Description of Duties

• The purpose of the Government Liaison Coordinator position is to promote efforts in humanitarian access and coordination through engagement with government agencies and relevant stakeholders to improve the enabling operational environment of INGOs in Nigeria.

Generic responsibilities

• Ensure adherence with IMMAP policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines.
• Implement delegated NIF project portfolio according to plan of action.
• Prepare and develop status reports as required by management. Summarize key documents (reports, assessments, etc) and share with partners in easily read format.
• Develop communication and information products to support NGO operations and engagement in broader Forum activities and to be regularly informed about the Nigeria context.
• Support locally driven evidence/ data collection to support Forum advocacy and representation on priority issues this includes media and issue monitoring, context analysis, and drafting short briefs. Works closely with the Policy Adviser on issues related to national engagement and advocacy.
• Work with INGO Forum Secretariat Team to ensure induction of members on Forum work priorities, coordination architecture and other engagement.
• Support logistics and administration around trainings, meetings and other events as required.
• Support internal donor reporting requirements as required by the grant manager and ensuring timely submission of reports.
• Provide back-office support to the INGO Forum when required.
• Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need and explore and asses new and better ways to assist.
• Promote and share ideas for technical improvement.

Specific responsibilities

• Support the implementation of strategic and operational priorities with a focus on ensuring local perspectives inform the Forum’s work.
• Strengthen coordination between humanitarian, recovery, peace and development actors at Federal and sub national levels to allow the Forum to respond to member priorities, issues and opportunities for engagement.
• Lead the Forum’s engagement and activities around the Humanitarian Development Nexus conversations and New Way of Working at all levels.
• Identify opportunities for effective engagement with national and local stakeholders including NNGOs and LNGOs.
• Identify and lead (when appropriate) engagement initiatives for the membership through mobilising members and through the production of joint influencing products.
• Promote Forum member and partner linkages at the global, regional and national levels with national civil society on potential policy and capacity building activities.
• Participate in key humanitarian and development planning events and processes ensuring NGO inputs this includes the HRP, UNDAF, World Bank etc upon request from the forum director.
• Work with the Director to strengthen engagement with Government entities e.g. MBNP, FMHDSD, NIS, Nigerian Customs, NHCTWG, ONSA, NEMA, SEMA and other Nigerian government structures as needed, including security agencies.
• Identify developments in the policy and political space which impact the Forum’s membership and priorities and advise on Forum’s engagement as appropriate.
• Coordinate and monitor Government’s engagement messages and initiatives to ensure impact and that NIF external Engagement is in line with good humanitarian and development principles.
• Work closely with the Policy Adviser on issues related to national engagement and advocacy.
• Support Government Liaison Adviser and Northwest Coordinator on government policy issues.
• Ensuring sufficient capacity and knowledge to support policy analysis and strategic planning around the humanitarian architecture and operational issues.
• Work with the program officer in following up action plans related to government engagement challenges from INGO Forum working groups and technical groups.
• Supports the director on implementing key training and capacity support opportunities to enhance NGO engagement and performance in Nigeria.
• Develop and update guidelines for Forum membership on key bureaucratic challenges.
• Support development and/ or dissemination of tools, guidelines, best practice and standards in humanitarian and development work to NGOs members and other stakeholders to enhance interventions in Nigeria.

Critical interfaces

By interfaces, IMMAP means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Internal: NIF Team, Host agency Operations, Security, Programmes,
• External: Nigerian Federal Institutions and Ministries, Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigerian Security Agencies, UN Agencies, INGOs, Civil society, government bodies.

Requirements

Generic professional competencies:

• Experience from working within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/ recovery context.
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Core competency expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience working for a humanitarian coordination body.
• Strong capacities to develop relationships with Nigerian government counterparts that can yield positive results.
• University degree in conflict and development, international relations, international humanitarian law or related technical field.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian coordination system and the mandates of the actors involved.
• Good understanding of the security environment and economic, socio-political dynamics in North East Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region in general
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
• Strong data analytical and interpretation skills.
• Commitment to international humanitarian standards and principles.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and experience in humanitarian setting.

Behavioral competencies

• Planning and delivering results
• Empowering and building trust.
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Handling insecure environment.