With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

International Assignment (WVI – Paid via GCLA) Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

The purpose of the INGO FORUM DIRECTOR (CCO Coordinator) is overall responsible for facilitating, leading and quality managing the work of the INGO Forum ensuring it remains relevant to the needs of its members and is appropriate to the context.

The INGO Forum Director will have purview of INGO engagement across CAR and engage predominantly at the high level elevating operational concerns in strategic decision-making mechanisms and processes and also engaging in regional and global platforms to raise the profile of the CAR context.

The following is a brief description of the role. Generic responsibilities

Compliance with and adherence to CCO approved policies and procedures and to and donor policies, guidance and proceduresProactive agenda setting; facilitating a space for INGO-INGO collaboration; enabling sharing of information and analysis for effective decision-makingHigh level representation of INGO interests in external meetings and planning efforts nationally and globally; and strategically guide and encourage common advocacy and policy engagement.Manages the Secretariat member, which includes CCO’s national and international staffManages office operations in Bangui and provides strategic oversight of operations.Provide strategic and day-to-day management of the permanent office (personnel, budget, security, etc.);Provides leadership to the office by encouraging delegation, accountability and teamwork;Ensures the development of and compliance with procedures for the operation of the CCO officeBe responsible for the budgeting, budget management and accountability;Be responsive to staff, ready to support them as needed.

Specific responsibilities

Strategic Coordination and RepresentationEnsure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information sharing between INGOs and other stakeholders.Enable INGOs to coordinate at strategic and operational level in CAR by facilitating high quality, regular meetings of Country Directors, Senior Field Managers, thematic working groups, representatives of the INGO Forum and other mechanisms that maximizes the impact of INGO action in CAR. Ensuring information flows, feedback, drafting of relevant agenda and timely follow up on action points.Encourage active and open dialogue between the NGO Executive Committee and INGO forum Plenary (General assembly) members.Participate in important policy and planning processes underway at the UN and government level that requires field level operational inputs from INGOs e.g. Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), multi-donor and UN longer-term recovery and development planning.Provide a regular and reliable conduit for the UN, Government, donor representatives and other stakeholders to communicate and coordinate with NGOsHelp maintain high quality countrywide coordination within humanitarian actors and between humanitarian and conflict mitigation/peace-building, recovery and development/governance actors.

Coordinate visits of high level evaluation missions, UN and NGO missions, researchers, donors, diplomats as requiredIncrease and enhance INGO engagement with national NGOs and civil society groups to create potential coalitions around key thematic areas.Identify opportunities and strategies for coordination with peace-building and development actors and humanitarians in CAR in line with the Nexus approach

Senior Level RepresentationActively represent INGO Forum members in senior humanitarian and/or development platforms e.g. HCT, Humanitarian-Donor Group, CMCOORD, NHF Advisory Board, relevant technical groups and ensure engagement with and high profile external discussions and ensure the dissemination of high quality written feedback.Regularly network and represent the INGO community at high-level fora and bilateral meetings including with UN, Donors, Member States, military and government, and other representative bodies.Work effectively with delegated representatives of the INGO Forum and ensure accountability to members.Represent INGO Forum members at global meetings and conferences and raise members’ advocacy messages and key priorities by participating in high level panel discussions, round tables and closed door meetings.

Advocacy and Policy LeadershipLead in implementation of Advocacy Strategy while mobilizing and leveraging support from member organizations.Work with Advocacy Working Group/platform in country to regularly draft policy and positioning papers and briefs in line with collective views of INGO Forum members on topics of concern.Actively engage high profile targets and allies within UN, Government, donor and diplomatic communities in CAR and externally to further advocacy objectives.Stay informed on global, regional and national opportunities to further advocacy objectives by anticipating key dates and ensuring adequate time to contribute productively. Liaise with relevant consortia to this end.Collect, analyse and share information relevant to members and external stakeholders, often with the goal of influencing policies and improving operational or protection space.

Information Sharing, Analysis and Best PracticeActing as focal point for information/experience sharing with and among NGOs on relevant issues including managing NGO Forum and INGO membership, contact lists and mailing listsOffer regular analysis on key thematic and operational issues impacting country context, humanitarian responses and affected populations.Ensure timely response to requests for help and information from member organizations, non-member organizations and other stakeholders, such as donors, governments and UN agencies. Often this requires a high degree of coordination and the collection of sensitive information.Create feedback mechanisms, open learning channels, support pilot efforts for knowledge management, and ensure information flow between INGOs.Conduct active and continued research into prevailing humanitarian, socio-economic, geo- political, security situation in CAR, providing the Forum with regular updates.

Identify gaps in research and analysis that could be used by large numbers of the membership and hire and manage CCO staff/consultants as needed to assist with and complement this task.Provide oversight on the development and/or maintenance of the Forum Web site and rebranding of the Forum including development of a toolbox of branded materials and templatesProject Management and Human ResourcesEnsure high quality INGO Forum proposal development and donor reporting, as well as donor liaison on key areas of progress in collaboration with the Chair and Host Agency.Report to Steering Committee and Plenary on project activity progress, expenditure and plans.Build and maintain a productive relationship with the Host Agency.Manage consultants, researchers and other external support.Provide leadership and direction, promote professional working relationships, and encourage staff.Conduct regular performance appraisals identifying capacity building needs and further career objectives; follow-up, and maintain updated job descriptionsUpdate the INGO Forum Strategy/work plans on an annual basisEnsure smooth running of the governance model of the INGO Forum and where required make recommendations for changes.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work.

Critical interfaces

Relevant interfaces for this position are:INGO Forum Steering Committee (ComEx): reporting, information, collaboration, cooperationINGO Country Directors: coordination, collaboration, informationINGO Technical departments/Sectors: information, collaboration, coordinationGovernment Ministries/Agencies/Departments: Liaison, lobbying, representation, advocacy, information, collaboration, cooperationUN agencies: lobbying, representation, information, collaborationDonors: Lobbying, information, collaborationOther INGO Forum staff, INGO Directors and managers,NRC CAR Finance, operations and security team members.

2.Competencies Professional competencies5+ years of experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting with an INGO in a coordination or senior management role (e.g. Country Director or similar levels). Experience of working in complex humanitarian situations is preferred.Tertiary undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications in international relations, political science, development or other relevant fieldProven high profile management, coordination and advocacy experience in humanitarian context.Demonstrated communication, leadership skills, interpersonal and negotiation skillsDocumented skills in developing proposals, budgets and reports

Strong advocacy experience in conflict-affected countriesDemonstrated knowledge of humanitarian architecture, the UN system (HCT, ICC, Clusters), in an integrated mission contextKnowledge of international humanitarian law and humanitarian reform a plusExperience working in CAR would be an assetStrong understanding of conflict sensitivity and protectionDocumented results related to the position’s responsibilities.Knowledge of law/legal aspects would be a plusComputer literacyContext/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:Knowledge of the CAR context or previous experience working in CAR or Central AfricaExperience in administration and coordination of coalition or secretariat functions a plus.Strong communication, inter-personal, facilitation and diplomatic skills.Fluency in English, both written and verbal, with strong writing and editing skills.Excellent computer skills.

 Behavioural competencies

Strategic thinkingInitiating action and changeInfluencingHandling insecure environments

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local and International Applicants (IA's) Accepted