Iraq: Project Lead - Activating Markets and Agricultural Livelihoods (AMAL)

Oct 20, 2019 | Norwegian Refugee Council
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The Norwegian Refugee Council is a humanitarian, non-governmental organisation that protects the rights of people affected by displacement. It focuses on assisting the newly displaced, those experiencing protracted displacement in camps and those in hard-to-reach places. In 2019, NRC scaled-up programmes across Iraq to respond to people in need using our shelter and settlements, education, camp management, legal assistance, livelihoods, and cash activities.

Since the end of the war with Islamic State in 2017, Iraq has been recovering from the significant damage and destruction caused by the armed conflict. Of the more than six million Iraqis who fled their homes since 2014 4,2 million Iraqis have returned to their area of origin and 1,6 million remain internally displaced people (June 2019 HRP monitoring report). Many Iraqis have returned to areas that lack basic infrastructure, services and livelihood opportunities, or where explosive devices have not been cleared. Other challenges returnees face include the lack of security, community acceptance, housing, property and civil documentation issues and lack of educational and health services.

The UN estimates that more than 6,7 million Iraqis will need assistance in 2019. With military operations against IS group having ended, the Iraqi government faces new challenges to ensure an inclusive reconstruction and reconciliation that will sustain peace. Since 2010, NRC Iraq has been assisting internally displaced Iraqis, Syrian refugees, and host communities in Ninewa, Dohuk, Erbil, Kirkuk, Basra, Salahadeen and Anbar Governorates.

Duties and responsibilities

The purpose of the AMAL Project Lead position is to develop strategy, objectives, and set project plans including the overall management of a three-year project supporting Iraqi’s to recover from conflict. The project will focus on rehabilitating infrastructure and supporting the recovery of agricultural livelihoods across Iraq.

Generic responsibilities

  • Lead on the project development and implementation in line with NRC’s global strategic objectives and priorities;
  • Provide leadership, management, and clear strategic direction of the project;
  • Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures;
  • Accountable for efficient use of resources and achievement of results; 
  • Establish, maintain, and coordinate successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Responsible for the development of staff capacity and guidance to senior technical staff and programme teams.
  • Engage with team members, partners, and beneficiaries at project sites to monitor progress and revise the project’s approach as needed.
  • Responsible for the assigned donors to ensure that the project meets desired goals and objectives and to report on progress.
  • Responsible for managing the project including progress, budgets, spending and donor reporting

Specific responsibilities

  • Build a strong working relationship with senior management, programme and support teams to ensure successful project completion. 
  • Regularly update the donor informally and formally on project progress. 
  • Direct and matrix staff management responsibilities
  • Propose and justify amendment of project activities.
  • Regularly travel to programme areas to monitor project activities.
  • Responsible for the Project budget, resources  & reporting.
  • Liaise with government stakeholders to ensure appropriate accountability and ownership.

Our ideal candidate

  • Minimum 7 years of experience from developing and leading large and complex projects;
  • Experience in senior project management position working in consortia, partnerships or equivalent structures, with responsibility for programming in a humanitarian/protracted crisis or development context;
  • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts;
  • Documented/proven results related to the position’s responsibilities;
  • Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile;
  • Fluency in English, both written and verbal; knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish an advantage;  
  • Experience of Livelihoods programming an advantage; 
  • Experience of working with large donors an advantage;
  • Experience of the Iraq context an advantage.

Personal qualities

  • Strategic thinking
  • Initiating action and change
  • Influencing
  • Managing resources to optimise results
  • Empowering and building trust
  • Handling insecure environments

Additional information

  • Contract period: 2 years with potential to extend.
  • Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions.
  • Duty station: Erbil, Iraq, with 60% travel within the field in Iraq.
  • Female candidates encouraged to apply.
  • Anticipated start date 1st December 2019.

We will review applications on an ongoing basis, interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.