Humanitarian Projects Officer

Background

Alianza por la Solidaridad-ActionAid Spain (Alianza-AA SP) is a non-governmental, non- denominational, progressive and independent organization founded in 1986, and which has been present in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) since 1993. In partnership with Palestinian civil society organisations, Alianza-AA SP’s work in the OPT has focused on women's rights and gender equality in general, including the prevention, response to and mitigation of gender-based violence (GBV) in particular.

The organisation is a member of ActionAid (AA) International, a global federation working with more than 41 million people in over 70 countries around the world. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty.  

In October 2023, together with its sister organisation, ActionAid Palestine and the AA’s International Humanitarian Action and Resilience Team (IHART), Alianza-AA SP launched an emergency response in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, centred on supporting partner organisations to sustain and expand critical basic needs, protection, health and livelihoods services and assistance, with a cross-cutting focus on supporting the participation and leadership of women and young people in the response.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Alianza-AA SP is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are also committed to preventing and responding to any form of sexual harassment, exploitation and child abuse and abuse of adults at-risk, whether carried out by staff/representatives or resulting from our work. Alianza expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work with us.

Overview of the role

The Project Officer will be based in the Gaza Strip and will form part of the Alianza-AA SP’s Humanitarian Team. They will report to the Humanitarian Program Coordinator, be accountable to the Country Coordinator, and work closely with Alianza-AA SP technical and finance staff. They will be responsible for ensuring the timely and effective implementation and justification of Alianza-AA SP’s humanitarian projects implemented with partners in the Gaza Strip, in alignment with Alianza-AA SP’s Humanitarian Signature, the Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and external humanitarian standards such as the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).

Main responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Humanitarian Projects Officer will involve all aspects and phases of the project cycle:

1. Project Planning and Design

• Engage in participatory planning processes with partners: Collaborate with local partners to plan project activities, timelines and budgets for upcoming projects, in line with Alianza-AA SP’s annual goals, and donor priorities.
• Support in the identification of new proposals and strategic opportunities: Work with Alianza-AA SP staff, partners and external consultants to identify and develop new project proposals based on the needs and priorities of target groups and partners, and gaps identified.
• Support needs assessments: Support the conducting of assessments, directly and indirectly, including the collection of primary data to understand the needs and priorities of target groups and partners.
• Engage with other key stakeholders: To ensure coordination, relevance of the actions proposed by Alianza-AA SP and partners, and to avoid overlapping.

2. Project Implementation

• Conduct kick-off meetings and project closing activities: Organize and lead meetings to initiate and conclude projects, ensuring feedback and accountability to target groups and partners.
• Be aware of donor regulations and explain to partners: Ensure compliance with donor regulations and communicate these to partners.
• Supervise the implementation of all activities: Oversee project activities to ensure they are carried out according to the work plan.
• Direct implementation of some activities: Take direct responsibility for implementing specific project activities when required.
• Organize and coordinate Alianza-AA SP trainings and activities: Plan and manage the logistics for trainings and activities, in coordination with partners.
• Field visits to partners and activities: Conduct regular visits to monitor project activities and provide support to partners.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Phase

• Monitor the implementation of activities: Ensure that Alianza-AA SP and partners’ activities are well-implemented and on track.
• Elaborate reports: Prepare detailed reports on the progress and outcomes of activities.
• Support the development and updating of MEAL matrixes: Regularly update project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) matrixes, in coordination with the MEAL Officer.
• Collect, organise and review Sources of Verification (SoVs): Collect, review, and archive SoVs and ensure they are correctly translated and uploaded to SharePoint.
• Support evaluations and consultancy processes: Coordinate evaluations and consultancy processes, including carrying out procurement procedures for the hiring of external consultants, and revising and providing feedback on deliverables.
• Conduct feedback sessions with beneficiaries: Ensure that target groups have access to feedback and complaints mechanisms, and ensure that their feedback is used to inform and improve project implementation.

4. Reporting and Documentation Phase

• Perform technical and financial follow-up and reporting: Ensure that all activities are reported accurately and in accordance with donor regulations.
• Engage in the project management cycle and reporting against indicators: Track project progress and report on key performance indicators.
• Elaborate ToRs and contracts: Develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) and contracts for project activities.
• Ensure all relevant documents are updated in SharePoint: Maintain up-to-date documentation in SharePoint.
• Elaborate periodic context and situational analysis reports: Prepare reports with a focus on humanitarian and gender issues.

5. Coordination and Communication Phase (crosscutting to all phases)

• Collaborate with the admin and finance departments: Work closely with administrative and financial teams to ensure smooth project operations.
• Planning and organizing meetings with local administration, CSOs, NGOs, and other stakeholders: Facilitate meetings to coordinate project activities and stakeholder engagement.
• Participate actively in the humanitarian coordination system: Represent Alianza-AA SP in the humanitarian clusters to ensure coordination and complementarity with other humanitarian actors.
• Contribute to risk assessment and risk mitigation: Identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.

6. Compliance and Safety

• Apply and adhere to internal regulations.
• Follow Alianza's internal regulations, including safety protocols.
• Respect Alianza’s code of conduct.
• Uphold the organization's Code of Conduct, and SHEA and safeguarding policies in all activities.

Jobs.ps, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Requirements

Experience, skills and knowledge

• University degree in a relevant subject area (international development, humanitarian action, social sciences, gender, statistics, data management or a related field), or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 3 years of work experience in the management and/or implementation of humanitarian or development projects.
• Excellent understanding and experience of working with gender equality frameworks and supporting women’s rights programming.
• Experience with program assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop functional and user-friendly systems to utilise routine and survey data in program quality improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
• Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian accountability principles, strong understanding of accountability mechanisms and proven ability to build responsive user feedback systems.
• Excellent technical understanding of contemporary MEAL methods and practices, with hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Proficiency and experience with data collection software such as Kobo, as well as proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SPSS, STATA, or other similar software. Knowledge of PowerBI, or GIS software are additional assets.
• Excellent verbal and written data presentation and reporting skills. Able to interpret data and communicate complex analysis to external audiences in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.
• Excellent advance planning and organisational skills. Able to effectively prioritise and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously and autonomously.
• Experience of working closely with national and local NGOs/CSOs, providing support, developing the capacity, and ensuring quality control of humanitarian PQ MEAL standards and principles.
• Experience of working with different donors (e.g., ECHO, Spanish Agency for Cooperation and International Development, UN etc.), including working on donor reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience of humanitarian work, and an understanding of key technical sectors, including Protection, Cash and Vouchers, Food Security and Livelihoods, Local Partnerships and Women and Young People’s Leadership and Rights in Emergencies.

Personal and professional attributes 

• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English.
• Systematic and organised in approach, with ability to work on own initiative.
• Proven ability to persuade and inspire through communication, as well as negotiate and influence change, with sensitivity.
• Able to work closely with others (often remotely) to meet tight deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Experience in fast-paced and difficult contexts and/or an adaptable approach to work with a willingness to work under pressure in a demanding environment.
• A high level of computer competency (excel, word, email, internet).
• Willingness to travel within the Gaza Strip.
• Experience of working in a diverse team and build good relationships with people at all levels and cross-culturally
• A commitment to the importance of downward accountability to rights holders and transparency in humanitarian response.
• A strong commitment to adhering to and promoting Alianza-AA SP’s approach to Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse and other Safeguarding concerns (including child abuse and abuse of adults at-risk).
• Understanding of and commitment to women’s and young people’s rights and cultural sensitivity.

Conditions

• Type and duration of contract: Full-time national employment contract.
• Salary: Competitive salary according to Alianza-AA SP’s salary scales for national staff.
• Other benefits: Monthly transportation and communication allowance; health insurance coverage; 28 days of annual leave plus 14 days of public holidays.
• Working hours: 40 hours per week.
• Starting date: As soon as possible.
• Duration: Initially until 30/06/25, with the possibility of extension if funding is secured.
• Location: Gaza Strip.

Send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] by 29/01/2025, with the subject “Job application: Project Officer, Gaza Strip”.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and Alianza-AA SP notes that the position may be filled before the indicated deadline.

ActionAid is committed to preventing any unwanted behaviour at work, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and/or financial malpractice; We expect all of our staff and volunteers to share this commitment and our code of conduct, as well as other related policies.