Background:

In Ethiopia, the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) operates through the International Cooperation Department of the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa. It bears responsibility for all international development and humanitarian assistance programmes of the Government of Switzerland in the country, in close coordination with the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, with which it co-manages the Swiss Regional Programme Horn of Africa.

The Migration, Protection and Nexus domain aims to respond to humanitarian needs with a strong focus on durable solutions, and improving migration governance. Switzerland focuses its engagement on protection and assistance for displaced persons by contributing to a more protective environment through multilateral organisations (UNHCR, IOM, ICRC, and UNICEF), country based pooled funds, deployment of secondments, and by promoting more protective political and legal frameworks. Switzerland interventions support durable solutions for displaced affected communities with particular focus on refugees and IDPs. In addition, options to work on the eastern migration route are underway focussing on children and youth on the move. Swiss engagement with IGAD aims to strengthen national and regional migration governance capacities, as well as promote free movement of people within the IGAD region. 

SDC programmes and respective instruments are implemented through a variety of partners (African Union, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, regional and governmental organizations and institutions), using different instruments (humanitarian aid, development cooperation, global cooperation) and intervention modalities (bilateral, multilateral, mandates, contributions, pooled funds, secondments). Policy dialogue at national level (such as the national Durable Solutions Working Group under the leadership of the National Disaster and Risk Management Commission, NDRMC) and regional level (IGAD), good donorship principles, aid effectiveness principles in fragile and conflict affected contexts (New Deal and OECD principles on engagement in fragile contexts), as well as humanitarian core principles and improved protection of civilians are systematically promoted.

Direct superior: Head of International Cooperation

Directly subordinated employee(s): None

Starting on: 01 December 2024 (with probation period of 3 months)

Administrative Unit & Duty Station: Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

Created on: 28.08.2024  

Job Requirements

Requirements: 

• University Master’s Degree in field relevant to development cooperation and/or humanitarian aid. 

• Good understanding of and previous exposure to development cooperation and humanitarian aid in the Horn of Africa.

Professional experience:

• Minimum of 6 years post-qualification work experience in development cooperation and/or humanitarian aid in Ethiopia, in the field of migration, protection, and humanitarian aid, preferably with international organizations, i.e. I/NGO, UN or other multilateral agency, emabssy or similar

• Good understanding of Ethiopian, East African and global policy agendas in the fields of development cooperation and humanitarian aid as formulated by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and other comparable regional or global institutions

• Excellent understanding of the principles and practices of development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and nexus programming, with proven experience and knowledge of project cycle management (operational and financial planning, monitoring, and evaluation of projects), Conflict- and Gender-Sensitive, and socially inclusive programming

• Excellent understanding of the social, economic and political context of in Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa, notably the humanitarian and/or development challenges affecting local and displaced communities

• Previous experience in managing regional / multi-country projects is an asset

Skills:

• Proven ability to work independently with minimum supervision

• High individual autonomy and a high sense of personal responsibility, including creativity and innovative capacity and willingness to learn

• Excellent social competence with the ability to establish confidence among partners and colleagues, to network and foster team spirit

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Amharic; knowledge of Somali national language is an asset 

• Proven leadership skills in terms of policy dialogue and programme implementation/oversight

• Strong analytical capacity to synthesize and communicate findings and recommendations and to credibly represent Swiss positions in relevant fora and platforms

• Proficiency in computer literacy notably Microsoft Office Software (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)

Duties and competences

• Partners and Operations (Project and Programme Responsibilities)

• In charge of the entire Project Cycle Management (PCM) including financial & administrative management of projects under her/his responsibility in close cooperation with the HoC with regard to the strategic steering of the Switzerland's Regional Cooperation Programme Horn of Africa (RPHoA)

• he/she will be responsible for the development and implementation of the migration, protection and nexus portfolio with a specific focus on durable solutions, protection, and will contribute to the multi-sectoral exchanges within the regional portfolio 

• Establish and maintain constructive professional relations with operational partners

• Responsible for the financial management of migration / protection projects in close cooperation with finance and administration team

• Assist in institutional development issues of partners and promote learning processes

• Provide support for administrative tasks as required 

State of Migration and Protection in Ethiopia 

• Analyze and document protection and migration sector dynamics in Ethiopia and the region, and ensure this information is adequately communicated to the Embassy in Addis Abeba and SDC Regional Office 

• Contribute to the annual regional and country reporting and other key milestones as requested

• Represents the Embassy of Switzerland and the IC in different fora in the area of refugees, IDPs, and protection related discussions (CERF, Refugee Donor Group, DSWG federal and regional level, UNHCR Donor Meetings, Protection Cluster) 

• Develop and maintain relationships with Government of Ethiopia ministries relevant for the Swiss migration / protection portfolio in Ethiopia

• The NPO aquainted with the relevant SDC policies and guidelines on gender, governance, Conflict Sensitive Project Management (CSPM), and PSEAH, and mainstreams these transversal themes throughout the project cycle as well as in RPHoA strategic documents including ProDocs, EPs, CPs, annual and evaluation reports 

Coordination with other Units of the Embassy of Switzerland 

The NPO actively and constructively participates in the strategic discussion with other units of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia and at the regional level as well as Swiss Federal level.

How to Apply

The Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia, represented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is currently advertising one (1) position of National Programme Officer (NPO)for the implementation of its Migration, Protection & Nexus programme in Ethiopia and the region. The modalities of employment and application for the advertised position include the following elements:

1. The position will be based at the Embassy of Switzerland in Old Airport, Addis Abeba. Field missions in Ethiopia and to the wider region when required for the purpose of project planning/ monitoring, sector coordination, policy dialogue etc. 

2. Applicants should possess a valid employment permit in Ethiopia. No work permits will be processed by the Embassy of Switzerland directly.

3. Applications should be neatly formatted and drafted in excellent English.

4. Applications should include (1) a motivation letter (maximum one page); (2) a curriculum vitae (maximum three pages); (3) two reference persons to be contacted for feedback from previous employments (mobile phone numbers only); and (4) copies of relevant university degrees and other diplomas, incl. work certificates (if available). The motivation letter and CV are to be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format only. 

5. Applications should be sent in one single email to addisababa.hr@eda.admin.ch by September 27, 2024 at the very latest.

6. The subject of the application email should state the exact following words: “Application for National Programme Officer Position Migration, Protection & Nexus, SDC Ethiopia”.

7. The motivation letter should be addressed to “Head of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), Embassy of Switzerland in Ethiopia”.

8. Only the applications 100% compliant with the above criteria will be considered.

9. The foreseen start of duty is at the earliest convenience – latest 01 December 2024.

10. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.