DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1994. Its mission is to strengthen health systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development.
We work in 28 countries with a comprehensive approach, focusing on children, mothers and disadvantaged communities:
- Prevention and screening from an early age, particularly through school health programs.
- Care and surgery, to meet the most urgent needs of children and their mothers.
- Strengthening the medical and surgical workforce thanks to our international network of experts.
- Construction and equipment of hospital structures adapted to local needs
Context
Heavy and intense bombardments combined with ground fighting continued throughout 2023, resulting in a persistent pattern of civilian death and destruction with humanitarian impact. There were more than 47,000 incidents involving armed clashes, airstrikes and other attacks across Ukraine in 2023, an increase of more than 12,000, compared to 2022, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). These incidents caused widespread damage and destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and vital civilian infrastructure, including energy, severely impacting the humanitarian situation. Although no part of the country remained unaffected, people in the east and south bore the brunt of the devastation cause by the war. In front-line communities, including the territories occupied by the Russian Federation, the humanitarian situation is reaching severe and catastrophic levels. More than 3.3 million people – including 800,000 children – living along the front line require emergency assistance. Access to water, food, adequate shelter, fuel to heat their homes and cook, health, protection and other essential services and supplies, as well as employment and livelihoods is extremely limited, forcing people to depend on humanitarian aid to meet their needs. In 2023, homes, schools and hospitals continued to be bombed every day, with attacks spiking towards the end of the year. The destruction left nearly 720,000 people in the worst-affected parts of Ukraine with no access to adequate and safe housing, according to the International Organization for Migration. In Khersonska Oblast, for example, nearly 30 per cent of people live in damaged buildings. Access to education remained highly constrained, with almost half of all educational institutions damaged or destroyed in Kharkivska and Khersonska oblasts, and a staggering 80 per cent in Donetska Oblast, according to the Ministry of Education and humanitarian partners. Across the country, only one-third of children are attending classes entirely in-person, while one-third are learning through a mixed in-person and online approach, and another one-third are fully learning online. Access to health was also impacted, with over 1,500 attacks on health care verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) since February 2022. Nearly half of health centres were rendered non-functional in some parts of the east and south.
La Chaîne de l’Espoir in Ukraine
Since March 2022, La Chaîne de l’Espoir has been implementing a project to support the Ukrainian health system to improve medical and surgical care for victims of the war and patients in general, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Health Cluster co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the health authorities at oblast levels. The initiative, co-funded by the Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, is a response to assessments conducted by La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s medical and biomedical team in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
La Chaîne de l’Espoir mainly focused its activities in areas close to the frontline and newly accessible areas (Mykolaivska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizka) on the delivery of medical supplies including emergency traumatology kits, medicines and consumables, biomedical equipment (for endoscopy, intensive care, orthopaedics surgeries, radiology, operating theatre…), and war medicine training (more than 1000 health medical and paramedical staff trained).
In 2024, La Chaîne de l’Espoir aims to fill critical gaps at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the Ukrainian healthcare system, with a particular focus on improving access to quality healthcare for trauma, cardiology and maternity departments. La Chaîne de l’Espoir is also working on improving availability of services to reduce risk factors for children with cardiac conditions, girls, newborns and pregnant women and aims to improve prevention for community members on children’s heart conditions and sexual and reproductive health. La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s intervention also aims to promote capacity-building among healthcare professionals regarding the health conditions of children (cardiology), adolescents and women of childbearing age, as well as detection methods and referral processes.
POSITION AND MISSION
The Head of Mission, under Desk Manager management in head office and in close collaboration with Program Coordinator, oversees the implementation of La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s strategy on the field and is responsible of the quality of the overall programming. He manages the team and the work with partners, in close collaboration with La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s headquarters based in Paris. He is responsible for the security of La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s staff and volunteers, and ensures comprehensive analysis of the surrounding context. He will also be in charge to develop and maintain La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s network with other health and humanitarian actors, partners, and donors. He will be expected to lead the team and be inspiration for skills development.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
Representation and external relations
- Ensure La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s external representation with the Health authorities, NGOs and donors present in Ukraine, humanitarian forums and other relevant actors
- Guarantee the visibility of La Chaîne de l’Espoir and its programs in Ukraine
Strategy, planning and program implementation
- Pilot the monitoring of the humanitarian context and needs analysis
- Propose new assessments and interventions axis according to the needs and in line with La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s mandate
- Lead in country fundraising strategy and its implementation
- Ensure programs are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated
- Participate in the development of the monitoring system, supervise and ensure the quality of programs implementation
Finance and Logistics
- Participate in the design and approval of new budget proposals for donors
- Lead annual budgets and monthly budget follow-up analysis
- Guarantee the quality of budgetary management and financial information reported to headquarter
- Manage and support administrative/logistics team in verifying the compliance of budget allocations, supporting documents and compliance with the procedures of La Chaîne de l’Espoir and donors
Human Resources
- Manage his team
- Conduct regular meetings with La Chaîne de l’Espoir management team at HQ level
- Establish a good worklife balance and support the team (listen, motivate, empower, supervise the people under his responsibility)
- Ensure that La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s HR management and policies are complying with legal requirements
- Set objectives and performance appraisals in line with program requirements
Reporting
- Regular reporting to the Desk Manager and Programs Coordinator, including monthly sitrep
- Ensure monthly reporting to Health Cluster via Activity Info in coordination with the medical referent;
- Prepare reports for donors and foundations that finance the project, ensure that schedules and formats are respected
- Ensure the narrative and financial reporting to donors (private and institutional donors)
- Participate to Monthly Desk Meeting with HQ team
Security
- Ensure the safety and security of La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s employees and volunteers: update Mission Security Plan and implement/adapt Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on situation evolution and area of intervention
- Supervise the security situation and takes the necessary decisions in crisis situations in coordination with the HQ (Programs Coordinator, Desk Manager, Security Referent)
- Ensure the compliance to security regulations of all La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s collaborators in Ukraine
Expériences / Formation
TRAINING AND SKILLS
Training/Experiences
- Master degree in Political Sciences, International Relations, Administration and Finance or any relevant field
- At least 5 years working experience in the humanitarian sector in managerial position
- Solid security management experience in a medium/high security environment is expected
- Experience in Ukraine is an asset
Skills and abilities
- Excellent knowledge of the project management cycle and project development
- Experience in donors relations and networking/representation
- Strong leadership
- Ability to deal with stressful situations
- Autonomous, resilient and diplomatic
- Rigor, analysis and synthesis skills
- Problem solving and negotiations skills
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
- French and English required, Ukrainian is an asset
Salaire
CONDITIONS
- 12 months full time contract, renewable, as an expatriate in Kyiv
- Starting date : June 2024
- Monthly gross salary from 2 900 €, according to profile and experience
- Monthly per diem and living allowance : 725 € net
- Leaves and R&R : 25 days of paid leaves per year, 5 days R&R every 12 weeks
- Travel : round trip ticket flight beginning/end of contract + paid leaves at mid contract
- Housing : single room in a collective accommodation provided
- Transportation to and from the workplace is provided
- Medical coverage with 50% of employer contribution
- Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance covered
- Death and disability insurance covered