Current Job Positions at COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale, 7th February 2019

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COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale, is a humanitarian, non-confessional and independent organization founded in 1965 in Milan, Italy. For more than 50 years we have been dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and to supporting populations affected by wars, socio-economic crises or natural disasters in their path to recovery and sustainable development, by making use of the professionalism of local and international operators, and through our partnerships with public and private bodies and civil society organizations. We are recruiting to fill the position below:     Job Title: Project Manager Location: Gashua, Yobe Duration: 12 months renewable Donor: EC/EU Role Purpose

• The Project Manager is responsible for the overall activities’ planning, execution and reporting of the Early Recovery and Resilience building project.
• He/she is directly assigned to, and responsible of the supervision of all logistics, HR, financial and overall functioning aspects for his projects.

Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Head of Base and in link with the Program Manager and Head of Mission, he/she provides overall managerial oversight to the EC/EU funded integrated project and support project implementation team;
• He/She ensures cross departmental coordination including consortium partners’ components such as conflict management, peace building and livelihoods;
• He/She works with consortium lead and partners to maintain and update project implementation plan;
• In cooperation and synergy with the project staff, plans and monitors the social protection, conflict management & peace building and livelihood activities’ progress, in compliance with the donor regulations, Consortium lead and COOPI’s procedures, and with the specific Project Structure and Reporting Lines definition, making use of the financial instruments provided by the organization;
• In collaboration with the Administrative and the Logistics team, plans and monitors the expenditures in line with the project’s implementation needs;
• In cooperation with the Program Manager, finalizes the data provided by his/her team, supports the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of the narrative reports expected by the donors and by the partners;
• He/She supervises the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the staff; monitors the accuracy and efficiency of activities;
• He/She works closely with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor hired by lead consortium partner that to ensure oversight for all monitoring and evaluation across all activities and implementation.
• He/She represents COOPI with the local / State authorities, consortium lead and partners;
• In collaboration with the Program Manager and Head of Base, prepares all the formal communication and contract modification requests (ex. budget modification) of the project;
• Laisse with logistics/ procurement team to ensure the goods purchased for the project; for all goods purchased by the project, support updates of the inventory and guarantee the respect of the policies and guidelines, in cooperation with the Logistics Office;
• He/She ensures compliance with the fund and timely fulfilment of project’s reporting requirements;
• He/She executes any other task necessary to good and timely completion of the projects, identified in mutual agreement;
• In coordination with the Administrative team, supports in hiring of new staff directly related to the project and conducts staff appraisals Upholds COOPI’s mission and Charter of Values;
• He/She puts in place and follow in accountability and beneficiaries feedback mechanism;
• He/SheFollows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country);
• He/SheEnsure safety of staff and beneficiaries and work closely with COOPI Security Manager and Logistic team;
• He/She works closely with Social Protection expert to drive critical assessment during inception phase including baseline, market and value chain assessment and mapping exercises
• He/She ensures smooth management of COOPI base in Gashua, Yobe state;
• He/She works closely with Protection Program team to ensure protection mainstreaming
• He/She performs any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Humanitarian/ Development Studies/ Social Sciences or any related field;
• At least 5 years of working experience in/with INGO on Social Protection, Conflict Management & Peace Building and Livelihoods/ FSL area. Experience managing social protection and livelihood development activities as a+;
• Experience in managing EU funded projects;
• Proven interest & commitment to humanitarian and development principles and a demonstrable understanding of conflict/post conflict development contexts;
• Expertise in sustainable livelihoods, safety nets programs, in particular;
• Data collection, analysis, and report writing including post-distribution monitoring (PDM);
• Excellent in written and spoken English;
• Ability to plan, organize work, communicate and reports effectively (both in writing and verbally)
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines;
• Team player, effective communicator, successful negotiator, creative and analytical thinker, active learner, able to work in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated success in community resilient programs and technically sound in Cash transfers, capacity building and other social protection components;
• Excellent communication skills, calm, with a good sense of working in inter-cultural environment;
• Proven commitment to accountability practices;
• Ability to function effectively under stressful conditions such as heavy workloads, and deadlines;
• Excellent Microsoft Office applications skills (Excel, Word, Power point, Emails, Skype, Web researchers);
• Knowledge of and adherence to COOPI Code of Conduct, understands other international development guidelines

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply for this position       Job Title: Technical Advisor - Social Protection Location: Potiskum, Yobe Duration: 3 months renewable Starting Date: March, 2019 Context

• COOPI started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
• COOPI’s aim is to support the most basic and pressing needs of communities affected by the conflict. COOPI is providing a multi-sectoral emergency response to the IDPs, returnees and host population focused on food security, nutrition, protection and education. COOPI main area of intervention is Yobe State but we are also present in Borno state.

Role Purpose

• The Technical Advisor Social Protection is responsible and will lead the technical design and ensure technical quality of Social Protection component of the project.

Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, he/she provides overall technical oversight to the EC/EU funded integrated project and supports project consortium partners for technical design and quality of Social Protection activities;
• He/She ensures coordination with consortium partners’ components such as conflict management, peace building and livelihoods;
• He/She works with consortium lead and partners to maintain and update technical part of social protection component;
• He/She drives critical assessments, validates targeting and conduct baseline and coordinate with other actors and the Yobe State government;
• He/She designs and conducts Youth Labour Market assessments during the inception phase of the programme to ensure the programme specifically considers the differing needs of all sections of the community;
• He/She conduct value chain assessments and exploring specific constraints in otherwise viable market systems that can improve access to and participation in select agricultural and livestock value chains for marginalized populations, and improves the delivery and access of critical goods and services;
• Technical Advisor Social Protection will conduct an initial mapping of the existence, criteria and quality of safety net services in each of the LGAs;
• He/She oversees Social Protection component and ensures that livelihood and conflict management and mitigation activities are phased so that coping capacities built through Social Protection activities become strong adaptive capacities;
• He/She works closely with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor hired by lead consortium partners that to ensure oversight for all monitoring and evaluation across all activities and implementation;
• He/She prepares a ToT package including Training manuals and training-of-trainers to be shared with relevant agencies to ensure that trainings can be stepped down post project life cycle;
• He/She designs and provides training and technical assistance to build the capacity of government agencies;
• In cooperation with the Project Manager, finalizes the data provided by his/her team, supports the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of the reports expected by the donors and by the partners;
• He/She coordinates the overall social protection component: supervises the its effectiveness and efficiency; monitors the accuracy and efficiency of activities;
• He/She represents COOPI with the local / State authorities, consortium lead and partners;
• He/She follows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country);
• He/She performs any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Requirements

• Relevant academic and professional background in Social Protection focused humanitarian programs;
• At least 5 years of working experience in/with INGO on Social Protection, Conflict Management & Peace Building and Livelihoods/ FSL area. Experience managing social protection and livelihood development activities as a+;
• Proven interest & commitment to humanitarian and development principles and a demonstrable understanding of conflict/post conflict development contexts;
• Expertise in technical assessments and mapping;
• Strong experience in Social Protection systems market system development and livelihoods;
• Knowledge of Conflict management and mitigation;
• Ability to plan, organize work, communicate and reports effectively (both in writing and verbally);
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines;
• Team player, effective communicator, successful negotiator, creative and analytical thinker, active learner, able to work in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated success in community resilient programs and technically sound in Cash transfers, capacity building and other social protection components;
• Excellent communication skills, calm, with a good sense of working in inter-cultural environment;
• Proven commitment to accountability practices;
• Ability to function effectively under stressful conditions such as heavy workloads, and deadlines;
• Excellent Microsoft Office applications skills (Excel, Word, Power point, Emails, Skype, Web researchers);
• Knowledge of and adherence to COOPI Code of Conduct, understands other international development guidelines.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply for this position       Job Title: Livelihoods Market Assessment Consultant Location: Yobe Introduction

• The purpose of the livelihoods and labor market assessment is to identify employable vocational skills trade, profitable small-scale businesses to support, considering target population and local community dynamics, cultural preferences and market demand.
• The overall objective is to define, develop and provide COOPI with tailor-made and market driven information and findings on viable livelihood interventions based on quality verifiable data, in order to ensure that COOPI’s support is informed by the availability of opportunities within the consumer and job market. The assessment should aim to inform on self-employment opportunities to enhance livelihoods opportunities and self-reliance for youth and women headed households.
• The assessment will cover the 2 LGA’s where COOPI is currently implementing the WFP funded project, response, recovery and resilience action. The LGAs are Damaturu and Geidam LGA.

Duration

• These assessment data collection, analysis and submission of the final report, is expected to be completed within a period of one month upon signing of the contract by the consultant.

Specific Objectives Of The Assessment The Consultant is hired for one month to conduct a market assessment. He/she will be in charge of:

• Providing analysis of the different types of businesses available currently, identifying the maturity duration of each type of business.
• Mapping the market system and identify market opportunities for the IGA products, and then collect data on these opportunities, taking into account their growth potential
• Identifying constraints/challenges with small businesses and provide recommendations on how to overcome them.
• Identifying and mapping out both on-farm and off-farm livelihoods opportunities existing in the area of COOPI intervention coverage for support through business and vocational skills training and grant support.
• Assessing the vocational skills trade required, identifying both the existing skills and skill gaps to venture into livelihoods opportunities already identified by COOPI.
• Assessing the agriculture produce value chain and identify potential value addition business viable in the targeted area putting into consideration the target population and local community dynamics and cultural preferences and the market demand.
• Providing information to inform on vocational course to be offered and the training content based on the identified skill gaps and demand in the market. This should include post-training linkages and placement opportunities to broaden beneficiaries’ prospects for a sustainable self-employment and enhanced livelihood.

Methodology

• The Consultant will work with COOPI to expand upon the Tor as required. The methodology, which would be adopted by the Consultant is expected to be gender sensitive, and to cover all LGAs (Damaturu and Geidam LGA) where the project is being implemented.
• The assessment should include a mixed method approach comprising of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The methods suggested can include e.g.: document review, household surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Triangulation shall be done in the analysis phase. The assessment should take place in three phases:

Inception report:

• The Consultant will develop an inception report, including an assessment matrix, work plan and data collection tools. These documents will be validated by the project manager prior to the data collection phase.

Data Collection and Analysis:

• The Consultant will coordinate with COOPI to employ enumerators to undertake relevant quantitative data collection, under the control and responsibility of the Consultant(s). FGDs, interviews and other qualitative methods should be carried out by the assessment team. The assessment team is fully responsible for data cleaning, as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Assessment Report and Validation workshop:

• The Assessment team will draft the report, present and share with the programme team. The final assessment report shall be validated by the project manager.

Expected Deliverables By The Consultant The Consultant is responsible for the timely delivery of the following:

• An inception meeting report, assessment matrix (maximum 5 pages), data collection tools, methodology and timelines for all the deliverables.
• Databases in excel or other software for qualitative and qualitative data and corresponding analysis;
• A feedback workshop/ presentation meeting with COOPI team to highlight on the major findings and recommendations of the assessment.
• A draft report (maximum 50 pages with an executive summary of no more than 3-4 pages) including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for concrete actions to be taken in the implementation of the business and vocational skills support in the selected LGA’s in Borno state.
• A final report that incorporates comments from COOPI’s livelihoods and food security team, alongside a response matrix detailing how each comment was handled in the revising of the draft report.
• Databases with quantitative and qualitative evaluation data

COOPI Obligations

• The WFP Project Manager will be the key contact person for the Consultant to ensure that the assessment takes place as planned. The Project Coordinator- Business and Vocational skills training will coordinate the process and schedule all the logistic arrangement including field trips and respondent identification for the assessment. The Project Coordinator will be the key contact on logistic arrangement for the consultant to facilitate the assessment.

COOPI will support the Consultant through the following:

• Compilation of background documentation and relevant data;
• Scheduling and logistics support for initial interviews and inception work planning;
• Arranging accommodation requirements for the Consultant during the duration of the fieldwork;
• Rapid review and commenting on outputs and deliverables. COOPI Livelihoods and Food Security Manager will provide feedback and comment within 7 days of receiving the draft report;
• Scheduling and logistics support for the review/ validation workshop/meeting.

Ethical Considerations:

• The Consultant will make it clear to all those participating in the assessment as respondent that they are under no obligation to participate in the assessment if they don’t wish to. All participants will be assured that there will be no negative consequences if they choose not to participate. The Consultant will obtain informed consent from the participants to go ahead with interviews.
• Consultant will have to receive prior permission for taking and use of visual still/ moving images for specific purposes, i.e., ‘for assessment report and presentations. Consultant will assure the participants’ anonymity and confidentiality and will ensure the visual data is protected and used for agreed purpose only.

Consultant’s Qualifications, Skills And Experience COOPI seeks expressions of interest from individual/ companies with the following skills/qualifications:

• An advanced university degree or equivalent in either Entrepreneurship, Business studies, Agric-Economics, Economics, statistic or other fields related to micro and small enterprise development and or vocational training;
• At least 5-10 years of relevant experience and proven expertise in conducting assessments and studies in relation to micro and small enterprise development and vocational skills training and placement;
• Demonstrated strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and writing skills;
• Knowledge of the Yobe state, small and micro enterprise sector and vocational training and placement.
• Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision in a complex and security sensitive environment;
• Proficient knowledge and ability to understand and speak the following local language; Kanuri, Hausa.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply for this position     Application Deadline  20th February, 2019.

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