JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Head of and North Programme (MENA)

Location: , with frequent travel to the region

Management responsibility: Country Manager (Sana’a), and MENA Programme Manager (London)

Reporting to: Director of International Programmes

Key Relationships: Yemen Country Team, London-based MENA team members, Organisational Management team, Funding team (London), Policy Advocacy and Communications teams ( London), HR and Operations team (London) and Finance team (London)

Salary range: £44,611 - £50,792

Description of Saferworld and MENA programme:

Saferworld is an independent non-governmental organisation that works to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with civil society, governments and international organisations to encourage and support effective policies and practices through advocacy, research and policy development, and through supporting the actions of others.

Inter- and intra-state violent conflict, insecurity and transnational violent extremism is beleaguering much of the Middle East and region (MENA) and in recent years, the situation has deteriorated further including the playing out of ever complicating proxy regional and internationals disputes and conflicts. The wider impact created has spread to neighbouring countries, and as far as the European Union, with forced migration causing significant social and political consequences in host countries.

The Middle East and North Africa Programme was established in 2011 and has a particular focus on and Yemen. Our programme in Yemen is our biggest MENA programme having four core areas of work: Youth, and Governance; Gender, Peace and Security and Community Peacebuilding. We also have a programme of work around international advocacy on Yemen, with the aim of raising awareness of the impact of the conflict on Yemeni citizens, raising Yemeni civil society and community voices in international discourse on Yemen and encouraging international actors to take a conflict sensitive approach and adopt policies and practices in Yemen that support constructive pathways to peace. In Egypt we have been providing technical support on policing to civil society and working on women’s safety and security concerns. We have also been piloting work in on women security and participation, in Tunisia on civil society’s role in security sector reform, and in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey on the regional impact of the Syrian crisis, all of which we are looking to expand over the course of 2016/17.

Saferworld plans to deepen and expand its presence in, and contribution to, the region under the leadership of the Head of MENA, linking the MENA region to current trends in .

Job Purpose:

The Head of MENA will ensure the effective implementation of Saferworld's organisational strategy through country and operational plans within the region, providing leadership, guidance and support to the team, in close cooperation with key Saferworld stakeholders. The post holder will contribute regularly to our organisational learning and strategy development as a member of the Organisational Management team.

The position is currently responsible for promoting cooperative approaches to conflict prevention and security in the region. Guided by Saferworld’s organisational strategic priorities and areas of expertise, the post holder will also lead on the development of new and complementary initiatives to deepen the programme’s contribution to conflict prevention and peaceful change in the MENA region and its significant spill-over effects. This will include engaging on perceptions and policies informing the EU’s response to the crisis, including a deeper understanding of the root causes of the conflicts, promoting constructive approaches to counter terrorism, and challenging assumptions and debates around the mass movement of peoples.

Key areas of responsibility:

1. Lead the development of strategies and operational plans for the MENA region

2. Organisational and team leadership, and cross-organisational learning

3. Policy research, advocacy and communications

4. Project design, implementation and people management

5. Fundraising and financial management

6. Strategic risk and security management

DUTIES

1. Lead the development of strategies and operational plans for the MENA region  Oversee, support and manage the development of country and regional strategies to prevent and reduce violent conflict; strengthen the security and justice sectors; influence the manner in which international assistance contributes to conflict prevention; and promote conflict transformation through governance and state-building processes  Identify new and emerging issues of relevance to Saferworld’s work in the region/related to the region, and develop appropriate and innovative strategies to address them in line with Saferworld’s overall strategy and theory of change.

2. Organisational and team leadership and cross-organisational learning  Actively participate in Saferworld’s Organisational Management Team (OMT) by promoting the “voice” of country/regional programmes in the formulation of organisational priorities, strategies, and policies and in wider discussions and decision making.  Facilitate cross organisational understanding and ownership or country/regional programmes, needs, opportunities and challenges.  Lead and inspire staff to develop and implement the Strategic and Business Plans.  Promote lesson learning within and across programmes.  As a member of the OMT, ensure the effective integration of cross-cutting themes (such as gender and conflict sensitivity) and functions (such as advocacy, communications and capacity building).  Work with team members to identify new approaches and methods of working which enable Saferworld to address violent conflict and insecurity in innovative and effective ways.

3. Policy research, advocacy and communications  In cooperation with our partner organisations and Saferworld’s Policy, Advocacy and Communications (PAC) division, define and manage research initiatives in support of our programmes relating to security and justice, , aid and conflict and governance and peacebuilding issues in the MENA region.  Identify and facilitate opportunities for policy dialogue and problem-solving amongst a range of opinion- shapers within and between different sub-regions, and with the international community.  In coordination with the PAC division, develop and implement Saferworld’s strategies targeting decision- makers, identifying specific approaches (e.g. policy briefings, seminars, media and parliamentary work) to achieve them.  Maximise advocacy potential and promote full inclusion and representation of regional realities on MENA in internal and external communications in coordination with the PAC division.  Act as a Saferworld spokesperson on our work in the MENA region, promoting lessons learnt from the region.  Undertake senior representation for the region with policy-makers at the international, regional and national levels. Ensure regular engagement with senior officials from relevant governments, civil society and international agencies.  Support the building of organisational contacts and the participation in networks in support of Saferworld’s strategies for the MENA region.

4. Project design, implementation and people management  Lead the development of a variety of effective projects aimed at addressing Saferworld’s change objectives, including support for the implementation of monitoring and learning systems.  Work with the programme team to strengthen existing Saferworld relationships with partners and evolving civil society networks in the region. Promote the development of practical approaches for strengthening the capacity of key government and non-government actors concerned with conflict prevention and peacebuilding  Provide leadership and coaching support to country representatives and others within her/his direct line of responsibility.  Ensure that country/regional teams understand and act-upon organisational strategies and priorities and are pro-actively engaging with teams across Saferworld.

5. Fundraising and financial management  Lead the development and management of the MENA programme’s annual budget, including monitoring and reporting on performance against this, and contribute to the development of the organisational budget.  Work with the Director of International Programmes to ensure consistency of the overall regional budget, monitoring spend and revisions.  Ensure programme staff understand and apply financial management and control policies, including working within approved budgets to deliver on agreed priorities.  Oversee the timely and effective completion of the programme’s grant management requirements.  Development and implementation of a funding strategy for the MENA programme, including working with the Funding Team to source potential funding opportunities, developing and submitting concept notes and proposals, and ensuring regular engagement with representatives from the international donor community.

6. Strategic risk and security management  Undertake strategic risk management within the MENA region, ensuring appropriate risk identification, mitigation, monitoring and resolution. Particular focus in areas such as security, communications, programme quality and adaptation, partner relations, financial management and operational environment.  Lead the security management for the region in accordance with Saferworld’s security policies and procedures, and ensure that duty of care standards are maintained for the MENA team.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will need:  A Masters’ degree (or equivalent) in international relations, political science or a related field.  Minimum of five years’ senior management experience, preferably in an international non- governmental organisation.  Substantial knowledge and experience of one or more of the region’s programmatic areas (conflict prevention and reduction; security and justice sector development; gender, peace and security) and of the international policy environment in which these issues are addressed.  Considerable work experience in the region, including having developed and monitored high level strategic plans.  Proven experience of security management.  Strong understanding of key regional political, development and humanitarian trends and debates.  Strong understanding and experience of funding priorities in the region, trends and donor conditions. Proven ability to build effective donor relationships.  Proven experience of working in partnership with NGOs and other civil society organisations and networks and relating to government officials at a senior level.  Proven ability to manage and develop staff at all levels – experience of managing staff based overseas is required.  Experience of budget development and financial management.  High level communication skills, including experience of communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.  Ability to undertake extensive travel (up to 3 months each year)

Desirable  Written and spoken Arabic

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Probation: There will be a probationary period of three months Leave entitlement: There are 28 days holidays a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public holidays Annual salary range: £44,611 - £50,792 gross per year plus benefits Pension: 9% contribution to a personal pension Hours: Standard working week is 37.5 hours

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please send a completed application form to Marie Aziz at [email protected]. Please use subject heading: Ref: HMENA

Deadline for applications: 14th March Dates for interviews: 23rd– 24th March

We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted