GOAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Country Director

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

General Description of the Programme:

Since 1985 as one of the first NGO’s in Sudan GOAL, has had a long and successful history of operations in North Sudan.  Currently there are well established programmes across four locations in the region Darfur, Abyei (the Transitional Areas), Kassala and Khartoum.  All areas are key conflict areas in the last five years. Our current annual programme budget is Eur 6 million plus with our main donors including: USAID/OFDA, DFID, UNDP, ECHO & Irish Aid (MAPS).

 There are around 20 international and 500 national GOALies who work together with good humour and dedication to manage our programmes in this challenging but rewarding climate.  Some of the team have been with GOAL for over 10 years and continual staff development is a key function of all positions within GOAL

GOAL is also operational in South Sudan, covered by a separate coordination office based in Juba, as part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 2005. Cooperation and collaboration across both country programmes is evolving in response to ongoing political and operational challenges.

The current programme focus’s on four main sectors:  an innovative adult education (GOAL N Sudan implements an approach called REFLECT for women’s literacy and empowerment which is life-changing), water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH), sustainable livelihoods and primary health care our largest sector.  All interventions are carried out with local partners as appropriate and in the health sector GOAL has well established relations with MoH.  As a “hands on” organisation GOAL also works in emergency response in our areas of operations. Our mandate will not preclude GOAL from responding to emergencies within our areas of operation, or from responding to urgent humanitarian need outside of these areas in the absence of other humanitarian actors.

GOAL N. Sudan has updated its N. Sudan Country Strategic Plan for 2007 – 2011.  It addresses the longer term development approaches with our humanitarian and sector programming across Sudan. GOAL N. Sudan is strengthening it’s ability to reach its core beneficiaries by moving towards evidence based programmes and results driven activities through building community ownership processes and encouraging more capacity building both within GOAL staff and within the communities in which we work.  GOAL’s approach toward projects is to getting things done.

GOAL is successfully operating an integrated sectoral and programme approach across communities.  Full community engagement in addressing their development needs is key to long-term successful programming.  GOAL is looking for collaborative, can do people who will add value to our forward programming and operational strategy.

Description of Abyei

As one of the three transitional states designated under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Abyei, where most of the oil fields are located, is undergoing a period of intense social and political change and uncertainty. Following decades of war, tens of thousands of formerly displaced people are returning to their family homeland every year, but there is as yet no mandated or effective government in place. GOAL was the first INGO to start work in Abyei, where we have been operating a primary health care programme since 2003. This has now expanded into an integrated operation with nutrition, health promotion, HIV, adult education and women’s empowerment, NFI, agriculture and water programmes aimed at post-conflict recovery.

Unfortunately in May 2008 heavy fighting broke out in Abyei town between North Sudan and South Sudan government forces. Although the situation is calm now the whole population of Abyei was displaced, the majority fleeing to the South. Abyei town was destroyed and looted. Since then GOAL has been relocated to the South of Abyei, to a little town called Agok. From Agok we are running 3 clinics, health promotion and WASH activities to meet the needs of the IDP’s and their host population. At this point in time plans are being made for GOAL’s return to Abyei town, now that a new administration has been appointed and a road map agreed between North and South governments sets the plan for peace.

General Description of the Role:

The Abyei Health Manager will oversee all day to day aspects of the Abyei Integrated Health Programme and will ensure that programme implementation is progressing in line with proposals and agreed timelines.

A key role will be to develop relationships with the nascent Ministry of Health in Abyei and develop a capacity building programme alongside developing a strategy for the eventual handover of the three GOAL run clinics to them  Technical programming for the PHC, Health Promotion, HIV and Nutrition programmes will be developed in cooperation with Khartoum based staff, but effective implementation in the field will be the responsibility of the Abyei Heath Manager. There will be close collaboration between the Medical Coordinator, Health Promotion Coordinator, HIV Coordinator and Nutrition Coordinator based in Khartoum and the field, with regular field visits taking place by all key Khartoum staff. As the Abyei Health Manager you will be expected to participate in the development and evaluation of new health programme initiatives and in the development of proposals in order to ensure that they are both appropriate for local conditions and have achievable targets. There will be strong emphasis on capacity building of Abyei GOAL national staff and supervision and training sessions will be an essential element of the Health Manager role.

Key Duties:

• To oversee the implementation and development of the Integrated Health Programme in Abyei
• To support the Integrated Health Approach to health programming
• To develop ties with GOAL South Sudan programme with a view to incorporating relevant MoH capacity building and support mechanisms into the Abyei programme 
• To provide strategic input to Khartoum for new integrated health initiatives and donor proposals
• To build the capacity at field level with GOAL and MoH health staff
• To be responsible for meeting programme health objectives and activities in Abyei
• To plan, monitor and evaluate, with Khartoum staff, all health programme components at regular intervals
• To participate in a multi-agency assessment/review/development of a comprehensive and sustainable health facility infrastructure in Abyei
• To liaise with GOAL engineering, water and sanitation, livelihood and literacy programmes as appropriate
• To ensure the timely collection, presentation, analysis and distribution of Abyei monthly health statistics
• To ensure that the Medical Coordinator is kept up to date with on going health activities
• To work closely with the GOAL team in the field and local partners
• To work closely with key Khartoum health staff

Requirements: (educational, language, etc.)

• Good technical health qualification (Doctor/Nurse) with 3 years post qualification experience in country of origin
• MSc in Public Health or equivalent would be desirable but not essential
• At least two years previous overseas experience with an International Agency, in a complex humanitarian environment and in a health related position
• Proven programme management skills
• Excellent donor proposal and report writing
• Excellent knowledge and experience in liaising with government officials, donors, other agencies and community groups
• Proven ability to work as part of a team
• Must enjoy training, supervision and building national staff capacity
• Excellent staff management and personnel skills
• Must be able to work to deadlines
• Ability to self-start and work in remote locations with sometimes stressful conditions