We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through technical assistance, supplies and money. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

The International Assistance department has opened a vacancy for a Country Representative South Sudan. In this role you lead the Netherlands Red Cross delegation, maintain and develop the partnership with South Sudan Red Cross, and you are responsible for the project portfolio in South Sudan.

We are looking for an experienced country representative who can represent NLRC in further developing and maintaining the partnership with the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) and all other (Movement) Stakeholders in South Sudan, including IFRC and ICRC. We expect the Country Representative to take the lead in rolling out and further develop NLRCs’ Sudan strategy aligned to SSRC’s strategy and to take the lead in safeguarding the quality of the portfolio implementation and development. Besides, the Country Representative is overall responsible for the NLRC delegation and portfolio in South Sudan, including security, financial and HR management of a team of 5 international staff and 2 national staff. All of the above has to be done in a complex and challenging context of South Sudan.

Background

South Sudan is one of the 12 bilateral partnership countries of the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) and the collaboration between NLRC and SSRC goes back to 2003, where NLRC was bilaterally supporting the Juba branch of SSRC, under the auspices of the Sudan Red Crescent Society. When SSRC became an independent National Society in 2011, the intention to develop a bilateral partnership between NLRC and SSRC was formalized through a letter of intent signed in 2013. Most recent, January 2024,  a long term Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) was signed between NLRC and SSRC for a period of 5 years with possible extension of another 5 years.  The FPA has as objective to establish an effective and efficient long term collaboration between Partners, in support of the needs and priorities of SSRC and to

work towards and maintain a good partnership in accordance with the Movements “Code for Good Partnership”. The FPA clearly spells out the area’s of cooperation of the partnership: WASH, Integrated Water Management,  Financial Sustainability (FS) and Data & Digital Transformation. The FPA also recognizes the following critical cross-cutting sectors/areas: Climate Change Adaptation; Anticipatory Action (AA); Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI); Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA); and National Society Development.

In 2021, NLRC signed the declaration as participating National Society with regard to the Movement Coordination Agreement between SSRC, ICRC and IFRC signed, with the overall purpose to strengthen SSRC and to build and improve the collaboration and coordination between the movement members in South Sudan. Those include the Strengthening Movement Cooperation and Collaboration (SMCC) of which SSRC is a pilot National Society, the Platform, the Movement Operations Coordination (MOC) and the Technical Working Groups (TWG). NLRC is seeking complementarity to other partners in South Sudan and where needed NLRC is ready to offer its expertise to other partner National Societies (e.g. Water Management or Data), or make use of the capacity of other partner National Societies (e.g. Health, Livelihood or Psychosocial Support), with the ultimate goal of a One Movement approach effectively contributing to the SSRC One Country Plan.

Currently NLRC is supporting the following projects in South Sudan: Chronic Crisis II (WASH, PGI and CEA ); ECHO PPP; Response Preparedness; Localization (Data, CEA); Water at the Heart of Climate Action; Bilateral Crisis Response projects.

NLRC and SSRC are also boarding on more strategic partnership trajectories: Finance Vision Development; Financial Sustainability; Localization. For these strategic partnership trajectories, the IFRC in South Sudan is supporting the NLRC and SSRC via their Partnership coordinator.

Position in the organization

In this position you report to the Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator (PPC) (desk manager) based in The Hague. The international staff in the delegation (4) report directly to the Country Representative. The national staff in the delegation (2) report directly to the South Sudan Red Cross but have a direct technical line to the Country Representative. You are working together with an IFRC Partnership coordinator on all partnership trajectories as described above.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Main responsibilities of the Country Representative include the following:

Strengthen and maintaining our long term partnership with SSRC

• Safeguard the implementation of the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) including the milestones identified.
• Role out (and review) the Country Operational Plan (COP) 2024.
• Keep a communication line and maintain relations with SSRC and support day to day project management processes that require SSRC engagement or action.
• Follow up the security and socio-political dynamics in the country, including adherence to the Security Agreement we have with ICRC.
• Support SSRC in terms of setting up there Security Framework, where ICRC cannot provide Security (Level 2)
• Develop and implement the strategic trajectories of Finance Sustainability, Finance Development and Localization. You do this with support of IFRC Partnership coordinator, in coordination with SSRC and in consultation with NLRC HQ

Maintain and further develop relationships with Red Cross Partners, Donors and other Stakeholders

• Lead/participate/co-chair RCRC Movement working groups, coordination meetings, etc. related to South Sudan in coordination with other PNS, IFRC and ICRC. We are facilitators in the Finance working groups.
• Maintain strategic discussion with other partners engaged in South Sudan.

Support NLRC delegation and current project portfolio

• Support closure of pending projects, including any audits
• Overall responsible for the implementation of current portfolio, including project budget management
• Be the Security Focal point for our NLRC delegation and NLRC visitors and regularly update the Country Security Plan.

Maintain and develop the portfolio of NLRC in South Sudan via significant Resource Mobilization activities.

• Support the development and implementation of special projects as Water at Heart and Localization in South Sudan.
• Be focal person for institutional donors, like the Netherlands Embassy.

Requirements/Qualifications

• At least 8-10 years’ experience in the development and/or humanitarian field, preferably in similar positions.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a management role.
• Experience in the area of capacity building and development of non-governmental organizations, preferably of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
• Work experience in a management role in another context/country than the country of your domicile is a must.
• Experience in program management , including program identification, formulation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, preferably within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
• Working experience in the East African region is required, as knowledge on the political, economic and socio-cultural climate of South Sudan.
• Able to adhere to policy and procedures of the NLRC whilst effectively managing programs and people.
• Demonstrated experience in security management.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Excellent narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing skills.
• Practical knowledge of computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Winpaccs or similar accounting systems, Document Management programs).

Your talents

• Able to make sound judgements and decisions
• Good social/diplomatic skills and culturally sensitive, flexible and creative
• Excellent strategic leadership and management
• Able to work independently, as well in a team
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Pro-active

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 1 year, with a possible extension
• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and
• Please note that this is an International mobile staff position. This means that you will need to be eligible to be dispatched to South Sudan

Applications

Please send your resume in English and letter of motivation with reference to HR Advisor Shelly Jonker before 24 april 2024 via the following link: https://werkenbijhetrodekruis.inhroffice.com/en/job/311646.

For more information about the position, you can contact Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator Meindert Korevaar at mkorevaar@redcross.nl

An initial assessment of candidates short-listed is part of the selection procedure.

For more information of the work of the Netherlands Red Cross please go to www.rodekruis.nl NLRC on Facebook: Facebook.com/rodekruis and Twitter: Twitter.com/rodekruis

Acquisition for this vacancy will not be appreciated