Latest Vacancies at COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale, 30th October, 2018

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy. We are recruiting to fill the position below:     Job Title: Country Administrator Location: Abuja Duration: 12 Months Starting Date: ASAP Context

• COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale, is a humanitarian, non-confessional and independent organization founded in 1965 in Milan, Italy. For more than 50 years we have been dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and to supporting populations affected by wars, socio-economic crises or natural disasters in their path to recovery and sustainable development, by making use of the professionalism of local and international operators, and through our partnerships with public and private bodies and civil society organizations.
• Since the declaration of state of emergency in the Nigerian federal States of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, the escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency has led to multiple displacement crises, with communities fleeing their area of origin to take refuge in camps or host communities.
• In 2014 there was a substantial increase in violence related to Boko Haram and the counter insurgency operations, consequently creating acute and largely unmet humanitarian needs, as IDPs are cut off from their homes and livelihoods, basic services, kinship and social ties.
• In September 2014, COOPI began operating in north eastern Nigeria in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the insurgency, established its operation in Bauchi State and later expanded to Yobe and Borno State considering the heightened presence of IDPs.
• COOPI is currently implementing a multi-sectoral intervention covering nutrition, food security, protection and education in emergency. Given the unfolding large scale emergency in the north eastern Nigeria, COOPI plans to scale up its current operations in Borno State and reach newly accessible areas, in addition to areas receiving Nigerian returnees from Niger.
• We are looking for a highly qualified Country Administrator  with overall responsibility for supervision, management and quality implementation of all aspects of COOPI financial and administrative operations in Nigeria.
• The Country Administrator will be part of the senior management team and is expected to contribute to the future strategic development and professional dynamics of COOPI in Nigeria.

• Financial reporting: In coordination with the Head of Mission and with the Project Manager he/she prepares the intermediate and final financial reports for the projects under his/her responsibility.
• Budget preparation: Support the Head of Mission and Project Managers in budget preparation as well as proposals development.
• Staff management: He/she plans the work, supervises, and collaborate to train the staff of the project’s accounting-administrative area upon request by the Head of Mission. Upon request her/she collaborates to staff evaluation activities. She/he will be the focal point of the complaint mechanism and the code of conduct
• Procurement: He/she provide technical oversight to the procurement process and ensure proper supply chain management procedures are in place and that standard logistics and related administrative systems are established and implemented within COOPI country programme.
• Safe and bank account management: He/she ensures the correct management of the safes and the project’s bank accounts, by directly managing or by regularly controlling the project accountant, if available.
• Accountancy management: he/she ensures the correct project accountancy and all accountancy documents filing. He/she does this by monitoring the accountants or by directly performing the accountancy, in case there was no accountant.
• Administrative management: In collaboration with the project manager he/she verifies the correct administrative management of the projects (contracts, goods and services purchase, calls for  tenders etc.) in compliance with COOPI and the donor’s procedures (ECHO, UNICEF, UN Agencies, AICS, USAid/OFDA, FFP). He/she ensures the correct filing of all project’s administrative documents.
• Expenses planning and monitoring: In collaboration with the Project Manager (and the logistician if present) he/she makes the project’s financial planning. He/she monitors expenses, in accordance with the budget. He/she provides the accountancy data to the Project Manager so as to allow him to monitor and plan the expenditures and to request funds.
• Contract modifications and administrative documents: He/she collaborates with the Project Manager in the elaboration of contract modifications (including the budget), and in the preparation of all necessary  projects documents.

• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience in large organizations.
• At least 3 years’ work experience in a similar role within a international non-governmental organization (NGO), donor or multilateral agency.
• Substantial experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies and networking and negotiating with authorities.
• Very strong financial analysis skills and an extensive practical experience working with financial tools, highly proficient with excel such as using pivot table, developing macros, etc.
• Ability to motivate and guide staff working in a complex conflict environment, preferably experience from an African context. Previous experience in Nigeria is an advantage.
• An excellent interpersonal skills (Good analytical, negotiation, advocacy and communication skills) and demonstrated ability to establish effective team and external relations.
• Experience with capacity building of national staff.
• Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing and sometimes insecure environment
• Excellent English language skills both written and spoken are essential.

• The Project Manager is responsible for the overall activities’ planning, execution and reporting of Livelihoods projects
• He/she is directly assigned to, and responsible of the supervision of all logistics, HR, financial and overall functioning aspects for his projects.

• Under the direct supervision of the Head of Base and in link with the Program Manager, he/she provide overall managerial oversight to livelihood project and support livelihood project implementation team to ensure cross departmental coordination with WFP food security and livelihood component
• Work with donor and program team to maintain and update livelihoods implementation plan,in cooperation and synergy with the project staff, plans and monitors the livelihood activities’ progress, in compliance with the donor regulations with donor’s and COOPI’s procedures, and with the specific Project Structure and Reporting Lines definition, making use of the financial instruments provided by the organization;
• In collaboration with the Administrative and the Logistics team, plans and monitors the expenditures in line with the project’s implementation needs;
• In cooperation with the Program Manager, finalizes the data provided by his/her team, supports the preparation, in compliance with the deadlines, of the narrative reports expected by the donors and by the partners;
• Coordinates the overall project: supervises the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the staff; monitors the accuracy and efficiency of activities;
• Represents COOPI with the local / State authorities and partners
• In collaboration with the Program Manager and Head of Base, prepares all the formal communication and contract modification requests (ex. budget modification) of the project;
• Liasse with logistics/ procurement team to ensure the goods purchased for the project; for all goods purchased by the project, support updates of the inventory and guarantee the respect of the policies and guidelines, in cooperation with the Logistics Office;
• In collaboration with the Program Manager and in synergy with the specific reporting lines of the projects, promotes and manages relations with the local government institutions, NGOs, and other local partners available in the area;
• Ensure compliance with the fund and timely fulfilment of project’s reporting requirements.
• Executes any other task necessary to good and timely completion of the projects, identified in mutual agreement.
• In coordination with the Administrative team, supports in hiring of new staff directly related to the project and conducts staff appraisals Upholds COOPI’s mission and Charter of Values;
• Put in place and follow in accountability and beneficiaries feedback mechanism
• Follows and enforces all COOPI codes of conduct and policies (globally and in-country);
• Performs any other duties as requested by the supervisor.
• Support Program Manager to explore livelihood program expansion and fundraising

• Master's Degree in Humanitarian/Development Studies/Social Sciences or any related field
• At least 3 years of working experience in/with INGO. on Livelihoods/ FSL area. Experience managing enterprise and livelihood development activities as a+
• Proven interest & commitment to humanitarian and development principles and a demonstrable understanding of conflict/post conflict development contexts
• Expertise in sustainable livelihoods, on-farm and off-farm livelihoods, in particular; data collection, analysis, and report writing including post-distribution monitoring (PDM)
• Excellent in written and spoken English;
• Ability to plan, organize work, communicate and reports effectively (both in writing and verbally)
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines team player, effective communicator, successful negotiator, creative and analytical thinker, active learner, able to work in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent communication skills, calm, with a good sense of working in inter-cultural environment
• Proven commitment to accountability practices;
• Ability to function effectively under stressful conditions such as heavy workloads, and deadlines.
• Excellent Microsoft Office applications skills (Excel, Word, Power point, Emails, Skype, Web researchers);
• Knowledge of and adherence to COOPI Code of Conduct, understands other international development guidelines.

• He/she ensures the correct administrative-financial management and the sustainability of both the Area Coordination and the Field offices depending from it, by contributing to the preparation of the coordination and projects’ budget, to the final balances control, and by monitoring the correct predisposition of all financial reports, in compliance with COOPI and the donors’ procedures.

• Planning and coordination budget control: He/she prepares, in collaboration with the Area Coordination, and regularly verifies the budget performance for all costs related to the Area Coordination. He/she monitors the sustainability of the Area Coordination and the field offices under its responsibility, and verifies the correct attribution/distribution of fixed costs to the projects.
• Budget preparation and projects’ economic-financial control: He/she participates to the project budget finalization in conformity with the Country Coordination planning; in collaboration with the Project Managers, the Project Administrators and the Area Coordinator, He/she regularly identifies the economic and financial engagements necessary for carrying out the project activities.
• Financial Management: He/she manages the bank accounts, supervises and controls the bank operation in the area, in collaboration with the Country Coordination: he/she monitors the donors’ funding for the project (anticipations and tranches reception); he/she ensures the correct and regular control of the project’s funds; he/she monitors the bank transfers reception for dispatch to the projects.
• Projects’ economic-financial monitoring: In collaboration with the Project Managers and/or Area Administrators and the Head of Mission/Area Coordinator, he/she regularly verifies the projects’ economic-financial performance: final balance, expenditure excess, expenditure projection, financial forecast for the activities’ carry out.
• Financial reporting and auditing : He/she finalizes and controls all intermediate and final financial reports to be transmitted to the donors, before transmitting them to the central headquarters; He/she ensures the collection, filing and control of all projects’ vouchers; He/she supports the Administrative Coordinator n the preparation and carry out of audits in the area, and transmits all projects’ related documents to the Country Coordination.
• Local staff management and local and expatriate staff administration: He/she manages and supervises the administrative staff at work in the Area Coordination; He/she trains the Field offices/Project Administrators under the responsibility of the Area Coordination and regularly monitors the work (remotely or through on field missions); He/she supervises and controls all contracts, salaries and verifies the respect of COOPI standards.
• Procedures: He/she provides technical support to the Project Managers and to the Project Administrators/Area Administrators for a correct application of COOPI and the donor’s administrative procedures in goods, staff and services purchases.
• Data elaboration and transmission: He/she regularly produces and transmits to the Country Coordination all information and data requested by the Milan’s Headquarters and data related to the final balance, according to the planned schedule.
• Administrative documents filing: He/she ensures the correct filing of the area’s administrative documents (coordination and projects), in compliance with the organization’s procedures.
• Institutional relations: in cooperation with the Area Coordinator and the Administrative Coordinator, he/she manages all relations and related bureaucratic practices, with public administrative agencies in the country (work inspectorate, taxes general Directorate, banks etc.) and with the administrative-financial offices of the donors’ decentralized delegations.

• Minimum of 5 years' relevant work experience in large organizations.
• At least 3 years' work experience in a similar role within a international non-governmental organization (NGO), donor or multilateral agency.
• Substantial experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies and networking and negotiating with authorities.
• Very strong financial analysis skills and an extensive practical experience working with financial tools, highly proficient with excel such as using pivot table, developing macros, etc.
• Ability to motivate and guide staff working in a complex conflict environment, preferably experience from an African context. Previous experience in Nigeria is an advantage.
• An excellent interpersonal skills (Good analytical, negotiation, advocacy and communication skills) and demonstrated ability to establish effective team and external relations.
• Experience with capacity building of national staff.
• Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing and sometimes insecure environment
• Excellent English language skills both written and spoken are essential.

• The Programme Coordinator (PC) is the focal point of COOPI’s program in the North East of Nigeria.
• In consultation with the Head of Mission, he/she formulates the strategy for the Nigerian mission and ensures it implementation in accordance with COOPI policies, donor expectation, local and international legislation.
• He/she coordinates and evaluates all aspects of the COOPI projects, and facilitates the flow of information from the field to the capital.

• Coordinates and supervises the program country strategy implementation
• Contributing to the design and update of the country strategy by providing inputs to the Head of Mission.
• Visiting COOPI field activities regularly and reporting on problems, challenges and obstacles while building an intimate knowledge of fieldwork realities
• Ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of the program including the identification of needs and gaps
• Monitoring and reviewing the security status of the area(s) of operation on a regular basis, liaising as applicable with local authorities, other NGOs, the UN or other relevant security bodies and keeping the Head of Mission updated on relevant developments.
• Coordinates the overall implementation of the projects
• Ensuring objectives are met within the required time frame and budget and according to COOPI and donors’ procedures
• Taking preventative and corrective action when necessary.
• Ensuring the overall planning and follow-up of technical reporting for donors, authorities and internal requirements in coordination with the support departments.
• Ensuring synergy between Technical and Support services
• Ensuring the implementation of recommendations resulting from internal audit, experts’ field visits, HQ advisors etc.
• Piloting the internal quality control, by promoting monitoring mechanisms (ex: self-evaluation tool), facilitating internal control and external evaluations.
• Represents and liaises for operational strategy and program to donors, authorities, UN, NGOs in link with the head of Mission
• Developing and maintaining relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, donors, UN agencies and other NGOs) and representing COOPI at relevant state level meetings (e.g. state and local government, sector-coordination and security) in order to facilitate and ensure cooperation and partnerships.
• Strengthening field and capital level information-sharing with IOs, NGOs and Government
• Contributing to the identification of potential funding opportunities
• Analyzes Humanitarian needs and responseCollecting, summarizing and analyzing information from external sources and from technical advisors for future opportunities
• Supporting the project team for proposals writing (narrative and financial) to address the identified needs.

• A minimum of 5 years of work experience in project formulation, implementation and coordination in the humanitarian context with International NGOs
• Experience in working with different Donors (ECHO, USAID, UN agencies etc.)
• Previous experience particularly managing Food security and Livelihood programs
• Strong managerial skills.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian standard and background (ex. Sphere standard)
• Good report writing skills;
• Good knowledge and use of the English Language;
• Proactive aptitude in terms of planning and coordination with different bodies, institutions and Reference Points;
• Target oriented and problem-solving aptitude;
• Good leadership skills, aimed at managing and motivating a team;
• Positive ability to bear stressful and complicated situations;
• Diplomatic and confidentiality skills;
• Advanced IT skills
• Previous experience in the Region is an asset.
• University degree relevant subject (post graduate degree required).