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Area Team Leader – East Libya

PRESENTATION OF THE ORGANISATION

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity.

Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid and development organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable people to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since the organisation was first founded in 1982, we have set up emergency and development programmes in 62 countries. Today, HI has a budget of around 170 million euros, with about 3,500 employees worldwide.

HI is engaged in an employment policy in favour of workers living with a disability.

For further information about the association: www.hi.org

COUNTRY CONTEXT AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

In Libya, since 2011, continued conflict in many parts of the country and political instability have resulted in important challenges in effective governance and caused significant difficulties in the country’s political and institutional system. The conflict is also gradually affecting the social and community cohesion of the country, as people are torn between their tribal and family allegiances and their hope to live again as a united country. The resilience of the Libyan population is steadily reducing, as individuals and communities are facing uncertainty regarding their future.

The healthcare system in Libya is one of the hardest hit. Ongoing challenges include increased rates of chronic illness, disability and access to essential services such as medicine and rehabilitation. Hospitals struggle to absorb the number of patients and to cope with a lack of resources, including a shortage of staff and essential medicines and supplies. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing vulnerability of the Libyan population, adding up to the effects from years of conflict, and extremely stretched healthcare system. In addition, while Libya already faced high Explosive Ordnance (EO) contamination due to nine years of conflict, the contamination in the greater Tripoli and Sirt areas has increased considerably since the latest development of the conflict between April 2019 and march 2020. The increased use of improvised explosive devices caused new displacements, a new layer of land contamination, and a rise in EO related accidents, killing and injuring civilians and non-civilians, including mine clearance and humanitarian workers.

In this context, the support to the most vulnerable individuals, including people with disabilities or injuries is a priority for the humanitarian community working throughout Libya. HI is currently implementing several programmes in Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, supporting vulnerable persons and their families such as people with disabilities (including people living with mental health problems), people with chronic diseases, older persons and displaced persons and families. Activities include provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical therapy and psychosocial support, provision of assistive & mobility devices as per needed; capacity building, technical support and donations of assistive devices and/or materials and equipment to health partners; training on inclusion principles to other humanitarian actors and health workers;

Since early 2019 HI is implementing a three-year project entitled ‘Action for Mental Health Assistance in Libya’ (AMAL) as part of wider initiatives to improve the access and quality of health care services in Libya. Implemented in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Health and a Tunisian NGO, the overall objective of the project is to allow the most vulnerable people in Libya from host communities, those internally displaced and returnees and migrants, suffering from mental health disorders/psychosocial disabilities to regain or to preserve good mental health by accessing quality interventions at community level, primary health care level, and secondary and tertiary level. From July 2020, HI also started the SALAM project, a one-year intervention in partnership with UNDP, which aims to enhance the development of a culture of peace, cooperation and responsibility – with a focus on youth (male and female) – through improved provision of MHPSS services at community level. This project will strongly rely on Libyan Civil Society Organisations.

HI is also involved in Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) activities. As a response to increased ERW related accidents, HI is also currently resuming its Risk Education activities in greater Tripoli as of November 2020.

The post holder will be expected to travel regularly between the field office of Benghazi to the projects’ implementation areas, as well as to Tunis, where is based HI Maghreb regional office & Senior Country Team. Yet, at present stage, important challenges exist to move in and out of the country. Indeed, since March 2020, heavy sanitary measures have been enforced both in Libya and Tunisia, such as border closures and travel restrictions, disruption of supply chain, lockdown, curfews, movement’s restrictions and social distancing. As a result, the expatriates working for HI Libya mission are currently operating on a remote management mode and the senior country team and adapted management style, communication and support / control mechanisms will continue to be in place as long as this situation pertains.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MISSION/PROJECT

Type of activity, volume, main internal and external contacts (especially partners) and the nature of relationships, potential challenges.

From operational bases located in Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, HI is currently implementing a humanitarian and development programme, with the following activities:

• Provision of comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical therapy and psychosocial support for persons with disabilities or injuries, and provision of assistive devices as per need;
• Capacity building, technical support and provision of assistive & mobility devices and materials and equipment to health partners (hospitals, health centers and rehabilitation centres);
• Training on inclusion principles to other humanitarian actors and health workers;
• Provision of Risk Education to conflict affected communities on the risks and effects caused by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW);
• Provision of specialised MHPSS services at community level, primary health care level, and secondary and tertiary level and support to the Libyan Ministry of Health, in partnership with Nebras, a Tunisian NGO

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

Based in Benghazi, under the direct responsibility of the Libya Country Manager, the Area Team Leader is responsible for ensuring smooth internal coordination between all departments (support services, project) at field offices level and with HI Libya’s Country office, in view of facilitating the appropriate functioning of HI’s operations in East Libya. She/he also acts as an ambassador for HI through external representation and liaison work with relevant local stakeholders (e.g; national authorities, institutions, partners organisations and other stakeholders) in East Libya, and finally ensures a sound oversight of the security and safety of HI’s staff and assets in Eastern Libya.

JOB DESCRIPTION

General mission:

• To contribute to a smooth and timely functioning of HI’s operations in East Libya, by ensuring smooth internal coordination between departments (support services, operations, information management) at field office level (Benghazi base) and by maintaining a strong line of communication between HI’s Area office and HI Libya Coordination team based in Tunis, by raising awareness about and facilitating the resolution of key operational, finance, HR, logistics, or security-related issues that may arise in the field;
• To ensure external representation of HI at area level vis à vis local and national stakeholders, such as authorities, institutions, donors, sectoral coordination, technical working groups, other agencies and INGOs, CSOs, , traditional authorities and leaders, as well as with beneficiaries.
• To monitor and analyse context developments in his/her geographical area, in order to identify operational risks and opportunities, and proposes actions to the country director.
• By delegation from the Country Director and in close collaboration with the Safety Advisor, to follow-up closely the security and safety management in East Libya, and – to a certain extent – take accurate decisions for the safety and protection of the base staff

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibility 1: Ensure internal coordination of HI teams and departments in East Libya

• Build and maintain a team dynamic which enables the objectives of HI to be carried out in his/her area of intervention.
• Facilitate the planning and follow-up of daily activities at field office level in key common areas of work between the various department (support services, operations, information management), provide routine guidance to respective teams and setting-up appropriate internal coordination tools/mechanisms in this aim;
• Organize weekly internal coordination meetings at base level and ensure minutes are documented and disseminated. Organize additional ad hoc meetings at base level, as per needs. Contribute to the monthly sitrep for the matters related to his / her area.
• Analyse and timely resolve issues such as inappropriate planning, procurement, procedural mismanagement, that have the potential to jeopardize performance and/or ability to meet agreed upon programme deliverables
• contribute to issues/conflict resolution arising through liaising with appropriate team members between HI’s field and Country offices, by providing awareness on challenges faced and by supporting identification of solutions and priorities setting

Responsibility 2: Ensure the external representation of HI towards local and national stakeholders

• Represent Handicap International within your area of intervention with relevant stakeholders; local, national and international partners and local authorities in order to facilitate the implementation of project activities. Provide leadership in identifying and facilitating opportunities for relationship building with these key stakeholders.
• Regularly present the mandate, actions and activities of Handicap International in East Libya to the relevant authorities.
• Negotiate the necessary authorisations and access to intervention areas in order to ensure smooth implementation of activities. Contribute and coordinate the compilation of regular external reporting (e.g. to Commission for Civil Society – CCS) in East Libya.
• In good coordination with the project managers / officers and support staff, actively participate as per needed in the different coordination fora in your area of intervention when activated (coordination meetings, clusters, working groups, etc.).
• Ensure key outcomes of attended meetings, workshops etc. are recorded and circulated to relevant team members at base and coordination levels.
• Convey messages of HI global advocacy to all relevant external parties.

Responsibility 3: Support operational implementation and development of projects

• In coordination with the project managers / officer, contribute to the negotiation and implementation of local partnerships in your area.
• Context analysis: Ensure HI has an up-to-date understanding of political, cultural, socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the designated Area (including trends, needs and gaps, and who does what and where (3W) and feed project/strategic development process with relevant information in this regard upon request
• Perform regular field visits and keep yourself up to date on all the activities carried out by the project team in the area of intervention.

Responsibility 4: Oversee safety and security of the base (under delegation from the Country manager)

• As the security focal point for the area, in close coordination with the Country manager and Safety Advisor, ensure the implementation and respect of internal safety and security guidelines at base level (including specific temporary regulations such as COVID-19 SOPs).
• Report to the Country manager & Security Advisor any breaches in security guidelines in a timely manner.
• Monitor the security situation in your area of intervention and ensure internal incident reporting if necessary.
• At the request of the Country manager, ensure training to base staff on internal safety and security guidelines.
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts with security/context staff of fellow INGOs, represent HI in access, security and safety meetings (at the request of the Country Manager and safety advisor)
• Provide feedback and advice on security risks, as well as on security management resources, such as SOPs, and proposals
• In collaboration with the Country Manager, safety advisor and Senior Management Team, update the security and contingency plans according to the evolution of the context
• Support the Country Manager on exploratory mission assessments, identification of office/guesthouses, and the opening of new areas
• Assist the Country Manager and safety advisor in sensitizing HI staff (national and international) to security risks and ensuring the understanding and implementation of security documents

Note that this job description must remain flexible and may evolve according to the project’s needs and to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager.

As the position is involved in sensitive topics such as security or strategy, he/ she must observe absolute discretion within and outside HI.

PROFILE SOUGHT

Type of contract: FIXED TERM – 1 year (RENEWABLE)

The position is opened for Libyan Nationals only

Any application of candidate not having Libyan nationalities will not be considered

Only short-listed candidates will be called for an interview and testing.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

HI workers/service providers/consultants must adhere to the values and principles outlined in HI Code of conduct. In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and women.

Applying at Handicap International job offers is free of charge.

APPLICATION :

Please send your CV and cover letter by email, with the subject reference “Area Team Leader – East Libya ” to: recruitment-benghazi@libya.hi.org or via Libya jobs website.