Shelter & Settlement Technical Advisor

The Opportunity – Shelter & Settlement Technical Advisor – BHA (For Nationals based in Gaza)

Post location:  Field Office in Gaza

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 10 months with possibility for extension

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Under the general direction and guidance of Program Development and Quality Director, the post holder ensures all programming in Shelter & Settlement is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes to Save the Children’s strategic objectives, national/global learning and advocacy. A particular area of focus will be providing technical shelter leadership to the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) emergency response program in Gaza and in the West Bank.

The Shelter and Settlement TA is expected to provide technical advice and support the project and partner staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved, meeting technical standards (BHA and SCI), including frequent visits to the field to support staff and partner capacity and high-quality programme implementation. S/he shall facilitate the development of the Occupied Palestinian Territory country office strategy on Shelter in integration with WASH, health, nutrition, education, FSL, climate change and protection, and work with another sector leads to drive its effective roll-out. S/he will work closely with the advocacy team where appropriate. The Shelter and Settlement TA will represent Save the Children in national forums, such as the national shelter cluster on Shelter & Settlement but also in technical discussions with key stakeholders like BHA.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality and dotted line to BHA Senior Manager

Staff reporting to this post: No staff reporting but consequent coordination with other advisors, field managers and programme managers

Indirect: Shelter Staff, Shelter Officers

Budget Responsibilities: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for Shelter in the Country Office 
• Lead the strategic overview of the country Shelter programme portfolio ensuring the nationwide implementation of standard operating procedures and portfolio tracking
• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children, and comply with SCI Policies, such as Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding, etc.

Strategic Planning and Programme Development

• Lead the development and implementation of the Shelter component of the Save the Children oPt country strategy, ensuring collaboration with Health, WASH, Protection, FSL, climate change and Education, and full compliance with SCI Policies & Procedures, including SCI Construction Policy for all infrastructure works. 
• Ensure that gender, disability, equality and resilience are embedded in Shelter programming.
• On an ongoing basis, lead on Shelter technical assessments in coordination with other SC thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs
• Build on technical knowledge, personal understanding of Emergency Shelter and settlement requirements and services in Occupied Palestinian Territory, prior and after the incursion, to develop proposals for new programming. Make use of community, partners information that reflects community priorities and government policies for new programming opportunities.
• Analyse donor priorities and positions on issues related to Shelter, identifying institutional funding opportunities and developing and maintaining contacts with potential donors, partners and key technical agencies. Ensure that new partnerships in this technical area reflect the programme quality we expect and build the capacity of partners to do effective protection work. 
• Ensure that programme strategy supports and demonstrates good practice in child participation, safe programming, and child safeguarding. 

Programme Quality

• Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on the technical aspects of Save the Children programming related to Shelter. 
• Work closely with new business development colleagues to identify, support and pursue funding opportunities that allow for both integration into broader programmes and standalone Shelter & Settlements programmes/projects; engage with technical partners, donors and colleagues across Save the Children; and support the development of high quality concept notes and proposals
• Work closely with the Programme Operations department to ensure all programme staff and partners (where possible) receive the necessary and appropriate technical support as regards programming on Shelter. 
• Work with Child Rights Governance colleagues to ensure that a rights-based approach is reflected in our programme design and implementation (in line with our child rights programming approach), with a strong focus on child participation and safeguarding.
• Provide oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g. Save the Children Common Approaches); and are likely to achieve scale, as well as equitable and sustainable results;
• Support the development of emergency preparedness plans and conduct sectoral assessments (including gender analysis and disability situation analysis using SC assessment processes and tools) to design and deliver emergency response and recovery programmes. 
• Monitor trends in order to ensure early action; and lead technical design and implementation and technical coordination of Shelter & Settlement programming.
• Ensure the program deliverables are in line with BHA guidelines, ensure the kits are contextualized and ensure the distribution as per SCI guidelines. 
• Propose Shelter modalities based on the evolving context like shelter repair, cash for rent, repair of housing units as per the context. 
• Ensure the distribution of NFI kit, winterization kits, & Shelter kits to the selected beneficiaries in safe and dignified manner. 
• In consultation with staff and project managers agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required to facilitate high quality programming and ensure that this is delivered on a regular basis. 
• Analyse and provide feedback on programme implementation and training to relevant staff to ensure compliance with SCI construction policy.
• Analyse and provide feedback on programme implementation to ensure gender equity.
• Assist in the development and training of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of our work. Ensure access to appropriate technical training for project staff and partners as required. 
• Where external consultants (local or international) are required to technically support or monitor and evaluate projects, work with MEAL on the recruitment and subsequent management of contracted consultants as per the recruitment guidelines. 
• Work with Supply Chain to develop appropriate phased procurement plan
• Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical debates are well articulated, and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.   
• Provide input on partner selection, and provide technical coaching of partners in Shelter, including sharing of relevant publications, tools, and training opportunities.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning 

• In coordination with Shelter & settlement Backstops and MEAL team, ensure the development and adoption of a monitoring and evaluation framework, key indicators and quality benchmarks for Shelter that helps each project to improve quality of reporting, clearly articulate progress and impact of projects, identify issues for advocacy and input for new programmes/projects in the future. 
• Participate in the design of baseline, mid-term, and end of project evaluations for programme with Shelter components, including working with Country MEAL Head on Terms of Reference. Monitor the evaluation process and provide input and clarification as needed. Review evaluation findings and ensure that lessons and recommendations are captured and capitalized. 
• In coordination with Country MEAL Head participate in design effective activities and tools to ensure beneficiaries’ participation to all project cycle management phases with particular focus on women and children.
• In coordination with Regional/Global Shelter & Construction backstop and Country MEAL Head participate in design Shelter datasets for Shelter indicators to be reported on IMPACT (Information Management Platform for Action). 
• Regularly review and monitor Shelter programmes for child safeguarding issues. Take corrective action in modifying programme activities and/or report incidents.
• Ensure active dissemination of programme findings and lessons learned through the production of high technical quality lessons learned documents and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders.

Advocacy and Policy Development

• Maintain an up to date and in depth understanding of national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by the relevant national authorities and other stakeholders relating to Shelter, and support civil society strengthening to hold duty bearers accountable to policies. Regularly assess and communicate the implications for Save the Children’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment relevant to this theme in close collaboration with other relevant advisor(s). Ensure alignment of strategy with relevant legal frameworks.
• Help to clearly articulate any Shelter advocacy messages for the oPt country office. Develop policy briefs and position papers as and when required related to Shelter & Settlement, in collaboration with the sub-cluster, collaborating agencies, and members, as needed. 
• Specifically ensure the following:

1. Representation and active participation in the National Shelter Cluster. 
2. Ensure presence at relevant coordination meetings at national and regional levels, as well as other key donors and stakeholders.
3. Advise field teams to ensure adequate field visibility through attendance at coordination meetings.  

Team leadership

• Bring together SC staff from across the CO to build a capable, high performing team.
• Be a positive role model for Shelter staff and support their capacity development and advancement.
• Assist in the recruitment of Shelter & Settlement programme staff in technical areas of expertise as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities; 
• Working closely with the HR team, identify Shelter staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programmes, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of all technical field staff in carrying out the work;
• Build and develop the capacity of the Shelter team through training, performance management frameworks and development plan
• Through consistent presence in the field, provide initial and refresher training to staff have a clear understanding of Save the Children’s strategies and approaches as well as those of the government. 

Other

• Participate actively in PQEI programme meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into Shelter. 
• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Senior Management Team or Area-based meetings as required.  Participate in donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.   

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In order to be successful you will bring/have: 

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• A Shelter & Construction professional with qualification in Civil engineering, Environmental engineering, Public Health, construction, or related qualifications( Bachelors/ Masters)
• Significant professional experience, at least 5 years of working at a senior level in Shelter for international NGOs, UN or Government
• Excellent understanding of the Shelter sector within the Occupied Palestinian Territory context; experience working in integration with other sectors such as Public Health, WASH, Environment, Disability Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming in emergency shelter & settlements, with attention to specific needs of women and children 
• Proven representation and advocacy skills.
• Strong commitment to capacity building of national staff and partners with willingness to adopt participatory and consultative approaches.
• Experience writing donor funding proposals
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, considering cultural and language difficulties.  
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Experience solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Fluency in English and Arabic and an understanding of local languages will be added advantage. 
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.
• Sound knowledge of shelter and settlements programme options including technical design, construction management, host family support, collective centres, and camps 
• Previous demonstrable experience in running NFI and/or Cash distribution programmes  
• Previous experience of project management and in the management of a team (technical team of engineers/shelter team) and liaison with a wide range of stakeholders for the implementation of projects.
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.  

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at Search Jobs - SCI Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com).

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.