Director, East and Horn of Africa (EHA)

About CIVIC

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit organization with offices around the world. Its mission is to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. CIVIC envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict and works to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection. They work with armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm and strengthen their resolve and capacity to do so. CIVIC serves as an advocate who believes that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored, and it also serves as an advisor who provides practical solutions to prevent and respond to civilian harm. To learn more, visit civiliansinconflict.org.

Despite investment by regional and international actors, conflicts in East Africa and the Horn of Africa continue to claim civilians' lives and cause humanitarian crises. While Djibouti has served as a bulwark against growing threats, millions of civilians are suffering from armed violent conflicts in Ethiopia, Sudan, eastern DRC, and Somalia. A number of political crises have emerged in the region, including tensions between DRC and Rwanda; Burundi and Rwanda; Ethiopia and Somalia; and DRC and Kenya. Addressing this regional conflict requires a combination of internationally, regionally, and locally appropriate solutions.

CIVIC's engagement in East Africa and the Horn of Africa began with advisory support to the African Union and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). CIVIC helped AMISOM develop the Civilian Casualty Tracking Analysis and Response Cell (CCTAC) to support the force's efforts to mitigate civilian harm during operations. Additionally, beginning in 2019, CIVIC has undertaken a series of missions to Kenya to analyze threats and opportunities to civilian protection. Since then, CIVIC has conducted community-based programming activities in some communes in Somalia and Kenya, as well as civilian harm mitigation engagement in Somalia, Kenya, and DRC. CIVIC is also involved in regional, national, and international advocacy efforts to advance the protection of civilian outcomes in the region.

About the Position

The East & Horn of Africa (EHA) Director will lead CIVIC programs, operations teams, and offices in the region and report to the Africa Director. Based out of Mogadishu, Somalia, he/she will lead the Somalia and Kenya offices and teams. He/she will also serve as CIVIC’s representative in other countries in the EHA region.

The EHA Director will design, develop, implement, and evaluate the regional strategic vision and plan in alignment with CIVIC’s overall global vision, mission, program, theory of change, and strategic plan. He/she will manage, supervise, and support program, finance, and operations staff. He/she will represent CIVIC and engage with regional and national institutions, decision makers, technical/financial partners, and other regional, national, and international NGOs and UN agencies, including security and defense forces and relevant armed actors. He/she will ensure program and portfolio development and growth, support programmatic and operational excellence, and oversee the safety and security of all staff and partners. He/she will also ensure programmatic, financial, and operational compliance with internal and donor policies, norms, and practices.

As the regional leader, he/she will support and motivate while holding them and him/herself to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Key Functions

• Lead CIVIC’s Somalia and Kenya offices and represent CIVIC in the EHA region and in other countries where CIVIC works

• Design, develop, implement, and evaluate the region’s strategic vision and plan

• Represent CIVIC and engage with relevant regional, national, and international institutions, decision makers, and actors to advance the Protection of Civilians (PoC) agenda (national institutions include Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Security, Chief of Army and Defense and Security Forces, and Security and Defense Training Centers; other actors include leadership of civil society organizations, UN agencies, INGOs, and other relevant humanitarian coordinators and clusters; regional institutions include the IGAD, the EAC, AU, ATMIS, ad hoc coalitions, Regional Centers of Excellence, relevant PoC forums and events, and regional UN, AU, and EU leadership and respective special envoys)

• In close coordination with the Development team, Prospect, identify, and secure new program development and funding opportunities to maintain, deepen, and expand projects and grants

• Lead the project design process for new funding opportunities and grant applications

• Write, review, and approve narrative and financial proposals with their annexes, including Results Framework, risks registration, etc.

• Write, review, and approve all periodic reports for donors

• Ensure programmatic, financial, and operational excellence through regular check-in and feedback; capacity building and coaching; review and support; respect of due dates; and control and upholding of highest standard of integrity for oneself and all staff and partners

• Approve and support recruitment, staff induction, capacity building, growth, performance, and separations in accordance with CIVIC’s People and Culture policies and with human dignity and safety in mind

• Ensure application of inclusion, equity, and diversity standards, particularly in respect to gender, in activities, projects, and programs, as well is in team management and in regional norms, practices, and policies

• Support coordination and experience-sharing between EHA team and other CIVIC teams, programs, projects, and initiatives

• Ensure full and strict adherence to and application of CIVIC’s safety and security policies for staff, offices, consultants, and partners in the region

• Develop and apply specific safety and security policies and norms in accordance with the context

• Open CIVIC offices and presence in countries in the region and ensure successful start-up of partnerships and projects

• Approve internal and external communication regarding regional contexts, events, activities, and other situations

Requirements/Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of leadership and management experience including oversight of regional strategic plan; leading teams of senior and junior staff; leading programs and partnerships in conflict settings; and engaging with high-level officials, mid-level authorities and regional, national, and international institutions, including security and defense forces

• Master’s degree in law, IHL, conflict resolution, international development, or any related area strongly preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, or a social science discipline required

• Professional diploma/certificate or courses in accounting (at least CPA II), administration, or logistics preferred

• Minimum of 10 years of experience working in civilian protection, IHL, civilian harm mitigation, conflict management, advocacy, community-based protection, research/policy, and support to civil society

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in finance (overall control, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting); HR management; partnership building with regional and national institutions, civil society, UN Agencies, and INGOs; writing and reviewing narrative and financial proposals and reports (including Results Frameworks and risk registration)

• Knowledge of international INGOs in the region.

• Understanding of regional and national laws, culture, practices, norms, and context dynamics (including political and security dynamics)

• Ability to perform several tasks concurrently

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing, in English and/or Arabic

• Ability to speak Swahili, French, and/or Arabic is a plus

• Maintain strict confidentiality around sensitive CIVIC matters

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Ability to travel, including on short notice

• Experience in advocacy, communications, and policy

• Great leadership skills, a sense of humor, and team spirit

CIVIC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool in the belief that employees from diverse backgrounds are critical to achieving our goals. We strongly encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

CIVIC is not able to sponsor employees at this point, therefore, please ensure that you can legally work in this location when applying.

Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies: CIVIC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. CIVIC does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.