Project Officer
23 Nov 2007 12:31:00 GMT
Deadline date: 31 Jan 2008 |
| Organisation: | Merlin - UK |
| Location: | 214383 |
| Type: | temporary |
| Salary: | 20-30 (000's USD) |
| Description: | Responsible To: Project Coordinator
Working With: Field medical and non medical team members Location: Birambizo health zone, Rutshuru territory, North Kivu Province, DRC Start Date: ASAP Duration: 12 months Salary and Benefits: £12,113 - £16,562 annual dependent on relevant experience, plus an annual cost of living allowance of £5,111, insurance cover, accommodation and flights Please note this position is currently subject to funding Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date. Please note: this is an unaccompanied position. Merlin International Profile Merlin is the only UK specialist charity, founded in 1993, which responds worldwide, with vital healthcare and medical relief for vulnerable people affected by natural disasters, conflict and healthcare collapse. Each year, Merlin assists more than 15 million people, in up to 20 countries, through working with local healthcare actors including government, community groups and NGOs. Context The Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) is the third largest country in Africa and one of the poorest. Decades of dictatorship and an ongoing, unresolved civil war has left much of the national infrastrucutre destroyed. Merlin has been operational in eastern DRC since 1997 when it established emergency medical support to populations in Maniema Province. Merlin teams have been providing emergency medical care to the most vulnerable, accessible populations in Maniema Province, Kasai Oriental Province, North Kivu and Orientale Province, and in response to the Goma volcanic eruption of Jan 2002. Activities include: emergency response, primary health support and supply, secondary health support and supply, reproductive health, institutional capacity building, nutrition, wat/san, rehabilitation of health facilities Merlin is the sole source of essential medical support for 110 primary & secondary health facilities, providing health care to over 1,100,000 beneficiaries. In Maniema Province, Merlin is implementing a USAID DFID funded primary health care and nutrition project in ten health zones, and a DFID (British government) funded referral hospital project in the provincial capital Kindu, totaling approximately 1.8 million beneficiaries. In North Kivu, Merlin implements a DfID funded primary healthcare project in Manguredjipa and Biena healthzones, with emergency support to IDPs within the province. Merlins Goma office is a management and support office for five field-site projects in eastern DRC. The office handles the financial and reporting aspects of a multi-million dollar grant portfolio, the HR and administrative requirements for more than 20 expatriates and more than 200 national staff. Following recurrent insecurity in North Kivu, more than 340,000 people have fled their homes. Some are currently living in makeshift shelters and while others are hosted within local families. Access to health care is very low, due to a lack of support of to the health infrastructure and because of the prevailing insecurity. Living conditions are worsening as the conflict intensifies and spreads through the province. Thousands have fled conflict affected areas and are seeking refuge in other parts of the province. They are living in makeshift shelter camps, which lack adequate sanitation as well as potable water. To address these needs, Merlin is currently setting up programmes in Rutshuru and Birambizo health zones. Water and sanitation are key components of the programme in Birambizo, which aims to address the issue of potable water and adequate sanitation for the IDPs and host affected communities. This role will be key in providing the necessary assistance required. Project Management and Development Plan and monitor project activities and outputs. Ensure the delivery of the project according to objectives and time-frames Reporting internal and external - for daily and weekly site communications. Ongoing evaluation and development of proposals Security Responsible for the security of the Merlin team and assets in a changeable and volatile security environment, including initiating and organising evacuation if necessary Ongoing monitoring of the security situation in the region Prepare and update security guidelines and ensure that these are adhered to Provide timely and accurate security reports to the CMT and Project Coordinator and recommendations for actions Maintain regular contacts with key actors in relation to security (local authorities, the community, MONUC, OCHA, etc.) Admin and Finance Manage the program budget and ensure regular communication with the Finance Manager on all budget matters. Manage cash on site, ensuring compliance with Merlin procedures in relation to cash security. Ensure activities in Birambizo comply with all legal and bureaucratic requirements of DRC Manage the national administrator activities. Prepare timely cash forecasts for Goma in collaboration with the Maniema Management team. Filing systems and record keeping Human Resources To recruit all non-medical staff and assist the Medical Officer (MO) with the recruitment of all medical staff. To work with the MO to ensure that a regular appraisal system is followed To ensure that all staff management is carried out according to the Merlin internal regulations and the DRC labour code To provide the HR dept in Goma with monthly staff information updates and keep them informed on all disciplinary matters In Coordination with the Medical Officer, to assess the continuing training needs of the Rutshuru national staff and ensure training needs are appropriately met and within budget. Representation Represent Merlin and its activities to key stakeholders (community, authorities, donors, other (I)NGOs, partners) Other Provide coverage for other posts when needed and carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Country Director Person Specification Essential High-level of spoken English and French and written English Strong project management skills and knowledge of appropriate project management tools Security management experience in an unstable environment Experience in finances or related issues Knowledge of project management tools (Logical Framework analysis, project cycle management, indicators etc.) Computer skills (Word for Windows, Excel, E-mail) A strong interest in basic curative and preventative health care Proven problem solving and organizational skills, flexibility and calm under pressure Good team worker, able to live and work closely with a team under pressure Ability to work under stressful conditions in an isolated area Good communicator Leadership skills and a supportive management style Focused individual with capacity to plan and manage in a multiple deadline-working environment. Good training/capacity building and management skills. Willing to work in an insecure environment. Ability to work on own initiative. Desirable: Spoken Kiswahili Working experience in the region A strong interest in community participation To apply for this vacancy Please download an application form from our website www.merlin.org.uk. Completed applications should be emailed to applications@merlin-uk.org stating in the subject field the job title, country and reference number (if any) of the vacancy you have applied for. |
| Name: | Jackelyne Weeks |
| Email: | applications@merlin-uk.org |