Head of mission in Ethiopia

1. ABOUT AYUDA EN ACCIÓN

We are a non-partisan and non-denominational NGO that fights against poverty and inequality. We promote the solidarity of people in a global world to encourage children, their families and the populations that suffer poverty, exclusion and inequality, to develop their capacities to achieve their aspirations for a dignified life in a sustainable way. We are committed to human rights and the dignity of people, independence, transparency through accountability and collective effort as the main values that drive our work in the organization as well as the criterion of non-discrimination as an inexorable principle.

We have more than 38 years of history and, thanks to the collaboration of our partners; we now work in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, supporting more than 2 million people. Ayuda en Acción has had a presence in Africa since 1984 and currently runs 22 rural development programs in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenia and Malawi, and expanding our presence to new countries in the Horn of Africa and other regions.

The direct engagement of Ayuda en Acción (AeA) in Ethiopia started in the early 2000s. In the country, AeA has implemented with its own funds 6 programs for long-term rural development with a total investment of 12 million euros and 16 projects co-financed by public and private entities with a total investment of 6 million euros, mainly in projects favoring the building of resilience and the protection of sustainable livelihoods.

The Country Program will be designing the next Country Strategy 2019-2021 and expanding our work in Ethiopia the next 3 years. The main focus will be on resilience building through Food Security, WASH, and DRR interventions at kebele level, and on increasing the corresponding skills and requirements at the National Office and branch/project office level. Currently, our work is mainly based on development projects, mixed with increasing emergency interventions.

2. PURPOSE OF MANDATE/MISSION

Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia is seeking experienced candidates for the position of Head of Mission for its Country Office in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The Program is designed to manage both, long term development and humanitarian projects in an integrated way to support children education and empowerment, WASH, resilient environment and livelihoods through empowering vulnerable groups, women, children and youth applying a community engagement and accountability approach.

The Head of Mission is member of the Senior Management Team in the Ethiopia Country Program, being directly accountable to Headquarters in Madrid, Spain. The Head of Mission will report to the Regional Desk for Africa region, based at AeA HQ. The jobholder will liaise with others within the AeA on matters such as HR, finance, logistics, etc. when a technical backstopping is required. Moreover, it is required team leadership in a coordinated manner strengthening in country office capacities, empowering the staff, working majoring and directly with the Country Representative, the Head of Programs and the Head of Finance.

3. ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSABILITIES

.-General tasks with regard to the AeA position in the Region:

• Represent AeA in Ethiopia in accordance with the principles, mission statement and strategy of AeA.
• Strengthen the partnership between AeA and different stakeholders, based on the AeA Strategy for better positioning of the organization at country and regional levels.
• Take the lead and responsible for the annual update of AeA country vision in an innovative manner, the development of the Country Strategy and the implementation of its associated benchmarks, engagement planning and to support the development of annual country/regional work plan.

.-Specific tasks with regard to the AeA position in the country:

• Define together with the Country Representative, Head of Programs, in coordination with the HQ in Madrid and other parties, the AeA Strategy for the consolidation or enhancement of the program.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the institutional visibility, strategic alliances and funding opportunities related to the Country Program.
• Ensure the participation of Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia in spaces for coordinating actions with regional initiatives and multi stakeholders on rural development, resilience and food security.
• Manage relationships in country with all relevant stakeholders, such as other NGO’s, Knowledge Institutes, Embassies, ECHO/EU offices, local authorities etc., attending to task force and/or working group meetings as per relevant sector.
• Facilitate sharing and learning across other international and national organizations working in Ethiopia and/or other African countries.
• Work with the Country Representative and other AeA team members in cultivating strategic partnerships or relationships with new/existing donors to further strategic development opportunities.
• Represent Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia at Alliance2015 meetings in the country and in the region.

.-Specific tasks with regard to the consolidation and strengthening of the Country Program:

• Ensure the application of the policies and the general strategy of Ayuda en Acción in the National Office, in accordance with the HQ in Spain.
• Ensure and support the AeA team in developing innovative project proposals, based on the meaningful participation of the local partners, community and other relevant stakeholders to consolidate and expand the AeA Country Program.
• Take part in the AeA regional meeting to make good use of relevant experiences and expertise from Ethiopia and vice versa.
• Coordinate current and future Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia projects with Spanish donors, especially with the Spanish Agency for Cooperation and Development (AECID) and decentralized cooperation.
• In coordination with the Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Finance and other relevant staff and local partners, lead the identification of new initiatives and opportunities that respond to identified needs of the country strategy.
• Support AeA team, field program staff and partner organizations on proposal development and design, including gathering information for concepts and proposals and serving as primary lead or coordinator of proposals and needs assessments.

.-Specific tasks with regard to the projects management:

• Management and technical support, to ensure high quality of the interventions aiming synergy and complementarity among projects and partners.
• Responsible for the open and effective communication between team members to ensure timely implementation of project activities and reporting to donors.
• Ensure that effective financial administrative systems governing the project activities are in place and are in line with AeA and donor requirements.
• Lead the in-country identification of new intervention possibilities within the framework of the AeA Country Program and Strategy, based on needs and support resource mobilization activities for new opportunities identified.
• Ensure adequate information flow regarding ongoing operations for both management and external communication.

.-Specific tasks with regard to security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by Ayuda en Acción institutional strategy, policy and Action Plan.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Maintain oversight of the larger context and humanitarian developments in Ethiopia, and ensure AeA HQ is able to concisely remain informed of the pressing humanitarian issues and challenges.