Government Liaison Director (International post) JOB

Terms of Reference: NCCI Government Liaison Director

September 16, 2018

The NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) is a member-led NGO coordination platform of over 170 international and national NGO members or observers and serves as the primary NGO platform in Iraq. Established in 2003, NCCI’s mission, structure and objectives continuously evolved to adapt to the changing circumstances and support needs for civil society in Iraq. Primary functions include coordination and information sharing, advocacy support services and capacity building for NGOs. NCCI remains the only NGO forum in Iraq so it serves as the primary point of contact and information for NGOs, government authorities, donors and UN. The coordination with government is particularly important and is the focus of this position.

The legal and regulatory operating environment in Iraq is complex and dynamic. NGOs need support to understand and navigate the various government bodies and regulatory hurdles such as visas, registration, taxes, access permissions. NCCI’s Bureaucratic Liaison Unit (BLU) is a small team that exists to facilitate communication and coordination between the NGO community and the various government authorities in Baghdad and Erbil. The BLU helps communicate new and existing regulations processes to the NGO community and helps the NGO community advocate for practical, streamlined and well-defined regulations and processes. Spoken and written Arabic is required for this position.

Duties for the Government Liaison Director:

1. Manage the BLU Team
2. Lead the BLU External Engagement, Knowledge Management & Service Provision
3. Advise on technical issues related to government engagement
4. Other duties as needed

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Management (15%)

Managing the Bureaucratic Liaison Unit

• Recruit and directly supervise 2 national staff for the BLU
• Launch and manage program implementation, monitoring and reporting

  Deliverables:

  • BLU Strategy and action plan
  • Staff recruitment and appraisals
  • Program work plan with miles stones and targets.
  • Risk mitigation strategy
  • Quarterly report narrative and financial report(or according to donor requirements)
  • Join occasional NCCI team meetings

2. Bureaucratic Impediments (60%)

Knowledge Management & Service Provision

• Establish and lead the BLU to serve as an information resource for NGOs regarding the relevant and updated procedures, contacts and best practice for NGOs for: registration, visas, taxes, importation, reporting and other administrative services and requirements with the authorities in central and Kurdistan region.
• Collect, analyze and disseminate information on trends and impact of regulations and procedures on NGO operations, including through position papers and information management products in close collaboration with the Advocacy Working Group and the NCCI information manager.
• In collaboration with various NCCI and external actors, monitor and be generally aware of significant country-wide bureaucratic impediments or undue armed actor or local government influence on NGO operating space. Integrate this knowledge into advocacy efforts in Baghdad and Erbil. (NCCI does not have staff field presence so this primarily refers to tracking reports provided by others)
• Work with the Executive Director to collaborate with Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in support of NGOs operating in Iraq

  Deliverables:

  • Establish an accessible repository of relevant legal and regulatory information in English and Arabic, including, where available, templates, contact lists and associated costs for service providers and procedures
  • Engage in CD skype group for visas & registration
  • Establish targets, baseline tracking information and trends related to bureaucratic impediments
  • Conduct consultation to identify national NGO priorities for support regarding bureaucratic impediments
  • Provide consolidated data/information as determined by the Executive Director/Executive Board to UN, authorities in order to contribute to safeguarding an enabling environment for NGOs in Iraq, including a quarterly (or as determined necessary) report on the impact of bureaucratic impediments on NGO operations
  • Establish “how to” guidance notes for HR/Admin working group regarding policies and procedures for NGO operations

Head Liaison

• As directed by the Executive Director and the Executive Board, map, develop and maintain contacts with key government staff/advisors involved in regulatory issues affecting NGOs, in order to keep updated on regulations and procedures, and influence them where appropriate.
• Engage with other stakeholders who are leading on specific regulatory issues, including the Logistics Cluster and government departments.
• Under the supervision and in close collaboration with the Executive Director, establish relationships with relevant actors, including the local authorities, United Nations, diplomatic community and NGO members.

  Deliverables:

  • Develop a mapping of key stakeholders of national and regional authorities, UN and diplomatic community
  • Monthly reports regarding BLU activities, including meetings and outputs

Policy & Advocacy

• In close collaboration with the Advocacy Working Group enable timely and effective advocacy by NCCI members, such that the regulatory environment facilitates NGOs to deliver assistance at scale and according to vulnerability.
• Contribute to NGO engagement with the government and other key stakeholders regarding the development of laws and regulations that affect the work of NGOs in Iraq (through, for example, tracking how issues are affecting NGOs, developing appropriate briefing papers, and attending relevant meetings).
• Ensure strong linkages within the forum groups to enable strategic engagement and advocacy by the Executive Board, Executive Director, Advocacy Coordinator and HR/Admin Working Group

  Deliverables:

  • Monthly (or as needed) provision of policy lines, key asks and talking points to the designated leads for inclusion in relevant working groups, external meetings and Executive Board meetings to underpin strategy and advocacy
  • Develop position paper/brief regarding impact of bureaucratic impediments as agreed with Executive Director/Executive Board

3. Technical Advisor (10%)

• Support and contribute, as required, to strengthening NGO coordination in Baghdad, by convening meetings and/or supporting NGO representation in high level forums
• Contribute to fundraising by representing NCCI externally in line with objectives and mandate
• Contribute to stakeholder mapping and liaison with authorities for early recovery, protection, advocacy and other NGO forum priorities as agreed with Executive Director/Executive Board

  Deliverables:

  • Facilitate/support NCCI’s regular coordination meetings in Baghdad
  • Mentor/coach Baghdad Coordinator regarding enhanced coordination
  • Support establishment of HR/Admin working group for Baghdad
  • Represent NCCI at external meetings (UN, local and international governments, donors, and such) as requested in support of NCCI organization priorities

4. Other Duties (15%)

• Visit government offices, sometimes working from those partner government offices when invited and practical
• Occasionally co-host in Baghdad online meetings which are chaired from Erbil
• Support and backstop colleagues (including executive director) as needed
• Support admin team on NCCI Baghdad Office logistical planning and management as needed, including in areas related to expat safety and care (i.e. teamhouse arrangements, local transportation planning…)
• Travel from Baghdad (position is based in Baghdad) to Erbil up to 25% of time (teamhouse provided). Occasionally travel internationally or elsewhere in Iraq as needed.
• Occasional logistical, administrative, managerial or other tasks as needed