Libya INGO Forum (LIF) Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The situation confronting Sudanese refugees in Libya is complicated and challenging, defined by instability and insecurity. Many have fled Sudan for reasons of safety and better prospects, escaping the country's financial constraints, violence, and persecution. But when they get to Libya, they frequently discover themselves in terrible circumstances, including as cramped living quarters, restricted access to essential services, and a continual fear of violence.

The Libya INGO Forum (LIF) is an independent network of 24 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) implementing humanitarian programs to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable population living in Libya. The LIF provides a platform to facilitate the work of its members and support them to address key issues of common interest efficiently and effectively.

Job Overview/Summary

The Libya INGO Forum Coordinator (LIF Coordinator) is responsible for facilitating, leading, and managing the quality of the work of the LIF to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of its members and is appropriate to the context.

The LIF Coordinator will coordinate INGO engagement across Libya and engage with donors, embassies, UN counterparts, and authorities, elevating operational concerns in strategic decision-making mechanisms and processes and engaging in regional and global platforms to raise the profile of the Libya context. The LIF Coordinator is responsible for:

• Proactive agenda setting; facilitating a space for INGO-INGO collaboration; enabling sharing of information and analysis for effective decision-making
• High level representation of INGO interests in external meetings and planning efforts nationally and globally; and strategically guide and encourage common advocacy and policy engagement.
• Manages the LIF Secretariat team.

This role is based in Tunis, and travel to Libya is unlikely.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Coordination and Representation

• Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information sharing between INGOs and other stakeholders.
• Enable INGOs to coordinate at strategic and operational level in Libya by facilitating high quality, regular meetings of Country Directors, thematic working groups, representatives of the INGO Forum and other mechanisms that maximizes the impact of INGO action in Libya. Ensuring information flows, feedback, drafting of relevant agenda and timely follow up on action points.
• Encourage active and open dialogue between the INGO Secretariat, NGO Steering Committee and Country Director Group.
• Participate in important policy and planning processes underway at the UN and government level that requires field level operational inputs from INGOs e.g. Regional Response Plan (RRP), multi-donor and UN longer-term recovery and development planning, OCHA transition, and so on.
• Provide a regular and reliable conduit for the UN, Government, donor representatives and other stakeholders to communicate and coordinate with INGOs.
• Help strengthen high quality countrywide coordination within humanitarian actors and between humanitarian and conflict mitigation/peacebuilding, recovery and development/governance actors.
• Support the coordination of visits of high-level evaluation missions, UN and NGO missions, researchers, donors, diplomats as required.
• Increase and enhance INGO engagement with national NGOs and civil society groups to create potential coalitions around key thematic areas.
• Identify opportunities and strategies for coordination with peace-building and development actors and humanitarians in Libya.

2. Senior Level Representation

• Actively represent INGO Forum members in senior humanitarian and development platforms e.g. HCT, ISCG, Humanitarian-Donor Group, Humanitarian access Group, strategic cross-cutting thematic taskforces, and ensure engagement with external discussions while ensuring the dissemination of high quality written feedback.
• Regularly network and represent the INGO community at high-level fora and bilateral meetings including with UN, Donors, Member States, and government, and other representative bodies.
• Work effectively with delegated representatives of the INGO Forum and ensure accountability to members.
• Represent INGO Forum members at global meetings and conferences and raise members’ advocacy messages and key priorities by participating in high level panel discussions, round tables and closed door meetings.

• Actively engage high profile targets and allies within UN, authorities, donor and diplomatic communities in Libya and externally to further advocacy objectives. This includes leveraging global opportunities in Geneva, brussels, Wahsington DC, New York, etc.
• Stay informed on global, regional and national opportunities to further advocacy objectives by anticipating key dates and ensuring adequate time to contribute productively.
• Collect, analyse and share information relevant to members and external stakeholders, often with the goal of influencing policies and improving operational or protection space.

3. Information Sharing, Analysis and Best Practice

• Acting as focal point for information/experience sharing with and among NGOs on relevant issues including managing NGO Forum and NGO SC membership, contact lists and mailing lists.
• Offer regular analysis on key thematic and operational issues impacting humanitarian, recovery and development responses and affected populations.
• Ensure timely response to requests for help and information from member organizations, non-member organizations and other stakeholders, such as donors, governments and UN agencies. Often this requires a high degree of coordination and the collection of sensitive information.
• Create feedback mechanisms, open learning channels, support pilot efforts for knowledge management, and ensure information flow between NGOs.
• Conduct active and continued research into prevailing humanitarian, socio-economic, geo-political, security situation in Libya, providing the Forum with regular updates.

4. Project Management and Human Resources

• Ensure high quality INGO Forum donor reporting and proposal development, as well as donor liaison on key areas of progress in collaboration with the Steering Committee and Host Agency.
• Report back to Steering Committee and Country Director Group on project activity progress, expenditure and plans.
• Build and maintain a productive relationship with the Host Agency.
• Manage consultants, researchers and other external support.
• Provide leadership and direction, promote professional working relationships, and encourage staff.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals identifying capacity building needs and further career objectives; follow-up, and maintain updated job descriptions.
• Update the INGO Forum Strategy on an annual basis.
• Ensure smooth running of the governance model of the INGO Forum and where required make recommendations for changes.

5. Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Secretariat team members and NGO constituents are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Steering Committee of 5 Country Directors
• The position directly supervises: LIF Senior Administration IM Officer

Internal and External:

• Relevant interfaces for this position are:
• INGO Forum Steering Committee: reporting, information, collaboration, cooperation
• INGO Country Directors: coordination, collaboration, information
• INGO Technical departments/Sectors: information, collaboration, coordination
• Government Ministries/Agencies/Departments: Liaison, lobbying, representation, advocacy, information, collaboration, cooperation
• UN agencies: lobbying, representation, information, collaboration
• Donors: Lobbying, information, collaboration
• Other INGO Forum staff, INGO Directors and managers.
• IRC Libya Country Director, finance, logistics, HR, grants, M&E and security team members.

Job Requirements

• 3-6 years of experience in a humanitarian, refugee, conflict or post-conflict setting with an INGO in a coordination or senior management role. Experience of working in complex humanitarian situations is strongly preferred.
• Tertiary undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications in international relations, political science, development or other relevant field.
• Proven coordination experience in humanitarian context, with a preference for previous experience with INGO Forums in other countries.
• Familiarity with humanitarian principles and response architecture (such as UN or INGO-led coordination mechanisms) and key humanitarian policy issues.
• Strong understanding of conflict sensitivity and protection, strategic thinking, and advocacy are a must.
• Knowledge of the Libya context or previous experience working in Libya, North Africa or Middle East is a plus.
• Experience in administration and coordination of coalition or secretariat functions a plus.
• Strong communication, inter-personal, facilitation and diplomatic skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, with strong writing and editing skills. Knowledge of Arabic is a plus.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Experience with remote management.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings

#li-1