Country Manager in Mali

Do you want to lead the Danish Red Cross’ humanitarian work in one of our most important country interventions in Africa? Are you a robust and solution-oriented team player? Danish Red Cross is looking for an ambitious and dedicated humanitarian to direct our operations in Mali.

Throughout the past decade, a multidimensional crisis has unfolded in the Central Sahel as a result of political and economic instability, the severe effects of climate change and rising insecurity. The crisis has fostered an unprecedented level of complex needs for millions of people. Responding to the crises in Central Sahelian countries, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, is a key priority in the Danish Red Cross international strategy 2022-25.

As Danish Red Cross Country Manager in Mali you will be overall responsible for overseeing and developing our portfolio and partnership with Mali Red Cross and consortium partners in line with the existing country strategy. Your team will consist of 5 international delegates plus resident admin and finance staff. Your main implementing partner will be Mali Red Cross.

The partnership between Mali Red Cross and Danish Red Cross dates back to 1996. The current Danish Red Cross engagement in Mali adopts a triple nexus approach to a long-term and lasting aspiration to ensure that people affected by conflict, disasters and complex crises live safe and dignified lives in peaceful communities.

Our programmatic priorities include, ensuring timely response to humanitarian disasters, increasing resilience through anticipatory action and adaptation to climate change and disasters, promoting and supporting inclusion and peaceful coexistence and addressing humanitarian and protection concerns of migrants and displaced populations, including host communities.

The current portfolio includes projects targeting the most vulnerable populations in Central and Northern Mali and linked to migration, disasters response and resilience towards climate change. Our funding comes from donors and partners such as Danida, EU and UN. The total budget is approximately

Responsibilities

The Country Manager has overall responsibility for ensuring that the Danish Red Cross supported programmes and partnerships are implemented in line with the Danish Red Cross International Strategy and Country Strategy, Danish Red Cross standard operating procedures, and donor requirements and guidelines.

More specifically, the country manager will be responsible for:

• Strategic direction of Danish Red Cross engagement in Mali
• Overall budget, management and development of Danish Red Cross supported portfolio in Mali
• Represent Danish Red Cross and develop Partnerships with Country Red Cross; ICRC, IFRC, PNS and other in-country partners and stakeholder
• Lead and manage the Danish Red Cross team of delegates, including security
• Fundraising strategy and implementation of the action plan
• Operationalising and ensuring implementation of organisational priorities in Mali

The position requires leadership, management, coordination, representation and programme/technical assistance to Danish Red Cross in-country delegates and Mali Red Cross. This will include areas of formulation, implementation, and overall supervision, monitoring and evaluation of various projects, initiative and actions, as well as further development of the partnership and country program.

Required experience and qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in working with humanitarian organisations in developing, emergency and post-emergency countries
• Proven expertise with team leading and staff management
• Competence within project cycle and financial management
• Experience with leading or being part of consortia
• Fundraising competences
• Relevant educational background
• Expertise in security management is an asset
• Experience with DANIDA and ECHO-specific funding, hereunder implementation and reporting procedures is an asset
• Experience from the Red Cross/ Red Crescent Movement is an asset; experience from the geographical area would be an advantage
• Technical knowledge and experience in implementation with participatory methods
• Knowledge within the areas of organizational development, migration, protection, disaster management, health and psychosocial support.
• Good analytical skills and confident self-management in situations of stress. Ability to work in remote demanding situations under pressure is important
• Excellent communication, coordination, networking and facilitation skills
• Full working proficiency in French and English speaking and writing skills are a key requirements
• Experience and capacity to adapt to emergency & protection programming
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and possession of a valid international driving licence

Employment Conditions

The Country Manager will report to Danish Red Cross Head of Africa Region based in Ethiopia and will be working closely with the Danish Red Cross Country Managers for Niger and Burkina Faso. The duty station is Bamako in Mali. While the current conditions are not suitable for families, it is possible to bring a spouse.

The expected starting date is July 2024 or as soon as possible. The length of the contract is 24 months with the possibility of extension.

The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms and Conditions for Delegates. The monthly salary including allowances and pension within the range of DKK 46.000 – 50.000 depending on experience and qualifications. In addition, you are entitled to furnished housing and instalment package and annual home leave.

For more information on the position, please consult the JD or write to Frode Kirk [email protected]

The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms & Conditions for Delegates.

We look forward hearing from you!