Humanitarian Programme Coordinator (HPC) – Lead Full Time

About Self Help Africa

Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to end hunger and extreme poverty. The organisation has programmes in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and implements projects in Brazil and Bangladesh. In early 2023, we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources. SHA has been re-registered by the Ethiopian Charities and Societies Agency as a Foreign Charity with a registration number of 0051.

Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing world.
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships

As a result of the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies in Ethiopia and around the world, the organisation is increasing its capacity to support programmes in both sudden-onset and chronic emergency situations. SHA is securing funding under the EHF, which will cover primarily the Amhara region, in the Wollo cluster areas and beyond. The SHA development programmes have also been impacted by climate events, conflict, and intercommunal violence, compounded by outbreaks. In order to address such a humanitarian situation through a humanitarian-development nexus approach, the organisation is aiming to build its humanitarian staffing capacity. SHA-Ethiopia is currently seeking to recruit a Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, who will be primarily responsible for the organisation and implementation of the multi-sector humanitarian operation in the Amhara region, as well as country-wide. He/She will be responsible to represent and attend coordination meetings in the region and Addis Ababa as deemed necessary. Our approach integrates emergency and development work through the Humanitarian Development Nexus approach. Self Help Africa implemented a dozen development and humanitarian projects with local and international partners across Ethiopia. At the core of our work is increasing farm production, supporting new enterprise and developing market opportunities for farmers.

Job Purpose

The Humanitarian Programme Coordinator will be based in Dessie/Haik and frequently deployed to the field as the overall humanitarian response lead for the SHA humanitarian portfolio, particularly the Amhara region. The HPC will be responsible for making sure that the overall humanitarian work within SHA is implemented in a timely and quality manner in line with the humanitarian standard operating procedures and mandate. The post-holder will ensure that humanitarian programmes delivered are to the appropriate scale, scope, quality and accountability expected of Self-Help Africa. The HPC will be reporting to the Head of Programme and working closely with the Country Director, and Heads of Finance and Admin, as well as other key departments, such as Advisors, HR, Finance, Safety and Security, Procurement and Logistics, as well as the implementing field team particularly with the Cluster Coordinator. The HPC is responsible for identifying needs and resources and elaborating programmatic, operational and leadership recommendations for the emergency responses.

The HPC will also be expected to play a role and work in collaboration with, SHA Regional Office in Bahir Dar and the Dessie office. The HPC will ensure the implementation of SHA’s emergency operation, plans, sectoral and multi-sectoral assessments (often with the UN and other NGOs), humanitarian programme and project design and implementation in all humanitarian sectors: JIMMI (Joint Market Monitoring Initiative), MIRA (Multi-Indicator Rapid Assessment), Health and Nutrition, Protection, and Food Security and Livelihoods. WASH, ES/NFI, gender and resilience activities and programmatic considerations must be integrated throughout our programming. The HPC will also actively participate in the Area Based Coordination (ABC) forums and effectively contribute in the response and advocacy platforms.

Internal

• Country Director
• Head of Programmes
• Finance and Admin and HR
• Addis’s office Programme team
• Field Office Cluster Co, Programme Managers and Support functions

External

• Local Government Authorities,
• Other International and Local NGOs,

1. Programme Leadership & Field Implementation

• Provide comprehensive oversight for the SHA Ethiopia Humanitarian Programme to ensure timely & high-quality delivery of all programme activities.
• Coordinate and lead project field-level implementation within all assigned areas.
• Play a central leadership role in the overall management of SHA’s emergency responses, from planning to execution, in close coordination with the SMT.
• Lead and support multi-sectoral assessments (e.g., JIMMI, MIRA), in collaboration with UN agencies, government, clusters and NGO partners, ensuring findings are documented, shared, and validated.
• In collaboration with SHA’s Regional Office in Bahir Dar and the Akesta office, ensure the seamless implementation of SHA’s emergency operations and plans.

2. Programme Development, Quality & Accountability

• Support the SMT on fundraising for emergency responses by contributing to the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals.
• Collaborate with the MEAL team to ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and accountability processes are in place, including incorporating compliant beneficiary feedback and response mechanisms into programme design.
• Ensure all programmes maintain the minimum standards of humanitarian relief in accordance with the Humanitarian Charter and Sphere standards.
• Monitor programme quality through regular site visits and ensure strong accountability to beneficiaries is maintained throughout the project cycle.
• Ensure that gender, nutrition, and environmental aspects are effectively mainstreamed in all project activities.

3. Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Develop and maintain a network of humanitarian actors for effective coordination, future engagements, and partnerships.
• Establish and maintain good working relations with government partners at the zone and district level, as well as other project collaborators.
• Facilitate and follow up on the signing of project agreements between different government sector offices.
• Produce high-quality and timely sitreps and donor reports within agreed schedules, complying with both internal SHA and external donor requirements.
• Lead, coordinate, and facilitate project-related meetings, workshops, conferences, training, and study tours.

4. Operations, Security, and Team Management

• Collaborate with Field Managers, thematic leads, and support functions (HR, Procurement, Logistics, Finance) to ensure all technical and operational staffing and structure needs for emergency programmes are met.
• Follow up on the effective coordination and functioning of operation systems to procure, store, and distribute emergency kits, supplies, and services for the timely delivery of the project.
• Ensure optimal safety and security management procedures are in place for the response programme and continually monitor the security situation in collaboration with the Security Focal Person and Country Director.
• Properly implement conflict resolution mechanisms and ensure that grievance and whistle-blowing mechanisms are functional, fairly administered, and reported in line with SHA policy.

5. General Duties

• Comply with SHA policies and practices with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies.
• Take the lead on other SHA humanitarian requirements, such as preparedness planning and disaster risk reduction (DRR).
• Contribute to transparent ways of working, ensuring key information and lessons learned are shared openly to build capacity and strengthen the overall SHA Ethiopia programme.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the line manager and CMT within the area of technical competence.

Qualifications

Essential

• Education: BSc/BA degree in Developmental Studies, Disaster Management, Nutrition, Humanitarian or International Development, or a related field of study.
• Experience: A minimum of 6 years of relevant working experience with a first degree, OR 4 years of relevant experience plus a post-graduate degree.
• Technical Expertise: At least 4 years of hands-on experience in emergency programming, Camp management, specifically in: Nutrition, Community-Based Management of Malnutrition (CMAM), rural livelihoods, food security interventions, disaster management, WASH, ES/NFI or MPC/CVA interventions.

Skills:

• Proficiency in proposal development, strategic and operational planning, budget planning and management, report writing, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated capacity to liaise with government, stakeholders, and communities.
• Demonstrated leadership ability to inspire and empower others.
• A firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, and a conceptual approach to sustainable development programming.
• Computer literacy, particularly in MS Word and MS Excel.
• Language: Proficiency in verbal and written English.

Desirable

• Previous experience managing staff and working effectively under pressure.
• Significant exposure to projects involving networking and multiple partnerships, particularly related to emergency response.
• Demonstrated capacity to plan, prioritise, and deliver tasks on time to meet goals in a high-pressure environment.
• Proven ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder working environments.
• Knowledge of local culture and context.
• Flexibility to take on additional tasks and an ability to manage complexity.
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, and approaches relevant to humanitarian responses, disaster risk reduction, and the determinants of vulnerability in the Ethiopian context.