NGO PRESENTATION
Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.
Handicap International is a not-for-profit organisation with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations that provide it with human and financial resources, manage its projects and implement its actions and social mission.
Through its Emergency Response Department (ERD), created in 2006 after the merge with Atlas Logistique, the organization is committed to: Provide an adequate response to major natural disaster and conflict situations, anywhere in the world as much as possible within 72 hours; Provide assistance to vulnerable groups (refugees, IDPs, persons with injuries, elders, children, etc.) affected by a crisis and maximize the number of beneficiaries. Within vulnerable groups, target especially PwD and meet their specific needs; Constantly monitor chronic crises and/or conflicts to ensure preparedness for and rapid response to eventual emerging needs.
Directly linked to the Emergency Response Department of Handicap International France, the expatriate will be mandated for the following mission:
MISSION CONTEXT
The 2011 Syrian uprising began on March, 15th 2011 with public demonstrations as part of the wider Arab Spring and developed into a nationwide uprising and a civil war in 2012. Protesters have demanded the end to nearly five decades of Ba’ath Party rule, as well as the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. In the spring of 2011, the Syrian government deployed the Syrian Army to quell the uprising. Several cities have been besieged, and soldiers were reportedly ordered to open fire on civilians. But up to now the crackdown failed to stop the unrest, instead triggering anti-government protests in other towns and cities across the country. Some civilians and army defectors began forming fighting units and unified under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, fighting in an increasingly organized fashion; however, the opposition is still divided and lacks of organized leadership. The Syrian government characterizes the insurgency as armed terrorist groups and foreign fighters bent on destabilizing the country. The violence in Syria has caused around 1.2 million of people to flee their homes and to seek refuge in other part of the country (HCR). In addition, according the last toll of the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, more than 26,000 people were killed since the beginning of the uprising in Syria in March 2011.
The humanitarian situation of the population inside Syria appears to be catastrophic, and the population has immediate needs for health services to treat the wounded, food and non-food items. Host communities are seeing their resources progressively exhausted by the double burden of a degraded economy and their efforts to support the displaced. Scarcity of resources has added to the exasperation, and daily reports of exactions further fuel tensions. In parallel to the emergency response in the hot-spots, the support to host communities and displaced people has become essential in avoiding widespread desperation of a population. However, with little access to the field and significant constraints for humanitarian actors to operate in the country (difficulties in obtaining visas, ban on using questionnaires or organizing surveys, restrictions on coordination), assessing the needs has always been a major challenge in Syria. Finally, the situation does not allow humanitarian actors that were not in Syria before the unrest to intervene and tackle the needs within Syria. Additionally, the violence in Syria has caused the displacement of civilians fleeing from violence in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. On August 24, 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the number of Syrian refugees had reached over 200,000, exceeding the UNHCR estimate of 185,000 for the entire year. Turkey has seen the largest influx of refugees since the conflict began, but Lebanon and Jordan have also seen significant numbers. 21,744 individuals are reported UNHCR-registered in Irak, 49,236 in Jordan (additional 9,854 people have registration appointments and 26,373 people are awaiting registration in the Zaatri Refugee Camp), 46,628 in Lebanon (additional 18,811 Syrians have been in contact with UNHCR to be registered) and 78,431 in Turkey. UN agencies and NGOs, in close cooperation with respective host Government, have been working together since March 2011 to respond to the protection and humanitarian assistance needs of those crossing from the Syrian Arab Republic into neighbouring countries.
In a very volatile and complex context, HI has carried out a detailed on-the-ground assessment of the situation in Lebanon and Jordan in March-April 2012. Following the recommendations of this assessment mission, the HI Emergency Response department launched a regional emergency intervention for the most vulnerable people affected by the Syrian crisis, which started beginning of May both in north Jordan and Lebanon.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
In the current context, the main objective is to alleviate suffering of vulnerable people affected by the Syrian crisis and support their coping mechanisms as soon as possible. HI intervention is conducted following 2 main axes:
1 - Ensure that refugees with injuries (or sequel of injuries) have access to essential rehabilitation and complementary services and therefore avoid developing further impairments and vulnerabilities, both at secondary level- Tripoli and northern Jordan- and community level -Bekaa Valley in Lebanon and northern Jordan.
2 – Ensure that the most vulnerable people affected by the Syrian crisis and their families see their vulnerability reduced and are better able to cope with the situation through the better coverage of their basic and specific needs (directly or through referrals/channeling) -Bekaa Valley in Lebanon and northern Jordan.
In the other hand, HI is willing to support national actors, providing assistance, therefore ensuring a coherent continuum of care, particularly by: 1. Providing support to in and out patients rehabilitation wards of the new emergency rehabilitation centre, 2. Supporting the provision of complete rehabilitation services in the centre, including rehabilitation sessions, P&O and other assistive devices when needed, etc. 3. Supporting the provision of psychological care to patients in the centre.
MAIN RESPONSABILITIES OF THE POSITION
Under the responsibility of the Emergency coordinator you will be responsible for:
Context monitoring of the Emergency Response Department intervention in the country: follow up the situation, gather information, build and maintain a strong and impartial networking, attend security meetings if relevant, suggests updates and recommendation (in close relationship with the EC); Under delegation of the EC, representation of HI towards authorities and partners in projects, administrative and logistics aspects; Participation in coordination meetings concerning context, projects, administrative and logistics aspects; Monthly reporting; Coordinate with the team to centralize the Weekly Situation Report.
MAIN TAKS OF THE POSITION
Under close supervision of the Emergency Coordinator (EC), you will be in charge of:
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE Facilitation of external appointments and meeting with EC Facilitation of action plan and monthly planning Intelligence on external stakeholders issues Reporting of informal events that may affect the activities
ORAL TRANSLATION AND PARTICIPATION TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION Under supervision of EC, representation of HI towards local authorities at regional and national level in the respect of the organization image and principles; Under supervision of EC, participation in coordination meetings (NGO, UN, etc.); Attendance to other meeting upon request from the Emergency Coordinator; Facilitation of HI representation towards local partners and stakeholders in the respect of the organization image and principles;
SECURITY MANAGEMENT Participation in Security meetings, and transfer of information to whom it may concern under supervision of the EC; Weekly reports to EC about the contextual situation and incidents.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION Ensure proper communication of feedbacks towards team and about issues potentially raised by them to EC; You participate with the EC to conflict resolution (personal and professional) within the whole team;
PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOLLOW UP Follow closely the progress of projects indicators ; Check that the project planned methodology is respected. If not, inform the EC for appropriate measures. Upon request of EC, accompany project managers on project management issues; Make sure that HI internal project tools are properly used and understood; Upon request of EC, check that partnership agreements are respected. If not, inform EC for appropriate measures;
HUMANITARIAN INTELLIGENCE Follow up of assessment reports and information gaps within the humanitarian community Upon request of EC, participation to assessment missions Mapping of humanitarian actors (4W) Mapping of stakeholders related to the crisis
PROPOSAL WRITING Compilation of program managers inputs Drafting of proposal narrative parts
REPORTING AND CAPITALIZATION Writing of minutes of internal and external meetings Updating of : o Contact lists o Project indicators o Context analysis and security follow-up o Movement plannings Participate to the monthly situation report (SITREP) through data compilation and provision of context and project data ;
JOB CONDITIONS
HR & FINANCE INPUTS
Status: voluntary Start: 01/11/2012 Duration: 3 months Living conditions: guesthouse shared with other expatriates (no charges) Security conditions: high level of insecurity Social insurance: 100% covered
PROFILE REQUIRED
HR & PROGRAMS INPUTS
High degree diploma is recommended (political science or generalist) Nb of years of Professional experience in the related field : 3 years Experience in NGO necessary, preferably in emergency context English and Arabic mandatory (oral and written). French would be an asset Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills Ability to work under high pressure with a great level of personal organisation Diplomacy sense Flexibility
How to apply:
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to: OfficeRH – HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL - Direction de l’Action d’Urgence Réf : SURMANE/Firstname/Emergency coordinatorAssistant E-mail : officerh@handicap-international.org
