Project Assistant

Position: Project Assistant
Location: Gaza
Responsible to: Project Manager
Closing date: 20th of February, 2015
Job Type: Full Time job

THE ORGANIZATION
With over 30 years of experience, Handicap International  (HI) is an independent and impartial aid organization, currently active in 60 countries, working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. It works alongside people with disabilities (PwDs) and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
HI has been present in the Middle East since 1987 and currently operates in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, with a regional office based in Amman, Jordan, and field offices in each country. In Palestine, HI has been active since 1996 and works in both Gaza and West Bank, through several projects funded by the European Commission (EC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg (MOFA Lux), the Canada Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development (DFATD), the French Development Agency (AFD), DFID, The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and Caritas Germany. The annual budget of the mission for 2014 is more than 1.5 million Euros, which is expected to substantially increase in 2015, and it employs more than 20 nationals and two international staff, distributed among 3 offices (East-Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza).

THE PROJECT
In the Gaza Strip, Handicap International (HI) will implement the project titled: “Improved Access to Essential Services for Persons with Disabilities in Highly Marginalised Areas of occupied Palestinian territory” HI will work with local partners to improve access for children with disabilities (CwDs) to educational services, a particular focus will be placed on children with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities (CwCP/MD) who are among the most vulnerable sectors of the population. Direct support will be provided to specialized local schools to improve their physical and technical capacities to respond to the specific needs of CwDs and particularly CwCP/MD, and on the other hand the project will strengthen the links between special education providers and mainstream schools to ensure better access and inclusion of children with disabilities to education as well as technical support to stakeholders on approaches and techniques to include the needs of CwDs in their actions. Other actions in the Gaza Strip will mobilize and support key mainstream (non-disability specialized) stakeholders to include the needs of CwDs in their emergency and non-emergency actions.
THE JOB
Under the direct supervision and responsibility of the Project Manager (PM), the Project Assistant (PA ) will be responsible for supporting the PM in the implementation, progress monitoring, and reporting of the project implemented by HI & partners’ organizations to reduce vulnerability of crisis affected people, especially women and children

1-Project implementation in Gaza:
Under the supervision and responsibility of the Project Manager:
1.1: Assist in project management
Project activities Implementation
-Handle requests regarding project information and data.
-Follow up and support purchase and donation of school kits to the identified children with disabilities of partners.
-Follow up purchase and donation of specific assistive devices (mobility and sensory) to partner with logistic department.
-Track project deliverables using appropriate tools.
-Support and follow up with partners the recruitment of project staff.
-Follow up logistics and service providers of child to child activities between mainstream schools and special education service providers.
-Facilitate the delivery of project workshops, awareness raising sessions and trainings.
-Liaise with other stockholders based on the needs of activities implementation.

Assist the PM in coordination, supervision and ensuring the project implementation:
-Support the PM and Project team in regular monitoring.
-Support the PM to ensure representation towards partners.

Monitoring and Evaluation
-Follow monitoring system information and compiling.
-Conduct regular field monitoring for project activities.
-Support PM in the co-ordination between all the project’s internal and external interfaces.
-Responsible for team, teachers and partners training preparation and follow up.

Partnership:
-Support in organizing the regular meetings with partners and HI teams, report meetings’ conclusions to PM.
-Assist PM in reviewing partner documents and budget.
-Conduct field visits to the partners and activities, prepare success stories from the field.

Internal and external reporting:
-Compile statistical reports from partners project coordinators on monthly basis, analyze and share with PM.
-Submit monthly project activity report (statistical and narrative) to the PM in respect to the project reporting validated formats, based on partners and HI activities updates.
-Support the PM in collecting and compiling all data needed to draft donor reports (Quarterly – Mid-term – final report), and preparation of reports annexes. 
-Attend meeting, clusters and prepare minutes as requested by PM.

1-3 Project quality
In collaboration with the PM
-Support project team in ensuring that activities are implemented in accordance with project indicators defined
-Support project team in ensuring the project’s quality in terms of realization and impact through project monitoring system implementation, follow up and reporting on regular basis to PM tools results.
-Participate in analyzing lessons learned on the association's experience gained on the projects and activities.
-Support in project evaluation as defined by PM.

1-4 Administrative, budget and financial management
-Support in all HI and partners payment authorizations of the project.
-Compile monthly spending forecasts from PM and project team, review it with PM.
-Act as key support and contact between Project team members and HI Logistics Assistant.
-Follow up with Logistics Assistant all deliveries done to partners, donation certificates and arrangement of distributions by partners.
-Assist the PM in monitoring the project budget and follow-up the expenses by HI & partners.

The Job holder should have:
-Ability to live and work in a difficult security context and in conditions of limited comfort and willingness to accept security protocols.
-Ability to work under pressure in an unstable and changing environment.
-Flexibility, ability to take initiative.
-Good Organizational skills/ Proactive.
-Excellent communication skills.
-High Level Written and verbal skills.
-Ability to work in a team.
-Good skills in organization, co-ordination and the transfer of knowledge are essential.
-The person must be able to work independently and without constant supervision.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
-Must have a bachelor degree in business administration, and/or other related field.
-At least 3 years’ experience in similar positions with international NGOs preferable.
-Must have a strong practical knowledge of MS office (Word, Excel, outlook, PowerPoint etc).
-Must have strong organizational skills; possess diplomatic, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
-Should be aware to the needs of vulnerable groups.
-Excellent knowledge in English language (written and spoken),

Initial contract will be for a period of 12 months and the position is based in all Gaza Strip
Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and
particularly welcomes applications from women and persons with disabilities

Interested candidates may please send their resume/CV with cover letter no later than the
20th of February 2015 to:
 

[email protected]

Please specify in the subject: “Project Assistant”.

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