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 (NLRC) 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 Relief Delegate on Sint Maarten.
Position title: Relief Delegate
Duty station: Sint Maarten
Time period: 4 - 6 months (depending on confirmation of funding from the donor)
Starting Date: September 2020
Status: Single posting
Purpose of the position
The Relief Delegate is as project manager responsible for implementing a humanitarian project to prevent and mitigate the humanitarian consequences caused by the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten. The project is focused on provide food and hygiene items to the most vulnerable people according to the Red Cross principles and international standards.
Background
The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) has branches on 6 Caribbean islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius). These branches are part of the NLRC and focus on direct emergency aid after disasters and the provision of assistance to vulnerable groups on the island. Due to the impact of hurricane Irma in 2017, NLRC has a mission in Sint Maarten focusing on Irma Recovery projects including a roof repair, PSS, DRR and livelihood project. In March 2020, Sint Maarten had its first COVID-19 case. The population of Sint Maarten is for its livelihoods very dependent on tourism, which has been heavily impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were already vulnerable, and have now become even more vulnerable due to a loss of their source of income. To support the most vulnerable people in Sint Maarten with their acute food & hygiene needs, NLRC started rolling out a cash based intervention in May 2020. This cash based programme has also been rolled out in Curacao and Aruba.
The overall Food & Hygiene Emergency Relief project is coordinated in Sint Maarten by NLRC and the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF). Implementing partners are the Netherlands Red Cross, K1 Brittania, COME center, Freegan Food Foundation and the Captain’s Rib shack. The project includes three modalities: e-voucher, food packages and ready-to-eat meals, targeting a total of at least 3,200 households. The households have been divided over the different implementing partners. NLRC has both a coordinating role and an implementing role.
The livelihoods/cash delegate in Sint Maarten, together with a Cash IM delegate (surge) and several local staff members, prepared and started the cash based intervention (e-voucher) project in the role of implementer, including the Cash Feasibility Assessment. The new Relief Delegate is expected to continue the implementation of the cash based intervention, to scale-up where possible, and to make further improvements to the project. Although the initial focus of the Relief Delegate is to coordinate the implementation of the e-voucher project, implemented by NLRC, the Relief Delegate might also be called upon to provide advice to the other partners in the overall Food & Hygiene Emergency Relief project regarding streamlining and/or improving interventions.
Position in the organization
Hierarchically, the Relief Delegate will fall under the NLRC Head of Mission in Sint Maarten. Due to the regional component, the Relief Delegate will remain in close coordination with the Regional Programme Manager based in Curacao, and the other Cash/Relief delegates for this programme in Aruba and Curacao.
The Cash IM Delegate as well as the local staff (currently 4 distribution coordinators) will report to the Relief Delegate.
Summary statement and responsibilities
· Manage the continuation of current assistance that beneficiaries receive through e-vouchers;
· Ensure the feedback and accountability mechanisms of the project (e.g. Continuation of the hotline for beneficiaries);
· Ensure that bottle necks and other issues are solved;
· Stakeholder management of suppliers and amend the existing contracts with suppliers if necessary. Ensure the payments to the supermarkets and other suppliers are made on time and according to the NLRC’s regulations and the agreements;
· Suggest improvements and formulate recommendations to improve the e-voucher system based on own observations, reviews and input from the feedback and complaint system;
· Work closely with the IM team regarding beneficiary registration, data protection and project monitoring and roll out of Red Rose platform;
· Depending on the donor and other partners, potentially increase the number of beneficiaries receiving assistance through the set up of new distributions of e-vouchers;
· Liaise with local organizations relevant to food items, to identify cooperation possibilities;
· Ensure programme delivery, and beneficiary selection and transfer mechanisms follow agreed NLRC procedures and SOPs (including signing of contracts with for example supermarkets);
· Maintain overall oversight of all Cash and Voucher Assistance elements ensuring targets are met and identified risks are mitigated. Follow up with beneficiary food security through provision of contracted supermarket and voucher distribution; monitor the cash in of the vouchers with the supermarkets; provide support to the supermarkets;
· Provide mentoring and coaching including on-job learning to staff and volunteers and closely liaise with volunteers assigned to the programme to ensure coherent and coordinated implementation;
· Provide advice to less experienced implementing partners upon request;
· Advisory role to the coordination platform;
· Ensure that the project and the activities under her/his responsibility comply with the NLRC’s regulations;
· Prepare regular reports as agreed upon with line manager;
· Coordinate with and the Regional Program Manager and the other Cash/Relief delegates on Aruba and Curacao;
· Carry out any other duties related to the overall Food & Hygiene Emergency Relief project on Sint Maarten, as coordinated by NLRC and SMDF, as may be required by the Head of Mission.
Requirements/Qualifications/Competencies
·
- University degree in relevant areas such as Disaster Management, Project Management, Business, Logistics, International Development, International Relations, Social Sciences or equivalent;
- A minimum of three years of Project Management experience;
- A minimum of two years of work experience in Cash and/or Relief Projects;
- Relevant management experience;
International field experience in coordinating and managing the Cash component of disaster response operations is desirable;
Experience in research, data collection and analysis, and reporting;
Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with independent decision making capacity;
Proven skills in operational planning, budgeting and monitoring for an emergency response;
Excellent coordination skills, including the ability to liaise with various organisations / individuals;
Strong verbal and written communication skills and coaching skills;
Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills;
Ability to remain calm under pressure, prioritize work and ensure a smooth flow of information;
Fluency in English required;**
Experience in working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is a strong advantage;
Experience with working in the Caribbean is an advantage;
· Experience in training national staff and volunteers is an advantage.
Key competencies
- Able to work in a team
- High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct
- Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions
- Self-motivated, with good judgment and initiative
- Ability to manage broad responsibilities with attention to detail
- Good interpersonal skills and high degree of cultural sensitivity
- Stress resistant
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Hands-on mentality
- Common sense
We offer
- An interesting role in an international working environment with the aim to help the vulnerable people of Sint Maarten;
- A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 4-6 months, with a possibility of extension depending on the final end-date of the project;
- Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.
How to apply:
Please send your resume and letter of motivation (in English) with reference to Samira Ennaji latest by Sunday 23 August 2020 by using the online application tool: https://werkenbij.rodekruis.nl/nl/Vacancy/Postulate/164751
Due to urgency in filling the vacancy, interviews will start as soon as suitable candidates have been identified; a candidate may be selected before the posted end-date.
For more information please contact Yvonne Wilmer (ywilmer@redcross.nl).