Country Director Yemen

About War Child

The War Child Alliance is a registered entity in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with a staff presence there and in 19 countries of operation: Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Burundi, DR Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

We are War Child

Around the world, hundreds of millions of children are living with the effects of war and conflict. Separated from their homes, schools and loved ones, many are overwhelmed by manifestations of distress. We may never be able to take away all the pain that comes with war. But we can create space where children can heal. Through our creative and evidence-based approach, we work exclusively to enhance the innate resilience of children and their communities. We are a rights-based organisation – which means we also advocate with and on behalf of children to ensure their fundamental rights are upheld. Children’s right to learn; to food, water, a safe place to rest their head at night, are all inextricably linked to their right to mental health. We remind governments and other influential actors of the scope of their commitments.

Our Strategy

War Child reaches many thousands of children and youth every year – yet there are 468 million children living with the effects of armed conflict. We will never reach them all by ourselves – which is why our strategic goal is to become the networked expert organisation for children affected by conflict.

Networked

The strategy sees us work together with organisations across the world to ensure our work has maximum reach and impact.

Expert

We continue to develop robust interventions – backed by evidence and research to meet the highest standards of quality – and share them through a network of partner organisations.

Our overall goal is that increasing numbers of children and youth will access quality interventions and as a result enjoy improved wellbeing.

Your Challenge

You will lead the development and implementation of the Country Strategy in line with War Child’s global strategy and relevant to the local context. This includes responsibility for financial health of country operations, security, team management, collaboration with local partners and external representation. The Country Director is ultimately responsible for quality programme implementation, partnership management, and programme sustainability.

The CD will be responsible for bringing a reimagination against the background of significantly reduced funding into the aid sector to the Yemen operation, in a manner that involves staff and local actors. With the frequent change in the Yemen context, the CD will be required to demonstrate leadership in adapting the country programme to the changing context in line with the Global strategy.

The CD will lead a process to grow operations and increase capacities for more local actors, mobilise resources for a programme that reaches more children directly and indirectly.

The Country Director reports to the Regional Director and you will directly manage the Yemen Country Management Team (CMT).

The incumbent will deliver on the following Key standard responsibilities of the Country Director the context of the above imperatives:

Strategy Leadership and Management:

• Lead the participatory development and updating of the country strategy and annual plans, and oversee the implementation, reviewing, and monitoring of the strategy and plan in line with the War Child Global Strategy while reflecting on Yemen context
• Increase national and international visibility and influence of the organization by securing high-level policy engagement; through advocacy, inclusion of high priorities in national development plans

Partnership Building:

• Build strong strategic partnerships and effective relationships with government agencies, local and international non-governmental organizations, and donors to ensure holistic, integrated, quality, and sustainable programs scaling of evidence-based interventions as the center of the process.
• Strengthen existing relationships and build new relationships with strategic partners and donors aiming at institutional fundraising.
• Represent WCA in coordination platforms, meetings and events.

Operations, Security and Risk Management:

• Oversee and ensure that HR, Logistics, Supply and Finance management is carried out in accordance with local laws, WCA policies and procedures and applicable donor guidelines
• Overall responsible for security management, ensuring continuous context monitoring, risk analysis, regular updating of security plans, security decision making and incident management as needed.

Team Leadership and Management:

• Foster and develop effective leadership within the country office, and a work culture that promotes staff well-being and creates space for staff participation in decision making.
• Promote and uphold the War Child Integrity Framework and “Do No Harm” principles, aiming at strong awareness and respect by War Child staff and partners of all relevant policies and principles in this regard.

Skills

• At least 15 years relevant experience in an international/humanitarian context of which 8 years in a senior management position (e.g. as Representative or Country director);
• Experience in security management and context analyses;
• Experience in the Africa/MENA region, especially in conflict affected settings
• Proven experience in working with diverse teams in a low resource environment;
• Relevant academic background e.g. psychology, pedagogy, community development, social sciences, international relations;
• Experience in financial management (including management of multiple grants);

Attributes

• An experienced and inspiring leader;
• Experience in a similar/unstable and/or insecure environment;
• Familiarity/qualification in any of our key thematic areas is an advantage;
• Experience in working with local partners and preferably in our field of expertise;
• Fluency in English is an absolute must; preference for additional language such as Arabic;
• Strong problem solving and social skills;
• Proven affinity with War Child’s mandate;

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