Nigeria -Programme Coordinator JOB

Context

ABOUT COOPI

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy. With more than 3,900 humanitarian workers employed, and an average of 180 projects per year across 25 countries throughout Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, COOPI is the biggest Italian NGO. During its 50 years of activity, COOPI has successfully completed over 1,600 projects in 63 countries, involving 55.000 local operators and ensuring direct benefits to approximately 100 Million people.

COOPI in Nigeria

COOPI started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin. COOPI’s aim is to support the most basic and pressing needs of communities affected by the conflict. COOPI is providing a multi-sectoral emergency response to the IDPs, returnees and host population focused on food security, nutrition, protection and education. COOPI main area of intervention is Yobe State but we are also present in Borno.

The Programme Coordinator (PC) is the focal point of COOPI’s program in the North East of Nigeria. In consultation with the Head of Mission, he/she formulates the strategy for the Nigerian mission and ensures it implementation in accordance with COOPI policies, donor expectation, local and international legislation. He/she coordinates and evaluates all aspects of the COOPI projects, and facilitates the flow of information from the field to the capital.

Responsabilities:

The Programme Coordinator also plays a strategic role for COOPI’s external relationships, liaising with donors and stakeholders in collaboration with the HoM. Specifically, he/she:

• Coordinates and supervises the program country strategy implementation
• Contributing to the design and update of the country strategy by providing inputs to the Head of Mission
• Visiting COOPI field activities regularly and reporting on problems, challenges and obstacles while building an intimate knowledge of fieldwork realities
• Ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of the program including the identification of needs and gaps
• Monitoring and reviewing the security status of the area(s) of operation on a regular basis, liaising as applicable with local authorities, other NGOs, the UN or other relevant security bodies and keeping the Head of Mission updated on relevant developments
• Coordinates the overall implementation of the projects
• Ensuring objectives are met within the required time frame and budget and according to COOPI and donors’ procedures
• Taking preventative and corrective action when necessary
• Ensuring the overall planning and follow-up of technical reporting for donors, authorities and internal requirements in coordination with the support departments
• Ensuring synergy between Technical and Support services
• Ensuring the implementation of recommendations resulting from internal audit, experts’ field visits, HQ advisors etc.
• Piloting the internal quality control, by promoting monitoring mechanisms (ex: self-evaluation tool), facilitating internal control and external evaluations
• Represents and liaises for operational strategy and program to donors, authorities, UN, NGOs in link with the head of Mission
• Developing and maintaining relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, donors, UN agencies and other NGOs) and representing COOPI at relevant state level meetings (e.g. state and local government, sector-coordination and security) in order to facilitate and ensure cooperation and partnerships
• Strengthening field and capital level information-sharing with IOs, NGOs and Government
• Contributing to the identification of potential funding opportunities
• Analyzes Humanitarian needs and response.Collecting, summarizing and analyzing information from external sources and from technical advisors for future opportunities
• Supporting the project team for proposals writing (narrative and financial) to address the identified needs.

Requirements:

• A minimum of 5 years of work experience in project formulation, implementation and coordination in the humanitarian context with International NGOs
• Experience in working with different Donors (ECHO, USAID, UN agencies etc.)
• Strong managerial skills.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian standard and background (ex. Sphere standard)
• Good report writing skills;
• Good knowledge and use of the English Language;
• Proactive aptitude in terms of planning and coordination with different bodies, institutions and Reference Points;
• Target oriented and problem-solving aptitude;
• Good leadership skills, aimed at managing and motivating a team;
• Positive ability to bear stressful and complicated situations;
• Diplomatic and confidentiality skills;
• Advanced IT skills
• Previous experience in the Region is an asset.
• University degree relevant subject (post graduate degree required).