Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Area Based Coordination (ABC) Coordinator. This unique role is your chance to contribute to improved operational inter agency and inter-cluster area based coordination complementing the existing humanitarian coordination architecture at the community level.

About the job

In response to the recommendations of the 2023 Operational Peer Review (OPR) mission, the Ukraine HCT agreed to set-up an area-based coordination Task Force (TF) to strengthen operational coordination of the humanitarian response in a very vast country with an extended localized response supported by local actors. The TF, co-chaired by OCHA and DRC with participation from cluster coordinators, NGO Platform, Alliance of Ukrainian CSOs, UN agencies and other partners in Kyiv and humanitarian hubs, guided the process to identify a more decentralized coordination mechanism tailored to local context to ensure greater flexibility and better inclusion of all actors – eventually leading to better access to services for people of concern. The TF reports to the HCT and collaborates with the ICCG and ICWGs. To support the efforts of the TF, last May, a consultant was contacted through DRC and funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) to support the definition of a model for area-based coordination (ABC) fitted to Ukraine’s context.

Extensive data review and consultations with the Task Force and partners in Dnipro, Odesa, Sumska and Kherson oblasts defined six principles and a roadmap for implementing ABC as a means to address coordination gaps in emergency humanitarian response by filling operational coordination gaps among local responders operating at community level in hard-to-reach areas or in locations with limited or no presence of existing coordination mechanisms.

The primary purpose of this role is to lead and guide the operationalization and implementation of the area-based humanitarian coordination (ABC) pilot models under the leadership of the TF on behalf of Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Ukraine. The ABC model has been designed to enhance timely, efficient responses and establish effective interagency and intersectoral operational coordination and linkages at subnational.

The pilot phase of this model has been rolled out in Kherson and Sumy Oblasts in Ukraine, following the ABC strategy’s recommendations. The role includes setting up clear leadership and governance structures to complement existing humanitarian coordination mechanisms and locally led initiatives. The role will also facilitate cross-area learning, ensuring the system is designed for replication and can be further localized as necessary in the full role out of the ABC model in Ukraine

The position holder, contracted by DRC, will report to the ABC Task Force (ABC TF) and be managed jointly by OCHA and DRC.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Lead and Guide ABC pilot Models Operationalization in Kherson and Sumy Oblasts:

• Design roles, responsibilities, and processes, and clarify/ establish linkages with existing coordination mechanisms and local authorities together with operational NGOs on the ground;
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure the structure is rolled out and implemented in an inclusive and transparent manner;
• Ensure the ABC model is aligned with, integrated into, and endorsed by local actors, structures, and initiatives;
• Develop inclusive methodologies, processes, and tools to monitor the outcomes and institutionalization of the ABC model;

Oversee Results and Impact of Area-Based Coordination in Hard-to-Reach Locations:

• Propose an inclusive methodology to measure the ABC model’s impact on the coordinated response and accountability to affected populations.
• Conduct assessments with coordination mechanism members, share results with the Inter Cluster Working Group at subnational level and the ABC Task Force, Inter Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), and HCT at national level, and propose further improvements to enhance the quality of the coordination and the response at local level

Support Scaling and Institutionalization of the ABC Model:

• Support the ABC Task Force in scaling up the pilot model and operationalizing it in additional location based on the Sumy and Kherson experience and ABC roadmap.

Communication, Coordination, and Reporting:

• Troubleshoot and address challenges as they arise.
• Regularly update the roadmap to reflect progress and any changes to the ABC model and communicate these updates with OCHA and the ABC Task Force members.
• Provide regular updates to the ABC Task Force, ICWG ICCG, and HCT.
• Present methodologies, findings, and reports to various actors, including the ABC Task Force, ICWG, ICCG, OCHA, HCT, and others as needed.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have experience both in the implementation of humniatarin programs to understand the complexities of field level implantation as well as experience in a coordination role be that in a cluster, as senior management in NGO or UN.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the humanitarian sector with a proven track of record in coordination and humanitarian programme management in several humanitarian crises;
• Demonstrated experience with operationalization and scale up of pilot approaches and models is a strong added value
• Past experience implementing/ coordinating humanitarian response in hard-to-reach locations is a strong added value
• Past experience with area-based coordination models is a strong added value.
• Past experience in Ukraine is a strong added value
• Written and spoken fluency in English
• Written and spoken fluency in Ukrainian a strong added value

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 12 months

Band: Non management band F

Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv, Non Family Duty Station (with 70% of travel)

Start date: 1st February 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment forNational or International staff in DRC; please refer to our website. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Julian Zakrzewski julian.zakrzewski@drc.ngo.