DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Organization: Gruppo di Volontariato Civile
Closing date: 01 Dec 2015
How to apply:
Closing date: 01 Dec 2015
Country & Base of posting:Occupied Palestinian territory
Reports to:Country Director
Creation/Replacement:Replacement
Expected Date Of Arrival:1stDecember 2015
Duration of Mission:12 months
Context
GVC- Civil Volunteer Group, is a non-governmental, secular, and independent organization, founded in Bologna in 1971. We are active in international development aid projects with complex action strategies: from humanitarian aidto populations suffering from conflicts and natural disasters toreconstruction, hygiene, and food security; from rural developmentto education, to the protection of women'sand children's rights.
In over forty years of activity, GVC has operated in all parts of the world, carrying out thousands of projects. We collaborate with public institutions, cultural associations, cooperatives, and Italian and European NGOs, organizing seminars, conferences, exhibits and festivals, laboratories in school and training courses for teachers. We produce educational materials and carry out communication activities on sensitive issues such as differences, human rights, women's issues, sustainable trade, and biodiversity.
GVC works in 26 Countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Philippines, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mozambique, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Per , Domenican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Cuba.
BACKGROUND
Since 1967, occupation and political stagnation have directly affected the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian population in the West Bank. The movement restrictions policy are severely limiting Palestinians access to essential services and markets, and leading to serious and negative impact upon all aspects of their lives, and mainly their livelihoods.
Palestine is a sui generis case for aid delivery and cooperation, due notably to the occupation and the fragmentation of the territory. Efficiency and performance of development cooperation continue to be challenged by the Israeli occupation of Palestine, in all sectors NGOs are involved in. Palestine is divided into the Gaza Strip (under the control of de facto authorities not recognised by the international community), East Jerusalem (a de facto annexation by Israel also not recognised) and the West Bank (over which the Palestinian Authority (PA) has entire control only on Area A, i.e. 18% of the West Bank). The PA has therefore only a very limited authority, both in terms of territory and legal jurisdiction.
The situation of the PA remains challenging, with the persistence of a systemic fiscal crisis and crisis of political legitimacy following the suspension of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2007 and the absence of national elections subsequently. In July 2013 direct talks were resumed between Israelis and Palestinians in the context of the Middle East Peace Process with the ambitious aim of achieving -agreement on all final status issues within nine months. The failure of the peace talking and the operation Protective Edge leaded to a more tense escalation, for which international NGOs are challenged to respond with innovative and sustainable cooperation strategies.
GVC s development strategy in the country
The consolidation of the PA institutional infrastructure open to foster democratic participation of civil society, through the improvement of representative processes and the implementation of specific effective tools to promote dialogue. These criteria should lead any kind of intervention, preparing both decentralized institution and civil society to better advocate for a final recognition of Palestinian statehood.
GVC focuses strategically on 4 main sectors for its development program, namely:
Food SecurityLocal Development and GovernanceIntegrate Water Resource ManagementLRRD: Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development
Tasks and Responsibilities
Programme Leadership
Assist the CD in establishing and maintaining collaborative and high performing team and a good working environment
Operations Management
Support Area Managers in coordination with the Projects Managers/Coordinators in all aspects of finance, administrative, human resource and logistics management, ensuring knowledge of and adherence to applicable operational systems, donor requirements and GVC country strategy.
Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate and with the Area Managers, so as to enhance the smooth running of the programmes through standardised procedures and improved support. This may include finance and governance procedures, staff management and security.
Manage a comprehensive activity plan for the programme, including resource needs analysis, covering the time frames of the project proposals.
Represent GVC at relevant national and local meetings with government officials, contractors, other NGOs, etc., reporting back as applicable to staff, Area Managers and HQ.
Lead the development of work plans and budget and ensure effective coordination, timely and quality implementation and monitoring of project activities to meet deliverables in accordance with standards, time line, and budget.
Programme Management
Assist the CD and work with the management board with the identification and design of future projects.
Conduct needs assessments in areas identified by the CD and management board, working with advisors, coordinators and project managers where necessary.
Ensure budgets are spent according to donor proposals and regulations and within the appropriate timeframe and advising the area managers of the financial status of the projects.
With CD, co-lead the development, successful implementation, and monitoring of project strategies in close coordination with donor, government departments, program staff, and other stakeholders at national and, if the case, at regional levels
Staff Management
Line manage designated staff, including direct supervision and development.
Assist the CD in establishing and maintaining collaborative and high performing team and a good working environment
Assist the CD with the development and building of an effective team.
Quality Management
In conjunction with area managers review, develop and implement (as applicable) systems to improve transparency and to ensure the best use of GVC assets and resources.
Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations on the quality of the programmes and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times.
Oversee the timely and accurate preparation of annual reports as well as interim status reports (as required) to donors
Proactively contribute to effective and efficient use of resources across projects including during start-up and close-out of individual projects
Security Management
Support CD in security administration, which includes communicating security alerts to the team and maintenance of base security.
Liaise with 24/7 for updated contact information and monitoring quality of service.
Report to
Country Director
Works in coordination with
Emergency Coordinator
Country Administrator
Area Managers
Project Managers
Duty Station
Jerusalem and Ramallah. Frequent travels in West Bank and short missions to Gaza.
Required knowledge and skills
An advanced university degree or equivalent in the field of Social or Political Science, Development Studies, International relations, Project Management.
Minimum of 7 years of relevant working experience in related fields with a focus in the area of Local Economic Development and/or Governance.
Project Development and proposal writing.
Project Management Cycle.
Knowledge of main donors policy and procedures (UN Agencies, Europeaid, Italian Cooperation).
Previous work experience with international NGOs will be preferred.
Valid and clean driving license.
Required Personal Characteristics
Ability to think strategically and conceptually and to translate these into concrete results.
Ability to identify, initiate and maintain good relationships with partner organisations, donors and national authorities including building professional relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers / leaders.
Proven organisational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks while fostering quality, team spirit and positive working relationships with colleagues.
Strong interpersonal relationships and demonstrated ability to leverage business networks and partnerships for continued growth.
Fluency in written and spoken English
Ability to work under pressure.
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the NGO values and ethical standards.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Treats all people fairly without favouritism
Computer skills, in particular MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS Project.
How to apply:
Vacancies Contact: gvcpalestina@gvc-italia.orgEmail your updated CV. Please indicate "VACANCY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR oPT" in the subject line of the email.
Only the short listed candidates will be contacted.