Country Director - Sudan

Place:  Nairobi, Kenya
Starting date: 17/03/2025
Duration of contract: 6 months
Closing date for applications: 02/02/2025

Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Since its creation in 1982, HI has run development programmes in more than 60 countries and responded to numerous emergencies. Today, we have a budget of approximately 255 million euros, with 4794 employees worldwide.

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities. 

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview. For more information about the organisation: www.hi.org

 The Country Director is the legal representative of the entire HI organization in the country, both internally and externally, and is responsible for promoting its reputation and positive image. He/She implements HI’s mandate and strategy in collaboration with operational partners, institutions, and donors, while contributing to the organization’s transformation." He/She ensures budget compliance and adherence to HI’s policies (safeguarding, security, human resources, risk management). He/She actively monitors local developments to identify risks and opportunities and represent the organization, communicating according to a plan set with the Regional Director. In crisis situations, He/She assumes responsibilities as outlined in the specific response frameworks.

JOB CONTEXT:

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023 between the SAF and the RSF, has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe of unprecedented scale. According to the 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) approximately 25 million people - nearly half of Sudan's population- require humanitarian assistance, with over 14 million of them being children. Preliminary data from the MSNA estimate 31 million people in need in 2025. 14.5 million people are displaced, including 11 million internally. Sudan is currently classified as a “hotspot of highest concern” for acute food insecurity by the Hunger Hotspots report underscoring the urgent need to address life-threatening food shortages, malnutrition, and livelihood support in the most vulnerable regions. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report from September 2024, approximately 25.6 million people in Sudan - about 54% of the population - are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

Darfur, a region long affected by conflict and instability, has experienced an escalation of violence over the past year, worsening pre-existing vulnerabilities. An estimated 9 million people in Darfur will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, with 48% of all IDPs from the conflict seeking refuge in this region.  Currently, South Darfur is one of the states with the highest number of IDPs, with an estimated 1.8 million people displaced due to ongoing violence and instability.

HI background & history

In 2024, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) and a national NGO has started a project in Sudan focusing on physical and functional rehabilitation, MHPSS, Protection and Inclusive Humanitarian Action activities. In 2024, several opportunities are pursued allowed positive perspectives in terms of scale-up of the response (from both geographical and sectoral perspectives) and fundraising.

2025 perspectives

HI plans to scale-up significantly its response in Sudan with key priorities in terms of geographic foot print (both in east and west) including Khartoum, in terms of sectors of intervention (rehabilitation, food, WaSH, disability-inclusion) while developing several modalities of intervention (direct, remote partnership, etc.). HI has engaged several consortiums and donors.

YOUR MISSION:

Responsibility 1: Management 

• Contributes to the development of his or her staff, creating the conditions for their commitment, professionalism, and attachment to HI. Ensures compliance with the code of conduct of institutional policies, the state of mind and the expected individual and collective behaviour.
• Understand the strategy, make it explicit, translate it into operational objectives for his or her team, and lead the necessary changes. Give meaning to each management action. Encourage inter and intra-departmental exchanges of practice. Encourage innovation and risk-taking.
• Organise the operational and partnership management of his/her team, structure the work around identified processes, steer performance and facilitate the resolution of problems.

Responsibility 2: Strategy and steering 

• Ensure the definition, implementation, and adaptation of the HI Strategy in the Program:
• Be responsible for fundraising and resource planning:

o   Develop regular contacts with donors at field level and regularly inform the Institutional Funding teams.

o   Ensure the best allocation of resources to match Program ambitions, and plan accordingly (including support missions).

• Ensure the deployment and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies, and standards.
• Conduct partnership Steering Committees with his/her direct managers/counterpart: the operational partner and HI project team
• Ensure the design of project proposals for the continuity or expansion of the project or the development of new projects upon request.

Responsibility 3: Operational Implementation 

• Be responsible for security management: in link with the Humanitarian Access and Security Manager and HQ specialist, develop a culture of safety & security at the Program level (Sudan level); ensure that security documents are developed, up-to-date and that all necessary measures are in place; ensure incident management and reporting according to HI frameworks.
• Ensure financial control and monitoring of operations are effective in the Program: consolidation, control, and reporting of operational and organizational elements within the Program (dashboards, corrective measures, unrestricted funds consumption, etc.)
• Ensure technical quality standards are applied in the projects of the Program and monitor the implementation of evaluations and donor audits’ recommendations.
• With both potential opportunities and risks in mind, ensure continuous monitoring and analysis of current developments for the Sudan’s Program: implement analysis and monitoring of risks related to HI presence and activities; take mitigation actions when relevant.

Responsibility 4: Influence and leadership 

• Ensure close coordination with Chad CD (esp.related to fundraising activities, mutualization, response plan)
• Ensure authorizations to operate are secured and maintained, in compliance with the relevant country and state authorities’ requirements.
• Employer’s representative responsibilities and compliance with local working regulations both in Kenya and in Sudan
• Communications on behalf of HI.
• Representation of HI vis-à-vis local, national, traditional, political, military and diplomatic authorities and bodies
• Representation of HI vis-à-vis international organizations and coordination mechanisms & system.
• Negotiation and signature of operational partnerships.
• Develop external influence of HI (forums, operational & strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in the Program’s geographical scope

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

Based in Kenya (Nairobi) providing remote support to the national partner. Depending on visa approval, HI team will travel to Sudan for field and monitoring visits. The project includes physical and functional rehabilitation, MHPSS, Protection and Inclusive Humanitarian Action activities.

• 8+ years of professional experience in the humanitarian/development sector.
• At least 2 years of experience as a Country Director.
• Proven success in managing emergency response and development programs in conflict areas.
• Expertise in project inception and rapid scale-up of activities.
• Extensive experience in security management in conflict zones, ensuring the safety of teams and beneficiaries.
• Mine action program management experience (including demining activities) is a strong asset.

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 6 months international contract starting from 17/03/2025
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals;
• Pension scheme;
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution;
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI;
• Salary from 2986€ gross/month upon experience;
• Perdiem: 619,50€ net/month
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 11 jours par an.
• Position:
• Unaccompanied:
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects;
• A child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the field;
• open to couples:
• Support travel costs (air ticket & visa) for accompanying dependent and health/ repatriation insurance if the dependent has no income;
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects;
• Housing: Individual taken in charge by HI;