CAR: Field Coordinator

Jun 1, 2020 | Triangle Génération Humanitaire
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Founded in 1994, Triangle Génération Humanitaire, a French association of international solidarity based in Lyon, designs and implements emergency, rehabilitation and development programs in the fields of water, hygiene and sanitation, civil engineering, food security and rural development, socio-educational and psychosocial. TGH currently works in 10 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Presentation of the mission

TGH began its work in CAR in 2007 to support refugees from Darfur, in the Vakaga prefecture. Today, the association works in Vakaga in the food security, water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as education sectors. TGH thus remains one of the only two organizations continuously present in this marginalized and outlying region. The projects it implements in the prefecture are notably financed by the Békou fund, by the Crisis and Support Center (CDCS), the Humanitarian Fund (FH) and AFD.

At the same time, the association has established itself since 2011 as one of the major humanitarian players in the Ouaka prefecture, where it leads various projects in the sectors of food security and rural development, water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) and education. Above all, it now provides emergency assistance to displaced populations and host communities in the town of Bambari, in all of the IDP camps around Bambari, on the routes around Bambari, as well as in the town. from Ngakobo. The projects that TGH usually implements are supported by financial partners such as ECHO, UNICEF, the Humanitarian Fund, and the Interministerial Committee for Food Aid.

In Bangui, where the phenomenon of street children (EDR) is experiencing an alarming progression, the mobile antenna services set up since 2014 by TGH guarantee children access to basic socio-educational and medical services, and participate the process of family reunification and foster care placement. As part of a multi-country project funded in part by AFD, UNICEF and the CDCS, TGH is currently working with institutional actors in child protection on these themes of care for vulnerable children who find themselves in a street situation.

The overall mission is funded to the tune of 3.5 million euros by various donors, the main of which are ECHO, the Crisis and Support Center of the MAE, the Humanitarian Fund, EuropeAid, AFD, UNICEF, and the CIAA.

The current team is made up of around fifteen expatriate staff and around 110 national staff, spread over the various operational bases (Bangui, Bambari and Birao). The Birao team currently consists of 3 expatriates and a dozen national staff.

Position

The town of Birao, Vakaga prefecture is located 1000 km northeast of Bangui and since 2007 has been home to one of TGH's operational bases in CAR (4 projects in progress). The Field Coordinator ensures the coordination of the programs implemented in the Birao region, the security of the teams, relations with the civil and military authorities and other humanitarian actors, as well as the general functioning of the base. Birao.

The Field Coordinator works under the responsibility of the Head of Mission and in conjunction with the Program Coordinator, based in Bangui. He / she directly supervises the expatriate team based in Birao. This expatriate team is currently composed of 3 project managers, 1 logistician-administrator for the base. He / she assumes the following responsibilities:

Program coordination and monitoring

  • Supervise, in conjunction with the program coordinator (based in Bangui), project managers in the implementation and monitoring of activities and operational objectives
  • Follow the project (s) in the eventual absence of a project manager
  • Follow the budgets in connection with the administrative coordinator and the log-admin Birao
  • Track the delivery of equipment in connection with the Birao log-admin and the logistics coordinator
  • Ensure a link and good coordination between programs and all supports
  • Participate in coordination meetings with the Bangui team to promote cohesion and the relevance of actions
  • Participate in external and internal reporting

Security management

  • Continually analyze the political, security and socio-economic context of the area and ensure the proper dissemination of the analysis and information internally
  • Regularly update the base security management tools in a participative manner, respecting the formats of the association, and ensuring good knowledge and respect by base personnel
  • Guarantee, with the head of mission, a level and operating methods adapted to the context
  • Manage, in conjunction with the head of mission and headquarters, security incidents and emergencies
  • Represent the association at civil-military meetings and other security coordination meetings

Team management

  • Ensure good coordination and good internal communication, in particular by holding regular meetings
  • Perform expatriate staff assessments
  • Oversee the management of national staff by expatriate staff (compliance with internal regulations, regular assessments, possible sanctions, training policy, remuneration policy, etc.)
  • Ensure a good atmosphere and a good team spirit

Database management

  • Ensure general compliance with the various internal procedures
  • Ensure, with the administrative and logistics teams, the proper functioning of the base on the administrative, financial and logistical levels
  • Ensure optimal pooling of resources for different projects

Representation of the association

  • Maintain and develop good working relations and good visibility of the association with local civil and military authorities, other humanitarian actors (UN agencies, NGOs) and international forces present in the area
  • Represent the association for the various meetings (coordination, consultation, etc.)
  • Ensure good coordination with other NGOs on the ground

Definition and implementation of the intervention strategy

  • Participate in defining the intervention strategy for the region and updating it when necessary
  • In connection with this strategy, coordinate and participate in the assessment of needs in the field, the preparation of project proposals and participate in fundraising

These responsibilities may be reviewed according to changing needs on the ground.

Safety, working and living conditions

The unstable and volatile security context requires compliance with sometimes restrictive security rules. Travel in the field is possible but requires prior analysis, and travel in the city is generally not subject to restrictions, unless there is tension in the city. TGH is a well-known and appreciated humanitarian actor in the area.

In Birao, given the current context, TGH teams are currently staying on the basis of MINUSCA, with the entire humanitarian community. A return to the TGH base is planned as soon as calm returns. In Bangui, expatriates have individual rooms in two shared houses located on a concession where the office is also located. A wifi connection is available on the entire base.

Qualifications

  • Minimum of 3 years of humanitarian field experience, including at least one year on coordination functions
  • Experience in security management in a conflict context
  • Experience in team management
  • Experience in managing donor contracts
  • Excellent command of the project management cycle
  • Good writing skills in French
  • Ability to live in an unstable security environment
  • Anticipation and decision-making skills
  • Ability and motivation to live and work in a team