Country Program Coordinator (Turkey) under the Middle East Program (MEP)

BACKGROUND

Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development (Evangelisches Werk fur Diakonie und Entwicklung- EWDE) – Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) – with Type 1 Office in Berlin – Germany, is a humanitarian agency providing funds for emergency aid worldwide. DKHaspires to restore the life and hope of people in dignity. We empower our partners. Together, we invest in preparedness, response, and resilience. We take localization and partnership to the next level [1] by committing and aiming for equitable and long-term partnerships, [2] by shifting power to our partners and communities through transfer of decision-making and funding opportunities, and [3] by amplifying the voices of local partners and communities.

Since the end of 2021, DKH has been working on reorganizing its global offices, guided by the vision to strengthen regional and local structure: Operative decision-making power will be where operations happen and support DKH’s mission to empower our partners and engage in localized humanitarian assistance. DKH overcomes geographical boundaries and understands itself as one organization.

DKH’s Regional Hub Asia, based in Amman, Jordan, provides comprehensive program support to DKH Programs and local partners in the region. The Asia Hub also referred to as the Asia Type 2 Office, has six units: [1] Type 3B – Middle East Program (MEP) Unit, [2] Type 3A – Yemen Unit, [3] Type 3A – Pakistan and Afghanistan Unit (at interim capacity until December 2025), [4] Type 2 Finance and Administration Unit, [5] Type 2 Program Support Unit and [6] Bread for the World (BftW) Dialogue Office under the Asia Hub.

Complying with DKH’s mission and in the face of the ongoing humanitarian crises in the Middle East (ME), the ME Crisis Strategy for 2024-2026 embodies a steadfast commitment to fostering dignity, resilience, sustainability, and equal partnerships. The Middle East Program (MEP) currently implements programs in Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza/oPT, and Iraq. Programmatically, we focus on markets and livelihoods, protection, food security, DRR and climate change impact mitigation, and emergency response.

The Country Program Coordinator (CPC) is essential for maintaining and enlarging DKH programs in Türkiye in compliance with DKHs’ global and regional strategies and accountable to our right-holders, donors (private and institutional), and our partners. The CPC is responsible for ensuring that the program in Türkiye complies with the CHS principles and the highest attainable standards of humanitarian aid.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Country Program Coordinator – Turkey

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement: : Primary work location is in Amman with possibility to travel within the Middle East Program (MEP) implemented programs (as requested).

Starting date: 01.12. 2024 or earlier upon availability

Contract duration: 1 year (extendable upon work need and mutual agreement between both parties).

Reporting to: Representative of the Middle East Program

Working under the supervision of the Representative of the MEP and in close cooperation with other colleagues, the Country Program Coordinator- Turkey is responsible for fulfilling the following tasks:

Strategic Planning and Coordination

• Supporting the development and execution of the Middle East Strategy; and identifying strategic opportunities for improving and growing the Program in Türkiye and other countries in the ME, in compliance with the ME regional strategy, and DKHs global strategy while adapting program initiatives to the evolving context of Türkiye, right-holder needs, donors’ requirements, and partners’ interests;
• Building and maintaining positive communication with existing and potential back-donors, including managing monitoring visits, to enhance MEP’s donors’ relations and strengthen and enhance the portfolio in Türkiye and other countries in the ME (when needed);
• Boosting DKH and partner’s visibility as humanitarian sector leaders in the ME and Germany, strengthening DKH’s position with existing and potential donors in Türkiye;
• Promoting the localization agenda of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and enhancing our partnership/s in Türkiye showcasing the added value of DKH and its partners in the region;
• Representing DKH in relevant networks, donor , clusters; and partner meetings, and engagements with media and other stakeholders whenever needed; and promoting collaboration of all stakeholders of DKH in the field, from staff of DKH and local partners to target communities and other aid agencies and institutions active in the same area of operation;
• Actively engaging in the program and team meetings and other activities organized by the MEP, Asia Hub, and/or Berlin office; and engaging in the global initiatives of DKH including workshops, social media-based activities, etc;
• Monitoring the political, economic, social, and humanitarian context in the focus countries and changes in the security situation in assigned focus countries and beyond.

Programmatic Guidance & Leadership

• Analysing existing and under-development projects using proper conceptual models and policy frameworks to enhance their value and relevance to the MEP program strategy and compliance with the CHS principles, gender sensitivity approaches, and the highest attainable humanitarian aid standards while demonstrating DKH ME Program’s value throughout project cycle management and MEAL in Türkiye;
• Supporting and advising local partners throughout all stages of the PCM, from design, budgeting, and planning to implementation and closure; providing assistance and guidance in developing and implementing projects (including finances) according to DKH and/or third-party donor agency regulations (DG-ECHO, BMZ, AA), and monitoring of projects activities and progress through field visits and remotely; Following the administrative and other preparatory work for the planning and implementation of project components including procurement procedures, documentation, and financial and work planning of partners; and, based on periodic reports from local partners, drafting quarterly or monthly progress reports to be submitted to DKH HQ, indicating project status and planned versus actual comparisons including target figures and photo documentation;
• Facilitating and guiding (together with other Program finance colleagues) timely and effective auditing processes for the projects in the specified countries through the partners or directly; and ensuring that reports are prepared in collaboration with partners timely in accordance with the requirements and regulations of third-party donors and DKH;
• Establishing proper MEAL systems for projects with the partners in which DKH contributes significantly; leading and performing the project performance monitoring for all projects throughout the PCM; and Identifying gaps and challenges in the management of projects and actively supporting or advising local partners in undertaking action for their improvement.

Capacity Building

• Promoting mutual learning between DKH and partners in Türkiye at the various stages of program, and partnership management; and enhancing the exchange of experiences between partners in Türkiye and other partners in the ME.

Emergency preparedness and response

• Supporting the development of DKH’s emergency preparedness plan for the region
• Where needed, carry out one or more of the following tasks in the aftermath of a disaster in Türkiye or other countries in the ME:
  • needs assessments
  • designing emergency relief and recovery operations and writing project proposals
  • setting up and staffing of field offices in a disaster zone
  • identifying local partners and involving them in the relief and recovery operation
  • establishing and reviewing institutional structures in field offices
  • conducting impact evaluation studies of relief and recovery programs

Other tasks, as necessary

DKH reserves the right to alter the responsibilities and focus countries according to programmatic demands and needs in line with the objectives of the office.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE AND SKILLS

TARGET SKILLS PROFILE

Substantive Knowledge:

Advanced Skill Level

• Advanced experience gained through progressive experience in project management in the humanitarian aid/ Development field.
• Honed experience working with institutional donors, especially DG-ECH.
• Proficient capacity in developing implementing and maintaining MEAL systems, tools, and procedures.
• Honed project monitoring skills including finances.
• Moderate skills working on quantitative and qualitative data entry and analysis.
• Master reporting skills at various levels of program management.

Communication Skills:

Skilled Skill Level

• Honed diplomacy skills, and cultural sensitivity with advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven skills in communicating with institutional donors
• Proven capacity and willingness to engage with communities and households including house visits.
• Proven capacity to work with local partner organizations based on equal partnership principles.
• Advanced Experience in leading and working within teams with a diverse membership.

Execution Skills:

Proficient Skill Level

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
• Outstanding personal attitude: especially a sense of responsibility, concern for quality, result orientation; integrity, and commitment.
• Result-oriented and able to deliver without much guidance and in hard contexts.
• Advanced level of time management and commitment leading to proven work efficiency and effectiveness.
• High commitment to humanitarian principles, passionate about gender and inclusion as well as localization.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly (sometimes to dangerous areas).
• At least proficient skills in related technical fields such as disaster risk reduction, food security, protection, livelihood, and cash and voucher assistance.

TARGET SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE:

• Master’s degree in Developmental Studies, Political Science, Conflict studies, Project management, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of experience in similar positions with local or international NGOs.
• Languages: Advanced skills in written and spoken English. Good skills in written and spoken Turkish are favorable.