Project Manager – South Sudan

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Project Manager

Code: SR-41-1862

Duty station: Pibor, Jonglei State and Juba

Starting date: 01/04/2021

Contract duration: 5 months

Reporting to: Program Coordinator

Supervision of: 10 local staff

Dependents: Non-family Duty Station /non-accompanied

General context of the project

In South Sudan, multiple years of conflict and severe economic crisis resulted in recurrent population displacements. According to ACAPS[1], the South Sudan crisis severity is very high, with very relevant constraints in terms of assets. Based on the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO)[2], 8.3 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2021; at the same time, 1.6 million IDPs and 2.2 million refugees lack basic services and experience extreme poverty. These issues, compounded by the impact of natural disasters like 2020 unprecedented floods led to widespread protection concerns and food insecurity, leaving some States such as Jonglei highly vulnerable. Pibor County, within Jonglei State, is one of the most severely affected areas: according to the 2021 HNO, Based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)[3] issued in September 2020, Pibor County:

• from December 2020 to March 2021 has been suffering from an Emergency situation (IPC 4). At the same time: throughout its population, 11,000 people have been facing a Catastrophe situation (IPC 5), given significant underlying vulnerabilities which built up over time due to the protracted crisis and recurrent shocks. Humanitarian actors, such as WFP and some of its implementing partners, have been partially meeting the above mentioned needs by putting in-kind food distribution in place.

• from March to July 2021 will suffer from an Emergency situation (IPC 4). If what foreseen in terms of humanitarian assistance was fully delivered, no one should suffer from IPC 5. At the same time: Pibor County, which would normally see a seasonal improvement with the return of livestock to the homesteads, is expected to further deteriorate as very few animals will return because of the considerable earlier losses, the anticipated continuation of conflict, the reduced availability of wild animals and fish, the economic crisis, high food prices, and the reduction of commercial and humanitarian supplies because of the onset of the rains and the likely effects of COVID-19 measures. Therefore: Pibor County will likely see a further deterioration in food insecurity.

INTERSOS has been active in Pibor County over the last years through the implementation of protection and education in emergency projects and by managing the humanitarian hub. Based on its significant understanding of the impact of the current crisis on the local context, and by turning its 2021 country strategy into account, INTERSOS is prepositioning itself to contribute to the humanitarian response through a food assistance intervention.

[1] https://www.acaps.org/countries

[2] https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/south_sudan_20…

[3] http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-31/en/

General purpose of the position

This position is aimed at ensuring the prompt and effective delivery of the FSL project in Jonglei State as well as other additional areas of expansion in case it is required by the development of the crisis and the availability of funds.

By the end of the assignment, the post holder is expected to have:

• Contributed to ensuring beneficiaries targeted by projects are accessing all the foreseen services;
• Ensured the technical quality of FSL and Protection project deliverables;
• Managed project logistics to ensure the achievement of project’s activities;
• Managed all financial resources available to project, ensuring sound documentation is in place for all procurements and internal and donor procedures are applied;
• Ensured data is collected to respond to all project’s indicators in a timely fashion for interim and final reporting;
• Ensured timely submission of all reports due at State level and contributed to country-level reporting (5Ws, interim and final reports);
• Support the FSL and Protection national team in conducting needs assessment when required.

Main responsibilities and tasks

Projects Management

• Setting up and/or ensuring continuation of all the foreseen activities
• Developing and managing the implementation of/adherence to work plans and M&E plans
• Ensuring a sound monitoring of the project by producing, regularly updating and sharing – once in a month – the project appraisal tool (PAT)
• Providing technical support to projects’ staff
• Enhancing quality of implementation by training projects’ staff
• Managing all the financial resources allocated to projects, producing financial plans and cash forecasts and verifying budgets vs. actual on a weekly and monthly basis
• Managing all the logistical procedures, ensuring INTERSOS and Donor requirements are met and proper documentation is collected and maintained
• Ensuring reports are properly produced and submitted to donors

Program Development

• Developing budgets and project proposals, in close coordination and under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator

Coordination

• Ensuring 5W matrices are submitted as per the agreed reporting schedule
• Taking part to project’s meetings, called by donors and/or any relevant stakeholders, in close coordination and under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator/HoM.

Human Resources

• Lead the recruitment of national staff as required to achieve project’s objectives, in close cooperation with HR Department
• Ensure all administrative procedures are followed, in close cooperation with Finance Department

Required profile and experience

Education

An advanced University Degree in Political Sciences, International Law, Social Sciences, Education, Psychology or significant professional experience in a relevant sector in lieu of formal credentials.

Professional Experience

• At least three years of relevant professional work experience in the humanitarian field as Project Manager or assistant and in at least one of the relevant technical disciplines

Professional Requirements

• At least three years of relevant professional work experience in the humanitarian field as Project Manager or assistant and in at least one of the relevant technical disciplines

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English, good reporting and communication skills are required.

Personal Requirements

• strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
• Interpersonal skills, strong communication and diplomatic skills
• Problem-solving
• Ability to deal with heavy work pressure
• to be able to adapt himself/herself to uncomfortable living condition sometimes without basic facilities as electricity or running water