DEMAC Co-Coordinator

Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination Project (DEMAC)

Based in Copenhagen with expected travels to Geneva, Ukraine, Pakistan, Somalia, and other relevant locations

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The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is looking to appoint an experienced, enthusiastic, and confident Co-Coordinator for the OFDA funded platform for Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination (DEMAC) for 18 months (with a possible 6-months extension)

Who are we?

DRC (Danish Refugee Council), founded in Denmark in 1956, is Denmark’s largest and the world’s leading non-profit, independent, rights-based refugee organization.

Our vision is to assist refugees, internally displaced people, and their host communities to a dignified life. We protect lives and human rights and empower beneficiaries throughout conflict displacement by providing shelter, food, and hope in terms of work, education, and integration towards a sustainable future.

ABOUT THE JOB

Within the last decades there has been a growing interest and trend among Western governments and NGOs to engage diasporas – people living outside their country of origin – in developing and rehabilitating their countries of origin. The diasporas have an increasingly important role in the political, economic, and social lives of the people in their countries of origin through transfer of money, values, skills, and ideas. In addition, diasporas are becoming increasingly influential actors in humanitarian crisis, often being the first to provide assistance in ways that differ from that of conventional humanitarian systems. However, diaspora aid is provided in parallel to existing systems and mechanisms that seek to inform and coordinate common responses to humanitarian crisis.

Humanitarian needs globally continue to increase substantially and there is a need to explore the variety of actors and approaches involved in humanitarian action and ensure better learning and coordination mechanisms between these actors. Therefore, the Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination Platform: 1) Provides insight into current modalities of diaspora humanitarian interventions; 2) Conducts a series of workshops for diaspora organisations and institutional aid actors to address identified gaps in knowledge and capacity regarding principles, systems and mechanisms that govern provision of aid on both sides; 3) Develops recommendations, resources and tools on means and methods for improved operational and strategic communication and cooperation between diasporas and institutional actors

Core activities of DEMAC will include:

· Engagement with the formal humanitarian system in Somalia, Pakistan and Ukraine to verify local buy-in to explore possible collaboration and coordination with diaspora in emergency responses.

· Development of standard terms of reference for documentation of impact and outreach of past diaspora emergency responses in three focus countries.

· Testing of the ToRs in Somalia, Pakistan and Ukraine and two new emergencies.

· Based on results from documentation exercises consultations should be held between diaspora and formal humanitarian system on how the system can possibly reflect diaspora emergency responses in assessments and the overall humanitarian program cycle.

· Results from the documentation exercises should be shared and discussed with diaspora communities for their internal learning and possible coordination.

· Organizing an international conference for sharing and discussion of lessons learned from in country processes and the way ahead for collaboration and coordination between diaspora humanitarian response and the formal humanitarian system.

The Platform is financed by USAID from July 2020 until July 2022. To read more, please visit www.demac.org.

DRC is recruiting a Co-Coordinator to co-lead the implementation, and take the responsibility of practical coordination, grants management, accountability, M&E and administrative tasks. The Co-Coordinator will work as a team with the DEMAC Coordinator who has the overall responsibility for DEMAC progressing according to plan and in line with donor agreements

Main Duties

The Co-Coordinator will co-manage the daily implementation of DEMAC-related activities, as well as the overall administrative coordination of the project, including but not limited to:

Representation

• Protect and promote the vision, mission and interests of DEMAC towards external stakeholders.

• Represent DEMAC towards authorities, OFDA/USAID, partners, and other relevant forums

Coordination

• Ensure regular and open/transparent communication with relevant DRC colleagues (e.g. DRC country directors, DRC Emergency Unit, etc.), diaspora partners and external stakeholders on project activities.

• Convene and co-chair regular (e.g. monthly, quarterly) project, Strategic Advisory Board and Technical Reference group meetings to discuss strategy, programme and financial issues, disseminate minutes and follow up on action points.

• Facilitate consultations with humanitarian representatives to design and develop guidelines, tools and resources for humanitarian actors

• Facilitate consultations with diaspora representatives to design and develop guidelines, tools and resources for diaspora actors

• Liaise and meet relevant stakeholders in focus countries (Somalia, Pakistan, Ukraine and others) and in Europe (Geneva, Brussels) with regular travel to relevant locations.

• Plan, organize and coordinate external events (workshops, seminars, conference, etc.) with diaspora representatives and humanitarian actors

• Organize the presentations of documentations in countries of diaspora residence, and towards HCTs in emergency settings.

• Co-facilitate workshops and discussions within HCTs and diaspora organizations on implications of findings and scope for increased collaboration and coordination.

• Coordination of consultancies to conduct case studies and research

Project Quality Control

• Together with DEMAC Coordinator, coordinate, supervise, monitor and evaluate the implementation of activities in the different geographical areas in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, DRC guidelines and donor requirements

• Conduct periodic field visits to validate progress reports, identify problems and issues to address during Advisory Board meetings and make recommendations for improvement.

• Ensure the project progress is effectively monitored through regular data collection, analysis of indicators and activities and documented with proper sources of verification.

Grant Management

Together with DEMAC Coordinator and Finance & Grant officer, ensure that:

• Contractual obligations are met in terms of project deliverables.
• Activities are implemented in accordance with the approved donor and partnership agreement.
• OFDA rules and procedures are understood and respected
• Budget is monitored, and any deviances are followed up
• Operational liaison with USAID/BHA (e.g. reports, grants management issues)
• Programmatic data is consolidated, and project reports are prepared
• Quarterly financial and annual narrative reports are submitted to USAID/BHA

Qualifications

• University degree or higher education preferably in social sciences, law, international development, project management or protection information
• Minimum 6 years’ experience working and engaging with Civil Society Organisations/diaspora organisations or of project management/coordination experience in humanitarian context
• Solid experience from all steps in the project management cycle, including M&E, report-writing, etc.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills in English.
• Experience with a range of donors, with specific experience and knowledge of USAID.
• Experience working with CSOs and/or diaspora organisations
• Ability to act as dialogue partner and facilitator for a diverse group of people.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills.
• Open to an innovative and agile managerial approach: shared leadership
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Languages such as Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Farsi, Russian, Ukrainian and others is an advantage

Reporting

The DEMAC platform is part of the DRC Civil Society Engagement Unit (CSEU), and the Co-Coordinator will report to the Head of the CSEU. To read more about the Diaspora Programme, please visit https://drc.ngo/relief-work/diaspora-programme.

Terms

• Commencement: as soon as possible.
• Duration of contract: until June 2022. (with a possible 6-months extension until December 2022)
• Location: Copenhagen with frequent travel to Geneva and other relevant locations
• Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Agreement with the AC-organisations. The position is based in Copenhagen with frequent travels to Geneva and the field.

• DRC encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender, or age.

• Application Deadline: Recruitment with an open deadline. Interviews will be held until the successful candidate is found.