Nigeria – Area Coordinator

COOPI is looking for an Area Coordinator 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. The organization started in 2021 new operations in North-West, in Sokoto and Kaduna regions, focused on DRR and resilience building of communities affected by natural disasters. COOPI aims to support the most basic and pressing needs of communities affected by the conflict. COOPI is providing multi-sectoral emergency response to the IDPs, returnees, and host population focused on food security, nutrition, protection, and education. COOPI’s main area of intervention is Yobe, but also in Kaduna and Sokoto states in the Northwest Nigeria with Disaster Risk Reduction programs. COOPI is currently implementing projects funded by UN agencies, USAID, ECHO.

Purpose of the role

The Area Coordinator is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of COOPI programmes in North East (Damaturou base) and for the direct implementation of the projects assigned. This role aims to:

• ensure good representation of the Organisation with a variety of stakeholders and third parties;
• guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent management of programme, finance and human resources and promote a learning environment for staff and the organization;
• guarantee compliance to Standard Operating Procedures for safety, security and general operations.

Main responsibilities

Program management

• Overall responsibility for the design, implementation and effective monitoring of the area’s programming, projects and activities in line with Common Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and COOPI policies.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and documentation of all activities and processes through regular field visits and inform of activity changes to improve programme quality.
• Proactively contribute in seeking funding opportunities to scale up and/or expand activities (including identifying and undertaking assessments and writing concepts and proposals).
• To be engaged strategically with all technical sectors as need and provide management and strategic input/oversight.
• Oversee and provide strategic support to program teams.

Coordination of field operations

• Participate directly in work of supervised staff to provide hands-on training and support, inclusive of assistance in handling difficult situations.
• Provide support to Project Managers to solve programs’ implementation problems related to logistics, procurement and security.
• Ensure the compliancy with COOPI procedures (logistic, finance, security)
• Ensure that the procurement, logistic and administration departments are efficiently managed.
• Prepare internal and donors reports and other periodical reports as required.

Staff management

• Act as human resources focal point person for program and support staff, including expatriates based in the area, assuring, in coordination with the Administrator, a sound implementation of COOPI staff policy.
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate staff in performance of their duties.
• Assess staff skills needs and organize relevant staff training and upgrading session.

Security

• Manage the security implementation plan in program areas in all its aspects.
• Assure that equipment related to security is properly functioning.
• Coordinate regular collection of information from areas of intervention. Prepare Security reports and timely inform the Country Director on security matters.
• Participate to ad hoc security coordination meetings.
• Consult with aid agencies and other relevant stakeholders on the ongoing security situation as well as their security procedures. Assure that COOPI Nigeria in the area is actively part of the ongoing security network.
• In coordination with the Country Director, regularly revise and update COOPI internal security procedures in the area.

Liaison and networking

• Coordination of liaison activities with the Government, which includes registration procedures, preparation of agreements, preparation of documentation for permits.
• In coordination with the Country Director, represent the organization in coordination fora, with donors and with international and local agencies.
• Regularly participate to coordination meetings concerning implementation, operational and security matters. Assure that feedback of information is channeled internally.

Requirements

Essentials

• University degree in social sciences, business or technical sciences.
• A minimum of five years of relevant working experience is required.
• At least three years of demonstrated successful experience in international relief and development in a similar position is required.
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication, negotiation skills, multi-tasking and organizational skills.
• Experience in working in conflict-prone environments.
• Experience in liaising with governmental/local authorities, IOs and NGOs.
• Fluency in English language.
• Computer literate.
• Proven capacity to work in a team is essential. Experience in managing staff is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work in stressful environments and under pressure.

Desired

• Familiarity with logistics, procurement and security procedures.
• Previous experience in Nigeria.
• Previous experience with COOPI.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the application closing date, once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled, thanks for understanding.

COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian secular and independent humanitarian organisation fighting against all forms of poverty to improve the world. Founded in 1965, today COOPI is present in 33 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East, with both emergency and development projects carried out by expatriate staff – an average of over 270 people per year – and national staff. The main institutional funders are the European Union – ECHO and INTPA – USAID, UN agencies, the Italian Government, local authorities and other European Governments.