Logistics Manager – West Darfur Soudan

TGH background

Founded in 1994, TGH is a French association for international solidarity based in Lyon. It designs and implements emergency, rehabilitation and development programmes in the fields of water, hygiene and sanitation, food security and rural development, socio-education and psychosocial support. TGH is currently active in 10 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Presentation of TGH’s work in Sudan

TGH has a long-standing presence in Sudan: first implementing a multi-sectoral program targeting displaced people and host communities in Geneina (West Darfur) in 2004, it extended its presence to Central Darfur (Bendasi and Um Dukhun) in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Since then, TGH has maintained a continuous presence in both states, despite an increasingly complex context, while also intervening in South Kordofan, Khartoum, Gedaref, Al-Jazeera, Sennar and Red Sea states.

Since the outbreak of the current Sudan conflict in April 2023, creating the largest displacement population in the world at current time, TGH has developed multi-sectoral projects in consortium with other international NGOs to meet the needs of crisis-affected populations in Darfur, Khartoum and elsewhere. TGH has more than 100 national staff in the field, based in Geneina & Foro Baranga (West Darfur), Golo, Um Dukhun, Bendasi, and Zalingei (Central Darfur), and Port Sudan (Red Sea). It has approximately more than 12 expats based in Sudan & Chad.

TGH Sudan’s largest and most active base is in Geneina, where its program and support teams are facilitating delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance across West Darfur, Central Darfur and more recently into North Darfur.

TGH’s ongoing activities in Sudan include:

• Emergency assistance to displaced people affected by conflict and/or natural disasters (provision of NFIs and emergency shelter, hygiene and dignity kits, etc).
• Construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems and sanitation services, hygiene promotion and capacity building of community-based committees and local authorities in WASH services sustainable management
• Strengthening of food security and livelihood, through distribution of agricultural inputs, promotion of farming best practices, sustainable natural resources management, development of income generating activities, as well as provision of MPCA.
• Child Protection activities including PSS, CP Case Management, support for Child Friendly Spaces, and CP awareness-raising.

With a current volume of approximately 14 million EUR, TGH in Sudan is currently funded by donors including ECHO, BHA, OCHA-SHF, and CIAA (French MoFA).

Job description

The Logistics Manager will at the forefront of expanding and strengthening logistics and procurement support for TGH’s team in West Darfur (and other areas of Darfur) at a time of critical importance, with the recently-declared famine in Sudan exacerbating the humanitarian needs caused by the current war. The position is envisaged as short-term one (4-6 months, possibly longer depending on the evolution of the Sudan humanitarian context) to build the operational capacity and efficiency of the Geneina logistics team to support TGH’s emergency response and recovery programming.

Working under the line management of the Darfur Regional Field Coordinator, with a technical link to the Logistics Coordinator based in Port Sudan, the expatriate Logistics Manager will line manage a national staff Logistics Manager and provide technical guidance to the log team based in Geneina (also covering Zalingei). S/he will review and revise procurement systems and processes in Geneina (where procurement is done for TGH’s activities in West Darfur and other areas of Darfur); provide training and mentoring to the logistics national staff; contribute to the maintenance of good communication and collaboration between program and support teams at base level; and serve as a communication channel on procurement and logistics issues between the field and the country office.

The main responsibilities are as follows:

Strengthen procurement systems:

• Review and make recommendations to strengthen procurement and related logistics processes in West Darfur, in coordination with the Field Coordinator and the Country Office colleagues (Logistics Coordinator, Head of Finance & Admin, Country Director).
• Provide technical oversight and ensure proper supply chain management and documentation practices and procedures are in place and maintained according to TGH procurement policies and donor requirements.
• Strengthen the assessment of the local market purchasing environment through continuous market analysis & information gathering.
• Actively enhance the supplier database and support the process of the prequalification of local suppliers.
• Expand the number of framework agreements (in Geneina and/or in neighbouring Adre, Chad), building on the framework contracts already done by the TGH Chad logistics team.
• Oversee the timely implementation and follow-up of procurement, ensuring regular updated reporting and effective communication with project managers, finance team, and other relevant colleagues.
• Provide support and advice to identify better supply strategies, markets, routes, in order to strengthen and maintain timely and cost-effective procurement.
• Oversee and maintain asset and inventory management.
• Review and strengthen the procurement archiving system.

HR management & capacity-building:

• Train the Geneina log team in logistics procedures, tools and best practices, especially those related to procurement but, if time permits, also extending to warehousing, fleet management and other logistics-related topics.
• Provide hierarchical line management, technical guidance and support to the Logistics Manager (national) and the Geneina team and (if requested) to logistics staff in other areas of Darfur, in coordination with the Logistics Coordinator and Field Coordinators.
• Ensure performance appraisals and capacity-building assessments are conducted for the Geneina and Zalingei log team members.
• Participate in recruitment of logistics team national staff in Geneina or elsewhere in Darfur.
• Review and give feedback on log team job descriptions and division of roles and responsibilities, to strengthen team efficiently and coordination, in collaboration with the HR team and relevant colleagues.

Oversee office & guesthouse management:

• Ensure proper management of all equipment, property and premises, including contract management, maintenance and organization of the TGH office and guesthouses in Geneina.
• Ensure efficient provision by the log team of needed basic services (energy, water, furniture etc.) for the office and guesthouses.
• If requested, support the implementation of safety measures at all premises, in coordination with the Head of Access & Safety and the Field Coordinator.

Warehouse management:

• Supervise warehousing management practices in Geneina, developing and strengthening quality control and assurance procedures for receipt of incoming goods, stock management, and asset and inventory control.
• Explore additional warehousing options, including for joint storage with other organizations, in Geneina or elsewhere.

Other:

• Under the supervision of the Field Coordinator, ensure effective communication/ information flow from field level to the country level on issues which may negatively impact the logistics activities; make recommendations on how work processes can be improved.
• Monitor budgets and spending on support costs for West Darfur, in consultation with budget holders, the Field Coordinator, finance team and other departments.
• Contribute to the drafting of budget proposals.

This list of responsibilities can be modified as required.

Safety, working and living conditions

The Logistics Manager – West Darfur will be based in Geneina with occasional travel to Adre and N’Djamena, Chad. Travel to TGH bases in Darfur to support logistics teams there may be considered. The Logistics Manager will be accommodated at TGH guesthouse with basic standards (cold water, some electricity disruptions). Telephone network and internet coverage are limited. Social life is possible but limited for security reasons.

Conditions in Geneina and elsewhere in Darfur present risks that are known and controlled by TGH and other international NGOs operating there. The Logistics Manager will strictly follow TGH Security Plan and the organization will continuously monitor the security situation and take decisions accordingly.

Profile

• At least 3-4 years’ experience as a logistics manager in a humanitarian context; field base experience is essential; experience as a Flying or Emergency Logistician is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining supply chain, purchasing and inventory management systems and processes.
• Prior experience in Sudan or comparable environment is an asset.
• Proven ability to adapt to a dynamic context; flexible with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; Arabic language skills strongly preferred.
• Experience in capacity building, training and mentoring is a distinct asset.
• Strong commitment to humanitarian principles and integrity.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office pack and experience of online sharing platforms (e.g. Google Workspace)
• Excellent interpersonal and team management skills; ability to manage and collaborate with colleagues with differing backgrounds and abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Stress-resilient