Technical Officer

Position: Technical Officer Responsible to: Project Manager
Location: Ramallah West Bank Closing date: 15 / December / 2014

Job Type: Full Time job open to Palestian nationals only

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, 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

The project, entitled Improved Access to Essential Services for Persons with Disabilities in Highly Marginalised Areas of occupied Palestinian territory, and funded by Canada DFTAD and OFID, is strongly built on HIs experience in Palestine, direct feedback from HI field teams and information collected through meetings and workshops held with local stakeholders and organizations, including local partners, PwDs and their families. It also intends to make use of best practices proven in previous projects.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian populations living in Area C and in the Bedouin communities are isolated, have restricted access to essential and quality primary health care services, and do not enjoy fully their right to health. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is facing important difficulties to deliver social services or to enforce existing legislation, in particular due to the prevailing unstable political situation and financial constraints. The restrictions on movement of health staff, patients and medical commodities, the restriction on construction and rehabilitation of health structures, the continued restrictions on importation of medical supplies, equipment and spare parts, the limited and costly transportation and the threat of forced displacement are among many factors added to insecurity, violence and its consequences that are impeding men, women and children living in the Area C and in the Bedouin communities of the West Bank to have access to the services they need. PwDs are even more vulnerable given their isolation and the lack of responses to their specific needs. According to the PCBS disability survey conducted in 2011 the main cause of disability in Palestine are diseases. Indeed, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are increasing rapidly in the West Bank, together with risks factors for disabilities among the Palestinian population living in Area C and in the Bedouin communities. Therefore, PwDs, their families and caregivers, and their communities are in strong need of awareness on prevention of diseases that can lead to disability and need to be educated on the management of some diseases such as diabetic foot to prevent amputation or other disabilities. In a humanitarian context, PwDs are among the most isolated and may face extra challenges if these special needs are not met. They face mobility obstacles in their daily environment due to the lack of adaptations and physical accessibility of houses, health and schools facilities. This situation prevents them from accessing the basic services they need, which in turn perpetuates the vicious circle of disability and poverty. Consequently, environment adaptation that shall facilitate the inclusion of PwDs and mitigate their daily challenges are required, together with outreach services implemented by local partners that are the only solution for these vulnerable populations to access specialized rehabilitation services including provision of assistive and mobility devices, medical disposable supplies, and to improve the information/referral mechanisms.

Specific objective: Persons with disabilities in West Bank have a greater access to services that respond more effectively to their acute needs.
Home based rehabilitation services respond to the needs of women, men and children with disabilities and their families, in 6 targeted governorates of the West Bank.
Other essential services are more accessible for PwDs and their families in targeted areas of the West Bank

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION
HI is seeking the most successful candidate to technically support the quality implementation of the project and support partners as Technical Officer, who will be under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM).

Objective 1: Support to project activities
You provide technical support to the project activities.
You support the PM in respecting of the HI Project Cycle Management Guidelines.
You ensure the respect of the HI Technical Guidelines related to the project.
You actively participate in the referral networks meetings.
You play a key role in the development / adaptation of project and monitoring documents, such as assessment forms, beneficiary action plan, follow-up forms, and evaluation forms among others.

Objective 2: Support to partners
You support partners in setting-up the multidisciplinary outreach teams (OT & PT & SW).
You conduct field needs assessment in close collaboration with the outreach teams.
You develop, organize and deliver training sessions based on identified needs to the outreach teams.
You follow-up and supervise the good use of the monitoring tools (reports, formsetc) by the partners.
You support partners in the identification and the design of specifications for the physical accessibility of homes, schools and health care centers.
You support partners in developing, organizing, and conducting awareness raising sessions.
You analyze partners monthly reports and make relevant propositions for project activities.
You maintain a good relationship with partners in collaboration with and support from the PM.

Objective 3: Methodology, tools and capitalization
You support the PM in the development of methodologies and tools for the project in line with the HI technical framework, and propose updates and adjustements as required.
You play a key role in the project capitalization and its promotion at national level.
You document good practices under the project and ensure their dissemination to the relevant persons.
You play a key role in project evaluation and lessons learnt activities.
You identify and use technical resources / documents / guidelines relevant to the project activities.

Objective 4: Internal Coordination
You actively coordinate and work with the other members of the project team.
You support the project team in the coordination of field visits, follow up visits, meetings and other relevant activities with partners and stakeholders.
You play an active role in preparing project reviews and meetings.
You ensure coordination with other projects at national and regional levels in the same or related fields of intervention.
You participate to the design of new projects and carry out assessments when required.

Objective 5: Reporting
You report on regular basis to your line manager and submit a monthly report.
You prepare and report on your action plan.
You support the PM in updating on a regular basis the HI Planning and Monitoring Tool.
You participate in preparing donor reports under the direct supervision of the PM.


THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Education and Experience
-At least five years professional experience in working in the disability field.
-Extensive experience working for an NGO or civil society organization.
-Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Profesional Skills
-Capacity to transfer knowledge, and experience in designing and providing trainings
-Excellent capacity to plan, to anticipate, to prioritize and to solve problems
-Proven analytical skills and capacity to adapt
-Strong communication and interpersonal skills
-Writing / reporting skills in English and Arabic
-Computer skills (office pack and internet)
-Excellent networking and coordination skills

Personal Skills
-Native Arabic speaker with English fluency
-Ability to work under pressure
-Ability to handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines
-Team player with good negociations skills
-Positive, innovative, inspirational and problem solving attitude
-Valid driving license needed (the position requires very frequent trips to the field)

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and
particularly welcomes applications from women and persons with disabilities

Interested candidates may please send their resume with cover letter not later than the 15th of December 2014 to [email protected].

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.