Deputy Director – North East Syria NGO Forum

About (Host Agency) Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

About The NES NGO Forum

The Northeast Syria (NES) NGO Forum is an independent and neutral coordination body, representative of its members, and can be hosted by any of its members, in this case, Mercy Corps. The NES NGO Forum was established in July 2016 as the primary coordination body for NGOs operating cross-border into, and from within, Northeast Syria – as part of formalized coordination arrangements under the Whole of Syria (WoS) architecture. The Forum is currently comprised of 36 members, with responsibility for several core functions, including operational response coordination, representation with external stakeholders, engagement with authorities including access negotiations, civil-military coordination, information management, policy development and advocacy. The NES Forum coordinates the inter-sector working group, consisting of sectoral working group coordinators, which are hosted by various NGOs in Northeast Syria. The NES Forum is an independent and neutral coordination body which is governed by its Steering Committee (SC) and accountable to both the SC and its NGO membership. The NES Forum is currently responding and adapting to the ongoing shifts in the political environment of Syria, and as such, the candidate best suited for this role should be prepared to engage constructively, proactively and flexibly. They will be expected to support the anticipated transition of the NES Forum from its current iteration as an NGO-led coordination body, towards an NGO Forum which operates in line with a standard IASC model structure for humanitarian coordination, as this becomes possible and in line with humanitarian principles.

Summary of the position

The Deputy Director will lead on high level workstreams, support coordinators, and stand in for the Director as required to ensure continuity of operations. The position leads on the Access and Civil-Military coordination workstreams for the NES NGO response, which includes acting as a focal person for NGOs and donors on areas with overlapping humanitarian and security elements such as Al Hol and Roj Camps. The Deputy Director will hold responsibility for the delivery of access workstreams, alongside supporting the coordination of other inter-agencies and inter-sector workstreams, as needed. They are responsible for the management of the NES Forum liaison team and work closely with the Forum Director and the wider team. Further to this, the Deputy Director is charged with all donor reporting, in coordination with the Host Agency. The Deputy Director also has a number of secondary duties, shared with the Director and requiring full

operationality and knowledge including budget management, as well as systematic donor and UN engagement. A versatile role in a highly dynamic environment, the role is intended to backstop the Director, remain responsive to shifting context, and demonstrate mature leadership while able to technically support senior leadership of the NESF team in all areas; advocacy, access, operations and intersectoral coordination.

Detailed Explanation of the Position

Representation and leading key workstreams

The NES Forum under the leadership of the NES Forum Director acts as the key operational coordination body for NGOs operating in Northeast Syria. The Deputy Director position will support oversight of the coordination structure for NGOs in Northeast Syria and interact as a secondary focal point with the NES Forum Steering Committee, an elected body.

The Deputy Director will stand in for the Director as required in their mandate to lead and represent the operational response of the NES Forum membership to relevant internal and external stakeholders and in a variety of fora. The Deputy Director will be expected to support, as required, key high-level strategic workstreams relevant to the NGO response in Northeast Syria, held whether by ISWG Coordinator or the Director. These workstreams are evolving, responsive to the needs of the context, and can be of longer-term strategic or short-term emergency nature, as identified by the Director.

● Work with the NES Forum Director and Inter-Sector Working Group coordinator to maintain appropriate relationships and communication with relevant coordination stakeholders (United Nations, Whole of Syria coordination forums, donors, etc).

● In coordination with the NES Forum Director, maintain a healthy relationship with local governance structures as required – with a focus on enhancing authorities’ knowledge of the NGO response and taking the lead on negotiations as required in order to maintain humanitarian access and space to conduct humanitarian operations.

● Lead on advocacy support to NESF membership and the ISWG as required.

● Attend regional-level coordination meetings to represent access priorities and provide briefings to external stakeholders on humanitarian access issues.

● Work with developing humanitarian access policy positions and recommendations on issues relevant to the work of the Forum.

It is imperative that the Deputy Director understands the importance of neutrality and independence of NES Forum.

Access & Civil-Military Coordination

● Support operational and strategic coordination, working closely with the NES Forum Director, Head of Coordination Unit, Inter-Sector Working Group (ISWG), and Liaison Coordinator.

● Ensure the collection of information to support the Coordination Unit/ISWG and the NES Forum Advocacy Working Group to inform evidence-based advocacy.

● Monitor and track humanitarian access dynamics, lead collective access negotiations, develop policy and joint positions related to humanitarian access, and provide strategic advice to the NES Forum Membership on access constraints.

● Participation and representation in coordination meetings relating to humanitarian access and CMCoord, convened by both humanitarian and non-humanitarian counterparts, including regular meetings conducted by local authority offices, as required.

● Lead on Civil-Military Coordination for the NES NGO response, in line with the NES CMCoord Architecture Framework

● Coordinate the NES Forum Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), organizing regular meetings with the membership and as necessary on an ad hoc basis.

● Lead on workstreams related to the monitoring, analysis and maintenance of humanitarian access for NGOs in the NES context, including the bi-annual Access Severity Analysis led by OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA); and design/oversight of Humanitarian Access Strategy.

Lead on High-Level Strategic Workstreams

▪ Responsible for high-level key workstreams and cross-cutting issues such as approaches to children in detention, and PSEAH. Advise on strategic donor engagement, development/stabilization actor engagement strategy, and coordination of joint positions on key humanitarian issues across the membership.

▪ Responsible for the identification and realization of new key workstreams as required, in response to the evolving humanitarian situation, and as identified of relevance to the NES Forum membership.

▪ Increase NES Forum participation and support to specific task forces and working groups, as well as increased support to specific sectors, if necessary.

▪ Support efforts to improve engagement with authorities, in close collaboration with the NES Forum Director and liaison team, including with the delivery of established humanitarian principles training packages across Northeast Syria.

Support to key Thematic Workstreams

▪ Support as necessary any key thematic workstreams carried out under the leadership of the Forum’s coordinators, including but not limited to principled advocacy and negotiations with relevant local authorities in the interest of unimpeded humanitarian access, delivering of principled advocacy messages to relevant stakeholders, improve the accountability and effectiveness of the NES coordination structures through engagement with host agencies and the ISWG, identify and support enhancements to the current operational response, etc.

▪ Support ISWG Coordinator and OIC for Director as necessary

Reporting (internal & external)

● Provide regular reporting on meetings, discussions, and external engagement with authorities, which can be disseminated to a wider audience, including NES Forum members.

● Lead on development and dissemination of humanitarian context & policy updates.

● Provide inputs and support to the drafting of ad hoc and regular access reports, as well as providing analytical input and support to Whole-of-Syria documents led by the OCHA Access Unit.

● Responsible for donor budget (BVA) reporting though Host Agency systems

● Responsible for donor narrative reporting through Host Agency reporting systems.

Supervisory Responsibility

NES Forum Liaison Team, Head of Coordination Unit, and as OIC for Director

Accountability

Reports Directly to: NES Forum Director and the NES Forum Steering Committee

Accountable to: NES Forum membership and NES Forum Steering Committee (comprised of 7 representatives from NGOs)

Works Directly with: NES Forum Team, Northeast Syria Team Leaders; Northeast Syria Country Directors; Whole of Syria Coordination counterparts; United Nations; NES Local Authorities; KRI-based stakeholders.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

● MA or equivalent in international human rights law, humanitarian studies, or similar qualification required.

● Significant INGO-specific coordination experience is essential for this role. Can be combined, a minimum 8 years of programmatic /operational field experience in INGOs and/or UN (OCHA). Relevant experience must be paid, professional, non-inclusive of internships.

● Preference for previous NES experience. Familiarity with the previous Whole of Syria structure preferred.

● Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, INGO, NGO partners, UN, Civ-Mil, and other stakeholders in complex, ongoing, chronic and acute conflict environments.

● Operational experience preferred, with IT systems, budget and reporting experience.

● Positive management experience in fast-paced, high-stress environments is essential.

● Proven understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including cluster/coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms

● Dedication to the core humanitarian standard and clear understanding of the application of humanitarian principles in conflict settings.

● Understanding of International Humanitarian Law is essential. With experience interpreting/explaining international humanitarian law to non-humanitarian partners.

● Experience with remote program management/coordination contexts is important.

● Demonstrated experience in coordination and/or lead advocacy roles, preferably within formal coordination structures and/or advocacy consortia.

● Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organizational skills.

● Successful track record of leading medium-sized teams to success, effective budget management, and success working with dual supervisory groups.

● Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse stakeholder base in a sensitive environment.

● HEAT training, valid within the last two years is preferred.

● Fluent speaking and writing in English; knowledge of Kurdish an asset, knowledge of Arabic an advantage.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have the ability to network effectively, influence, and inspire others. They will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, will be highly motivated and possess the ability to work independently. They will have the ability to undertake strategic analysis and translate thinking into practice. They will be an excellent advocate and influencer of principled humanitarian action in complex environments. The candidate should have strong negotiation skills to liaise with authorities and support in maintaining humanitarian space for partners, advocating for principled humanitarian action, and ensuring the rights of program participants and beneficiaries. They will work with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and with virtual or/and dispersed teams and will have the ability to build confidence and to find creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues. The successful candidate will build trust and alliances and will empower others. They should like traveling, possess a good sense of humor, must be fond of coordination and understand its critical role for efficient and effective principled humanitarian response. Preferably, you are intensely passionate about advocating for those who have been displaced by conflict and have a solid grasp of IHL.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This is based in Hassakeh, with a second office in Raqqa and will require travel to other areas of NES as required by the membership. This position is unaccompanied and eligible for hardship, R&R, and home leave allowances as well as regular employment benefits. Living conditions are in group housing: water, electricity and internet are present with occasional cuts.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.