Job Title: Project Adviser – Program Management & Funding Facility
Reports to: AV
Deputy: -
Duty Station: Baghdad
The GIZ project “Support to Stabilisation and Violence Prevention in Iraq” (SSVPI) supports the stabilization process in Iraq and contributes to the prevention of violence and violent extremism through contributions to the coordination on stabilisation, a funding facility addressing drivers of radicalisation, and a component on dealing with the past for social cohesion.
We are a motivated, and dynamic team that values ownership of one’s areas of responsibility while working in a team and showing a cooperative spirit. We welcome applications from personalities with similar qualities.
The duty station for this position is the GIZ Baghdad Office.
A. Responsibilities
After the Iraqi armed forces succeeded in liberating the areas occupied by IS with the support of an international anti-IS coalition, a comprehensive stabilization process began in all parts of the country. SSVPI supports the dialogue between the Iraqi Government and the international community on stabilisation efforts. The SSVPI project is looking for a Project Adviser who will focus on establishing and maintaining a funding facility aiming at violence prevention by addressing drivers of violent extremism.
The funding facility will provide financial and technical support to selected community-based projects targeting vulnerable communities with conflict-related grievances and groups at risk for radicalisation and possibly violent extremism. Key responsibility will be conceptualizing and following up on the implementation of funded projects in selected liberated areas.
The Project Adviser will work in tandem with a Grant Management Adviser and closely coordinate with a Senior Adviser on Stabilisation and Violence Prevention.
The Project Adviser is responsible for:
- Conceptual development of the fund’s scope, as well as implementation and maintenance of a steering structure/ governance structure for the fund
- Endorsement of the fund and the governance structure with governmental partners and implementing informal governance meetings where strategic priorities and needs are discussed, and projects prioritized.
- Developing and implementing the technical selection process of implementing partners in accordance with specified quality standards and the indicators of the project
- Conducting outreach and carrying out information campaign to mobilize potential applicants to the funding facility targeted at civil society and governmental entities on governate and local level
- Provision of technical support for quality assurance incl. organizational development and project planning/steering to selected community-based projects in Central Iraq targeting vulnerable communities
- Supporting monitoring and evaluation of grant activities and reporting about the progress of the funding facility towards management and the donor
The position will allow for a good balance between managerial responsibilities with a focus on process management, as well as content-driven/conceptual work on violence prevention. The position demands dedication to our objectives, diplomatic skills, self-reliance, and willingness to travel.
The Project Adviser performs the following tasks:
B. Tasks
1. Kick-Start of Funding Facility & Technical Support to Implementing Partners
- Developing the management framework of the funding facility in consultation with the project’s adviser on violence prevention (e.g. review of thematic entry points, evaluation of applications, development of reporting and M&E mechanisms/standards, etc.)
- Launching of the fund through information campaigns, outreach-workshops for partners, organization of calls for proposals
- Management of the selection process, incl. consultations with partners/experts
- Provision of technical support to the development of concept notes/proposals of implementing partners for quality assurance in coordination with the project’s adviser on violence prevention
- Collecting and comment monitoring reports and uses them to support the quality of the implementation of the projects
- Conducts field visits where needed for technical support and M&E
2. Outreach and Liaison to Governmental Stakeholders
- Develop and maintain contacts with relevant stakeholders at national and governorate level authorities for the funding facility
- Maintain and serve as a secretariat to the governance structure of the fund while ensuring buy-in and participation of the Iraqi authorities
- Facilitate consultation with select governmental stakeholders on national and regional level for the final project selection
- Preparing and implementing kick-off and regular monitoring meetings on governorate level
- Outreach to governmental stakeholders for project development on local/governorate level, and co-creation of project ideas for the funding facility ranging from development of project ideas, joint planning to possibly joined implementation in select liberated areas (incl. workshop design and facilitation)
3. Communication & Networking
- Developing relationships and manages exchange with all important governmental stakeholders on national, regional and local level as well as with a wide range of local and international NGOs
- Maintaining exchange on and continuously analyse drivers of violence and radicalisation with local implementing partners, governmental entities, community- based initiatives, NGOs, and international experts and contribute to adjustments of the funding facility
- Updating project management about changes in governmental structures affecting the implementation of the fund
- Reporting about progress of the fund incl. its projects and makes proposals for adjustments
- Consolidation reports from implementing partners and support project reporting to the donor
- Maintaining of a good flow of communication and information between all units in the team, with other projects in the Reconstruction & Peacebuilding (RECO) Cluster, the Cluster itself and potential implementing partners
- Close cooperation with the project’s Advisers on the Working Group PREV and the Adviser on Grant Management
- Ensuring that cooperation and decision-making processes within the team on the funding facility run smoothly, efficiently and quality-oriented
4. Other duties/Additional tasks.
- Performing other duties and tasks at the request of management
C. Required qualifications, competences and experience
Formal Qualifications
- University degree (min. M.A.) in social studies, public administration or a related field. Lack of relevant degree can be compensated with substantial working experience in relevant governmental institutions or international organisations.
- Overall minimum of 5 years working experience, of which at least 3 years in the field of forced migration, stabilisation, the prevention on violence and extremism or perceived ISIL-affiliated families
- Working experience or intensive cooperation experience with Iraqi governmental authorities, and with non-governmental stakeholders ideally in the field of international cooperation
- Working experience in a well-established NGO, incl. direct experience with project design, planning and implementation
Technical Skills
- Technical expertise on stabilisation, prevention of violent extremisms, radicalisation and violence and background in technical backstopping of related projects
- Distinct experience in designing, planning and implementing projects in Iraq, preferably linked to social cohesion, IDP reintegration and peacebuilding
- Experience to deliver trainings and build capacities on project planning and implementation
- Excellent knowledge of the public administration in Iraq, governmental bodies and other authorities especially for the relevant actors in the field of social cohesion, peace building and forced migration
- Good understanding of M&E and reporting approaches/methods
- Excellent understanding of the role of civil society in Iraq as part of the refugee response
- Experience in designing community/stakeholder outreach incl. with political partners on subnational level
- Experienced networker, able to expand network and establish lasting working relationships with partners
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to keep overview of complex settings and various simultaneous tasks, attention to detail and reliability
Soft Skills
- Good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)
- Strong organisational competence
- Strong communication skills and ability to adopt according to context
- Team player and readiness to collaborate
Other knowledge, additional competences
- Fluency in Arabic and English are mandatory (written and spoken). Knowledge of German and Kurdish is beneficial
- Very good working knowledge of ITC technologies and computer applications (e.g. MS Office, MS Teams, Zoom/Webex et.Al.)
- Strong managerial and organisational competencies
- Ability to travel within Iraq regularly and possibly internationally is required
- Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management
Requirements for application:
- The reference number and position must be mentioned in the subject line of the email, Ref: (BGH-SSVPI21-120) Project Adviser-Program Management & Funding Facility
- Subject line of the application should clearly indicate the vacancy applied for.
- CVs and motivations letters that are in the form of IMG, pictures, screen-shots and links will not be accepted.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Applications passed the expiration date of the advertisement will not be considered.
