coordination structures and issues as required;
• Contributes to the preparation of LACS mid-year and annual reports to reflect the activities of the SWGs;
• Assist the Head of LACS in producing regular updates, newsletters, reports, papers, evaluations and analysis as required;
• Assist in the development of the LACS Web Portal and in any other tasks.

Expected Results: Information on behalf of all LACS members have been disseminated and the availability and accessibility the LACS webpage has been secured.

Others:

• Perform tasks as requested by Head of LACS and chair and deputy chair of SWGs

Expected Results: Effective structure, management and administrative systems of LACS.

Competencies :

Vision and analysis: Is able to quickly summarize and analyse large volumes of information under tight deadlines; identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly articulates links between the LACS mandate and those of key stakeholders; anticipates, helps plan for and conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities and plans.

Critical thinking/analytical skills: Grasps new concepts, approaches and systems; is able to distill larger conceptual issues from a range of small, often disparate pieces of information and proposes conceptual strategic frameworks to overcome problems; examines and interprets a wide variety of data and makes recommendations to decision-makers; anticipates problems, opportunities and needs.

Detail and quality orientation: High level of attention to detail; quality conscious.

Self-management: Able to work with minimum supervision and to take initiative within the limitations of the organizational mandate.

Client orientation: Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with LACS Chair and Deputy Chair by gaining their trust and respect; keeps LACS Chair and Deputy Chair informed of progress and setbacks with appropriate consideration for confidentiality; meets timelines for delivery of product or services to clients.

Communication: Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of reports, studies and other communications to a level of quality that is adequate for publication. The candidate will be able to communicate proactively with key stakeholders, correctly interpret messages from others and respond appropriately. The candidate will demonstrate openness in sharing information appropriately and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.

Accountability: Take ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.

Commitment to continuous learning and innovation: Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field in particular with regard to aid effectiveness and harmonization.

Technological awareness: Able to use computer applications as tools for program management and decision-making.

Qualifications:

• Advance university degree in international affairs, international developments, Anthropology, Political Sciences or any related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in development issues, programme development international aid coordination or other relevant area.
• Past experience in the Middle East region, preferably Palestine. Experience in the development sector, including with the Government, donors and NGO networks is desirable.
• Fluent English with outstanding writing abilities. Spoken Arabic language is desirable.
• Valid driving licence
• Valid Norwegian Residence Permit 

Kindly submit your CV and application in English and include your full name as written in your passport.

It is required that you build a CV in our recruitment system by completing your personal information, education, professional work history, language skills, and other relevant sections in the fields available.