Consortium Coordinator Sudan

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through technical assistance, supplies and money. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

The International Assistance department has opened a vacancy for a Consortium Coordinator to lead the Livelihood and Resilience programme in Northern and Kassala states in Sudan.

Purpose of the position

We are looking for an experienced Programme Consortium Coordinator for the DG INTPA funded programme in Sudan: Enhancing Food Security and Resilience of Rural Communities in Kassala and Northern States. The Consortium Coordinator represents the Consortium consisting of the following partners: Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) as lead agent, Swiss Red Cross (SwRC), Spanish Red Cross (SPRC), Danish Red Cross (DRC) as technical partners and with the implementing partner Suden Red Crescent Society (SRCS). The Consortium Coordinator represents the Consortium towards the focal point of the EU (DG INTPA) and other relevant stakeholders in Sudan.

Background

Sudan is one of the 12 bilateral partnership countries of the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) and since 1984 NLRC and the Sudan Red Crescent (SRCS) have been successfully cooperating on several humanitarian actions and initiatives in support of the most vulnerable in Sudan. To further strengthen and build on this existing partnership for the longer-term and with renewed perspectives, the NLRC is engaging the SRCS in a Programmatic Partnership. Via its strategic objective of Community Resilience, NLRC is offering three areas of Expertise: Water (Water management and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene); Data and Digitalization and Financial Sustainability. Since resilience means the ability of communities to recover from disasters, NLRC is also focusing on several phases of the disaster cycle, in particular Disaster Preparedness and Response through Early Warning and Anticipatory Action. NLRC strives to always include cross cutting elements in its projects, like Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA).

Next to the 4 year Livelihood and Resilience programme in Northern and Kassala States, NLRC is currently supporting a conflict response and WASH project in Gedaref and Kassala States, an NSD project on Localization (with specific focus on IM and CEA) and further developing an Acute Crisis project and a Water at the Heart of Climate Action programme.

The Sudan Red Crescent is currently adjusting its working modalities to the volatile context of Sudan, by establishing 5 regional hubs to support all 18 branches in Sudan. Due to the conflict, the NLRC delegation is currently working remotely from Nairobi, Kenya, with sporadic travels to Port Sudan. With the rolling out of the Regional Hubs by SRCS throughout Sudan and with the establishment of a permanent SRCS HQ in Port Sudan, and under the condition of security clearance by ICRC and NLRC, we expect that the NLRC delegation can return and work from Sudan in the course of 2024.

Livelihood and Resilience programme in Northern and Kassala states

The aim of the programme is to do an intervention that will enhance food security and resilience of rural communities and IDPs in Kassala and Northern States. It has been developed by the consortium which consist of five Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners including the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC), the Danish Red Cross (DRC), the Swedish Red Cross (SRC) and the Spanish Red Cross (SPRC) with the support of the Livelihood Resource Centre (LRC). The SRCS is the largest local humanitarian organization in Sudan covering the whole country with a network of 18 State Branches and over 40,000 active volunteers. The consortium members are long-term partners of SRCS with strong expertise in areas addressed by the action and have jointly implemented the GCCA+ Support for Enhancing Communities Resilience to Climate Change project supported by the European Commission in Northern, Kassala and River Nile States in years 2017-2022. This action will continue and build on the GCCA+ project and its learnings, taking into account the recent changes in the context due to conflict

In response to the recent developments and impact of the conflict on food security, the action foresees a component dedicated to support to IDPs and host communities as part of humanitarian-development-peace nexus, which includes multipurpose cash assistance, as well as access to water and hygiene services to meet basic minimum needs of the most vulnerable target groups and enable them to utilize agriculture inputs and value chain support effectively. The peace element of the triple nexus will be contributed to through improved and more sustainable access to natural resources and livelihoods, and by working through local volunteers, which positively impacts social cohesion.

The overall objective of the action is to contribute to sustainable and resilient livelihoods and food security in rural communities most affected by food insecurity, climate change and conflicts in Kassala and Northern states.

Position in the organization

In this position you report to the NLRC Country Representative based in Nairobi, who is also your Security Focal point. However on the day to day basis, you are working hand in hand with the Programme Coordinator of SRCS, who is in charge of the project implementation through the SRCS branches in Northern and Kassala states. Together you ensure that the meetings of the Steering Committee as well as the Technical Working group are taking place as planned. Also, the Consortium Coordinator communicates and engages on a regular basis with the Sudan focal point of the EU. To enable coordination with SRCS and depending on Security Clearance by NLRC and ICRC, you are expected to travel frequently to Port Sudan.

The coordination mechanism is organized in a Steering Committee (SC) and a Technical working group (TWG). The SC meets at least twice a year, is chaired by SRCS and consists of the EU focal point, Consortium Coordinator, SRCS Programme Manager, SRCS branch managers, SRCS head of DM, SRCS head of PME and all Representatives of the consortium PNS. The Technical working group consisting of all technical delegates of the consortium partners, technical SRCS staff, NLRC and PNS advisors. The TWG meets on a frequent basis. The Consortium Coordinator and SRCS Programme Coordinator ensure that the meetings take place as planned.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Main responsibilities of the Consortium Coordinator include the following:

• Overall programme management, including quality assurance of implementation, monitoring, compliance of financial management, and reporting to the European Union Delegation Sudan, working closely with SRCS Programme Coordinator and SRCS
• Supporting the efficient and effective implementation of the programme, overall organizational development and capacity building of Sudanese Red Crescent Society.
• Ensuring adherence to the EU guidelines and special conditions for the Programme by all partners.
• In terms of (EU and RC/RC) visibility, and for lobby and advocacy purposes, the Consortium Coordinator should also ensure that regular and tangible information from the ground is being collected and edited, and shared with the consortium members as well as the EU focal point
• Mainstream aspects of protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) and community engagement and accountability (CEA) across all project interventions including assessment, capacity building, M&E and reporting. (This shall be done in coordination with the DRC, but also with support of NLRC PGI advisor).
• Ensuring that the project’s activities are designed and implemented in a way that promotes the safety, dignity, and equal participation of all individuals, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities.
• Day to day coordination with SRCS programme manager and SRCS PM&E and DRM departments.
• Safeguarding clear communication lines and regular information flow between SRCS Programme Manager (HQ), technical advisors (PNS delegates and their HQ advisors), SRCS departments, Consortium partners country representatives, as well as to the European Union Delegation in Sudan and the SRCS leadership.
• Ensure the programme has a coherent and holistic approach, to avoid working in silo’s
• Consolidate financial and narrative reports to the donor, as well as coordinating other donor requests with partners
• With the National Society provide monitoring tools to monitor the programme resources and progress;
• Provide necessary guidance and coaching for programme field personnel;
• Enable all partners to contribute to the programme through supporting a clear coordination structure: Steering Committee and Technical Working group (see above “position in the organization”)
• With the National Society initiate a Mid Term evaluation with all partners and the EUD
• With the National Society ensures the programme works towards an exit strategy
• Explore possibilities for future funding to address longer-term needs in the area

Requirements/Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience in the development and/or humanitarian field, preferably in similar positions.
• At least 3 years’ experience in managing / coordinating consortia.
• Solid experience in working with RC/RC Movement partners, in particular with National Societies is a must
• Working experience in the MENA region is a must.
• Working experience in managing EU grants is required
• Experience in program management, including program identification, formulation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge on the political, economic and socio-cultural climate of Sudan is preferred.
• Able to adhere to policy and procedures of the NLRC whilst effectively managing programs and people.
• Demonstrated experience in security management.
• Fluent in spoken and written English, Arabic is a big added value.
• Excellent narrative and financial reporting skills.
• Data literate
• Knowledge on WASH, Livelihoods or DRM, as well as experience with cross cutting PGI and CEA is preferred

Your talents

• Good social/diplomatic skills and culturally sensitive, flexible and creative
• Able to make sound judgements and decisions
• Excellent strategic leadership and management
• Able to work independently, as well in a team
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Pro-active

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with a possible extension
• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.
• Please note that this is an International mobile staff position. This means that you will need to be eligible to be dispatched to Sudan (and temporarily Kenya)