Economic Recovery & Development (ERD) Coordinator

July 7, 2021 | Member: IRC Yemen

Job Description

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. The country has been engaged in an armed conflict since 2015 and is regularly characterized as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Infrastructure has been destroyed by years of war and 67% of the population needs humanitarian assistance. The IRC currently operates in the south and north of the country through direct programming and local partnerships, with main offices in Aden and Sana’a and field offices in Abyan, Al Dhale’e, and Hodeidah governorates.

Position Overview

The ERD Coordinator is responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and quality implementation of all cash assistance and livelihoods programs in Yemen, inclusive of agriculture, skills training, and small business grants. The ERD Coordinator will ensure effective project management, manage program budgets, monitor and strengthen technical quality, coach and mentor project staff, and maintain effective working relationships with external actors.

The ERD Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) and manages a team led by two ERD Managers and one Senior Officer across three principal program hubs in Aden/Abyan, Al Dhale’e/Lahj, and Hodeidah governorates. The role is based in Aden and frequent travel to program sites across Yemen is required, including to remote and insecure locations.

Responsibilities

Program Development and Management

• Lead the ERD team to implement timely, effective, and relevant activities in line with identified needs and established objectives.
• Develop actionable plans to ensure that stated project objectives are regularly evaluated and achieved.
• Coordinate closely with the DDP and grants department to ensure timely and responsive grant management and compliance with donor requirements.
• Produce and utilize regularly updated project management tools, including workplans, implementation plans, procurement plans, and accurate financial forecasts.
• Oversee timely, relevant, and responsible management of project funds.
• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) department to develop effective monitoring tools and collect relevant data.
• Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted on time and to a high-quality standard.
• Oversee the project design process for any new ERD programming, including the development of budgets, proposal narratives, logframes, and other supporting documents.
• Work with the DDP to define and implement the strategic direction of ERD programs in Yemen in line with the overall country program strategy.

Technical Quality

• Ensure all ERD activities across both cash and livelihoods are implemented in accordance with the IRC’s technical guidelines and global best practices.
• Regularly review MEAL data and apply indicator findings to improve program quality. Ensure all programs are data-driven.
• Ensure that programming adheres to the IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework to achieve outcomes, ensuring the use of evidence-based theories of change and project approaches/activities.
• Liaise with the ERD Technical Advisor on a regular basis. Stay abreast of developments in the IRC ERD Technical Unit and global working groups related to new tools and guidelines.

• Coach, mentor, and lead the ERD teams to implement programs to a high standard of quality.
• Oversee the timely recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, and the sustained professional growth of team members.
• Ensure all team members are well-versed in job expectations and have clear performance objectives. Conduct regular management meetings with all direct reports and ensure the same is done throughout the team management structure.
• Identify training needs and develop capacity building plans for ERD staff.
• Promote and monitor staff care and wellbeing.

Coordination

• Ensure consistent IRC representation in the Food Security & Agriculture Cluster, Cash & Markets Working Group, and other relevant groups.
• Oversee regular communication, negotiations, and engagement with partners and government entities.
• Work closely with field managers and the humanitarian access & security team to ensure concerns and challenges at the service delivery level are addressed appropriately.
• Proactively collaborate with other IRC sector technical leads to promote program integration and ensure effective internal referrals.

• Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of six years of experience managing economic programs in a humanitarian setting.
• Advanced technical knowledge of food security, cash assistance, and livelihoods program modalities.
• Extensive experience designing and providing services for conflict-affected populations living in a protracted economic crisis.
• Prior experience and demonstrated competency in management of a multi-donor grant portfolio.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget management, financial forecasting, and management of spending plans.
• Demonstrated experience in a leadership position required, including training, coaching, and mentoring teams.
• Previous experience living in a conflict-affected or protracted crisis setting strongly preferred. Experience in a range of operational settings is preferred.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Arabic language skills are an advantage.

Competencies

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and eager to work as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.
• Exceptional advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Analytical, strategic, and able to proactively develop solutions to complex challenges.
• Reliable, patient, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly resilient and comfortable working in an insecure environment with restricted personal freedoms.

Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. The situation in Aden is currently quiet but remains unpredictable. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process.

Housing: Lodging in Aden is in shared IRC guesthouse apartments. All IRC sites have electricity and internet.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.