Area Coordinator - Pakistan

Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)

Closing date: 25 Feb 2010
Location: Pakistan

Department: Coordination
Position: Area Coordinator
Contract duration: 6 months renewable
Location: Peshawar, Pakistan
Starting Date: ASAP

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 25 countries worldwide, with over 160 international and 2500 national staff. ACTED has a 45 million € budget for over 150 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion.
For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org.

II. Country Profile

Capital Office: Islamabad
National Staff: 139 (may 2009)
International Staff: 3 (may 2009)
Areas: 4 (Southern Punjab, AJK, NWF Province, Fata Province)
On-going programmes: 4
Budget: 0,5 M€ (2008)

ACTED began emergency relief activities in Pakistan after the fatal earthquake of October 2005, and in 2006 and 2007 emergency intervention evolved to a development focus. Currently ACTED-Pakistan strengthen its previous interventions and diversify them to new areas in North West Frontier Province and the Southern Punjab Province with a special focus on immediate relief operations to meet the basic needs of communities affected by conflicts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and floods in August 08 in Rajanpur District (Penjab). Following the floods of August 08 ACTED has started emergency response projects in Dir Area, with disaster preparedness programmes and hygiene promotion. ACTED also works on a 3-year project for the promotion of primary health care launched in 2007, with Village Organizations (VOs) heavily involved

To meet the needs of the unexpected influx of IDPs/Returnees related to the resumption of conflict in FATA, ACTED began an intervention to improve living conditions in tented camps (health, food security, IGA activities, and hygiene promotion), focusing winterization on 3 IDP camps hosting about 5000 families. With the growing crisis in 2009, ACTED now focuses its interventions on the IDPs needs.

.ACTED Pakistan also assists in the implementation of the EC's 'South Asia Invest' microfinance initiative.

III. Position Profile

Under the authority of the Country Director, the Area Coordinator is responsible to ensure the implementation of ACTED’s mandate and manage the international and national staff involved in projects located in a specific area of intervention in-country.

Responsibilities:

1. Ensure ACTED Representation in the area of activity

Representation vis-à-vis provincial authorities:
- Participate in official meetings to ensure maximum visibility vis-à-vis provincial authorities.

Representation vis-à-vis Donors:
- Establish and update contact details of potential Donors active in the area of activity;
- Participate in Donor meetings at provincial level and communicate relevant information to the Country Director;
- Circulate the Annual Report.

Representation amongst other international organisations:
- Participate in inter-NGO Coordination meetings and those of UN Agencies (OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, etc.), and any other relevant inter-governmental institution at provincial level;
- Ensure maximum visibility of the Agency amongst the NGO community at provincial level;
- Lead the production of reports and ensure the timeliness and accuracy of information provided, as well ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.

2. Contribute to the development of a global intervention strategy and to support its implementation at provincial level

Analyse the context and develop strategic plans, in consultation with the Country Director:
- Gather and analyse information regarding opportunities and risk;
- Define an operational strategy for finances and HR.

Implement the financial strategy:
- Oversee drafting of projects and budget development;
- Lead fund-raising and negotiations with Donors in the area of intervention;
- Lead the application and adherence to contract terms and requirements;
- Supervise overall financial commitments and financial risk.

Implement the operational strategy:
- Supervise Project Managers of the area of intervention in project implementation;
- Help the various teams in negotiations with provincial/local authorities and partners;
- Ensure global coordination and complementarity amongst projects within the area of intervention;
- Assess activities and ensure efficient use of resources.

Oversee reporting procedures:
Develop a reporting schedule with regard to Donor deadlines;
Plan and supervise the development of narrative and financial reports;
Ensure adherence to FLAT procedures.

More generally, communicate systematically to the Country Director the development of the area strategy and its implementation.

3. Oversee Staff and Security

Guide and direct the staff of the area of intervention:
- Organise and lead coordination meetings;
- Prepare and follow work plans;
- Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics (solve out potential conflicts);
- Promote team working conditions in the limit of private life;
- Adapt the organigramme and ToRs of personnel according to the area development;
- Undertake regular appraisals of directly supervised colleagues and pass appraisal forms to the Country Administrator with recommendations (new position, changes to contract or salary etc.);

Contribute to the recruitment of expatriate staff:
- Follow recruitment procedures: plan recruitment needs in advance; draft ToRs for open vacancies; if necessary undertake phone interviews with candidates;
- When requested by HQ, undertake interviews of expatriate candidates living in the area of intervention.

Oversee staff security:
- In cooperation with the Area Security Officer, monitor the local security situation and inform both Country Security Officer and Country Director of developments through regular written reports;
- Update the security guidelines in the area of intervention;
- Ensure that security procedures are respected by the whole staff.

IV. Qualifications:

- Master Level education in a relevant field such as International Relations or Development
- Project management experience (management, planning, staff development and training skills) in development programmes
2-5 years previous work experience in a relevant position
- Proven capabilities in leadership and management required
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English (French for francophone posts/Spanish for Central American posts)
- Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, and flexibility in cultural and organizational terms
Ability to work well and punctually under pressure

V. Conditions:

- Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus (define between 2200€ and 2300€ net/month)
- Additional monthly living allowance
- Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
- Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
- Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

How to apply

Reference Code: RW_7XQMK3-87