Chief of Party - CCY

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response
The Cash Consortium of Yemen (CCY) was established in 2020 as a strategic partnership between four leading organizations —DRC, NRC, ACTED, and IOM—with the goal of addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of conflict-affected populations through the provision of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). In 2021, Mercy Corps and Solidarity International joined the consortium, further strengthening its capacity to scale and extend its reach. The CCY was created to enhance cash coordination across the humanitarian sector, improve cost-efficiency through shared resources and joint programming, and increase the effectiveness of MPCA by utilizing standardized tools and approaches. Its work aims to expand geographic coverage, ensuring that nearly all conflict-affected areas in Yemen are reached.

The Steering Committee (SC), chaired by DRC, comprises the Country Directors of each partner organization, and DRC serves as both the grant holder and host for the Consortium Management Unit (CMU) at its Sana’a office. The CMU, a dedicated team within the CCY, is responsible for facilitating seamless coordination among the six consortium partners, overseeing program implementation, managing donor communications, strengthening capacity, ensuring compliance, and mitigating risk. While the CMU operates under DRC’s leadership as the consortium’s lead organization and is primarily linked to DRC’s headquarters, all partner organizations retain a vested interest in the CMU through its mandate from the Steering Committee.

About the job
The CoP for the CCY will lead and manage the overall operations of the consortium, ensuring effective coordination and delivery of the consortium’s mission to provide MPCA and Livelihoods related interventions to conflict-affected populations across Yemen. As the primary point of contact between the Steering Committee and the CMU, the COP will oversee the strategic direction and implementation of the program, ensuring that the objectives of cost-efficiency, harmonized programming, and expanded geographic coverage are met. The COP will be responsible for fostering strong collaboration among the six partner organizations, managing donor relationships, and ensuring compliance with both donor requirements and internal policies. Additionally, the COP will play a key role in managing risks, building the capacity of partner organizations, and representing the consortium to external stakeholders, while ensuring alignment with the overarching goals of the CCY in responding to the urgent needs of vulnerable communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Management & Leadership

• Monitor work plan and keep partners accountable to program commitments. Ensure decisions are taken to support the effectiveness of the consortium.
• Document and disseminate key steering committee decisions, roll-out the decisions, and follow-up as required.

Representation, Advocacy and Business Development

• Serve as the primary project representative to the donor and other local and international stakeholders, responsible for addressing all project matters.
• In coordination with relevant partner focal points, develop and maintain positive relations with relevant ministries and other government counterparts, donors, local organizations, and program partners.
• Supervise and support the Cash Technical Advisor in co-chairing the national Cash and Markets working Group.
• Engage in and represent the consortium at the country-level INGO and UN coordination architecture for livelihoods, promoting the values of the consortium, coordinating with external actors, and representing the consortium.
• Represent the consortium in various regional forums, such as CaLP and social protection forums, showcasing the consortium’s unique contextual knowledge.
• Advance the adoption of new technological solutions for the consortium by supporting automation and innovative cash delivery approaches to improve cost efficiency, accountability, and end-user experience.Support the development of the Consortium Advocacy Strategy and promote the use of consortium-generated knowledge and learning.
• Provide strategic leadership on external communications in line with Steering Committee.
• Assist with the coordination of visits of donors and/or partners related to the project.
• Lead on organizing joint consortium events, such as Learning events, joint advocacy, research, project launch, etc.
• Develop the Consortium Research and learning and agenda, social protection strategy, and develop new funding opportunities within the CCY Consortium mandate and utilizing consortium member’s specific skills and capacities.
• Identify opportunities for both inwards and outwards referral linkages within the consortium and externally, linking the consortium’s beneficiaries to more durable solutions and complementary support. Adapt the consortium’s communication strategy to align with donors’ priorities, effectively representing the consortium’s achievements.
• Lead and coordinate the development of full proposals, from conception to submission.

Program Implementation,

• Ensure the effectiveness of different governance structures, including the Steering Committee, Country Level Technical Groups, Advisory Groups, and other ad-hoc working groups deemed necessary.
• Ensure synergies and inter-communication between project governance groups and committees and facilitate the decision-making process within the project governance structure.
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the Consortium and ensuring quality program implementation in line with the agreed strategy.
• Ensure the effective implementation of project activities in the country through direct leadership of the country-specific governance bodies and working groups.
• Lead the work planning process with partners and coordinate between partners to ensure complimentary activities and sequencing among activities and between projects.
• Ensure quality technical inputs into the design and delivery of the program activities, including field implementation.
• Oversee planning, program design and delivery of consortium objectives, and budgets.

Compliance & Support

• Provide supervision and monitoring of the program support aspects of the consortium (including administration, finance, logistics, and human resources).
• Lead and coordinate the auditing process, maintain knowledge of all donor requirements, and provide advice to partners in finance, procurement, human resource, and visibility requirements. Stay updated on all relevant contracts entered into by the consortium and communicate to the donor as required.
• Oversee financial management, project accounting systems, sub-grant management, and ensure operational efficiency through monitoring partner financial reports, providing guidance on cost eligibility.
• Maintain country-specific and project-wide risk register, consolidating agency-specific risks at the consortium level, ensuring all risks have appropriate ownership, are monitored, and mitigation and response measures are in place.
• Respond accordingly to risk escalation and ensure periodic review and discussion of risk management with relevant risk owners and relevant consortium governance bodies.

Reporting & Communication

• Monitor program implementation and ensure regular reporting by consortium partners.
• Review and approve final donor reports based on inputs from consortium partners compiled by the Consortium Management Unit.
• Establish and maintain clear lines of communication with project staff.
• Ensure all partners are submitting timely financial and narrative reports in line with donor and DRC system requirements.
• Review actual financial performance against the budget and explain variances on a regular basis.

Roles reporting to this position

• MEAL and Information Management Specialists
• Data Management Specialist
• Grants Specialist
• Finance Coordinator
• CVA Technical Advisor (dotted line management

About you
To be successful in this role you must have:

• At least 7 years' experience from a similar role
• At least 4 years' experience in people management
• Experience with large scale cash transfer programming.
• Experience in social protection is an asset
• Full professional proficiency in English

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Moreover, we also expect the following:
Required Qualifications:

• University degree in Human Resource Management, Business, or Social Science Degree specializing in Human Resources or equivalent professional qualification

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo

Applications closeon 9 December 2024.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact [email protected] Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.

Application process:
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.

Start date: As soon as possible.

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Duty Station: Sana’a

Band: E2 - manager

We offer:
Contract length: one-year contract

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• CCY Partners
• Consortium Management Unit
• Cash and Markets Working Group
• Consortium Donors
• Steering Committee

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential
• Arabic is an asset

Location: Sana'a