Crisis, conflict, disaster advisor - SPI (2 positions)

Salary band 4 –

Professional 4T

 Crisis, conflict, disaster (incl. Emergency Aid, Peace, Security, Flight and Migration) advisor  isaste

Job Profile

1. Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

• University degree in an area that is related to the project/programme objectives (equivalent to BA or MBA)

Professional experience

• At least 5 years’ professional experience in a comparable position;
• Experience with peacebuilding and dialogue approaches;
• Experience in civil society initiatives planning and implementation as well as structural context of local civil society actors;
• Profound knowledge of the Syrian conflict necessary; 
• Strong capacity in grants management including planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting;
• Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills;
• Track record of establishing and maintaining effective professional relations with relevant actors;
• Strong relational skills to interact with local civil society actors;
• Proven ability to understand and advise on the challenges that local civil society actors and grassroots organizations might encounter in project implementation;
• Proven experience in applying best practices of do-no-harm and context-sensitivity;
• Ability to work as part of a team, to focus under pressure and to work on tight timelines;
• Fast learner and proactive solution-oriented way of working;
• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken).

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Excellent working knowledge of ITC technologies and computer applications (e.g. MS Office);
• Strong planning and organisational competence;
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management.

2. Responsibilities

The technical professional is responsible for

• Supporting the design of projects and managing implementation, monitoring, and reporting of grants (focusing on peacebuilding and dialogue measures) implemented by local grassroots organizations and other civil society actors in Syria (in close coordination with SPI team);
• Providing strategic as well as substantive advice to local civil society actors during the project design phase, implementation and other issues
• Advising partners and the SPI team on project design, planning and implementation in the light of an in-depth understanding of local dynamics in Syria
• Monitoring of political, humanitarian, and civil society developments (especially on a local level, inside Syria)
• Liaising with civil society actors in and outside Syria and other actors relevant to the project in close coordination with the programme team and line manager;
• Ensuring that the project’s work is in line with international good practice in dialogue, mediation and peacebuilding;
• Implementing a wide range of daily operational aspects related to the project;
• Maintaining a professional, conflict and context-sensitive flow of communication between all involved institutions, actors and GIZ;
• Ensuring best practices of do-no-harm and context-sensitivity.

The technical professional performs the following tasks:

3. Tasks

1. Project Management and Coordination

The technical professional

• Acts as focal point for local grassroots organizations and other civil society actors supported by the program;
• Supports the design and planning of grants and manages implementation, monitoring and reporting of such;
• Provides professional feedback on project proposals and other technical products developed by SPI partners
• Assists partners such as local civil society actors with operational matters, challenges and provides them with strategic guidance to fulfill the mandate of SPI;
• Reacts to challenges during e.g. implementation in an adequate and solution-oriented way;
• Coordinates and assists in preparing and conducting project activities and carries out other activities required for implementing these components.

2. Communication and networking

The technical professional

• Develops and maintains contact with all relevant stakeholders (especially in regard to local civil society actors) in coordination with the SPI team and supervisor;
• Ensures knowledge management: collects, processes and distributes relevant information, monitors communication and interaction between relevant actors;
• Is aware of (local) developments with regard to the Syria context.

3. Other duties/additional tasks

The technical professional

• Supports the operationalization of analysis and research outputs;
• and performs other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Project Description: Syria Peace Initiative (SPI)*

The project supports the UN’s Security Council Resolution (SCR) 2254 to move towards a negotiated solution that is respectful of the aspirations of all Syrians. The project is based on the belief that the UN-led negotiation process is essential for a sustainable solution in Syria. Consequently, the overall objective of the project is to provide an effective multi-stakeholder, multi-layered contribution to the Syrian peace process in-line with UNSCR 2254.