Mmc Projects Manager West Africa

This recruitment is subject to the availability of funds 

 Introduction

Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Mixed Migration Centre (MMC)

MMC is a leading source for independent and high-quality data, information, research, and analysis on mixed migration. Through the provision of credible evidence and expertise on mixed migration, MMC aims to support agencies, policy makers and practitioners to make well-informed decisions, to positively impact global and regional migration policies, to contribute to protection and assistance responses for people on the move and to stimulate forward thinking in the sector responding to mixed migration. MMC’s overarching focus is on human rights, protection, and assistance.

MMC is part of and governed by DRC. While its institutional link to DRC ensures MMC’s work is grounded in operational reality, it acts as an independent source of data, research, analysis, and policy development on mixed migration for policy makers, practitioners, journalists, and the broader humanitarian sector. The position of MMC does not necessarily reflect the position of DRC.

MMC focuses on several core regions: Eastern & Southern Africa| Egypt & Yemen, West and North Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The staff members of MMC are based in a global office across Geneva and Brussels and in regional hubs, where it works in close cooperation with regional partners, stakeholders, and donors. Through 4Mi, broad networks of enumerators are collecting data on mixed migration in over 20 countries across different migration routes globally, conducting over 10,000 in-depth interviews with refugees and migrants on the move annually.

Mixed Migration

Mixed migration refers to cross-border movements of people including refugees fleeing persecution and conflict, victims of trafficking and people seeking better lives and opportunities. Motivated to move by a multiplicity of factors, people engaged in such movements have different legal statuses as well as a variety of vulnerabilities. Although entitled to protection under international human rights law, they are exposed to multiple rights violations along their journey. Those in mixed migration flows travel along similar routes, using similar means of travel - often travelling irregularly and wholly or partially assisted by migrant smugglers.

4Mi

4Mi is the Mixed Migration Centre’s flagship primary data collection system, an innovative approach that helps fill knowledge gaps, and inform policy and response regarding the nature of mixed migratory movements and the protection risks for refugees and migrants on the move. It is a regular, standardized, quantitative and globalized system, with a network of more than 120 field enumerators who conduct survey interviews with refugees and migrants on the move in more than 15 countries. For more information, visit: https://mixedmigration.org/4mi/

Context of the position

Key Objectives of Role

The specific objectives of the Projects Manager will be to lead and support the implementation of the data collection projects in West Africa and continue efforts to expand to the new countries where a data gap exist, to establish a continually improved knowledge base for protection response to mixed migration and better inform public policy. 4Mi has been rolled out in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and more recently 4Mi Return data collection has been implemented in Senegal. The successful candidate will ensure that the existing data collection structure and network shall continue to meet the needs of huanitarian and development stakeholders whilst expanding 4Mi into new localities and countries in the region. This role will also work in close collaboration with the PM in North Africa based in Tunis to ensure that MMC West and North Africa streamline data collection and analysis across the region and along the mixed migration routes.

Key research themes include Children and Youth in mobility, smuggling of migrants (SoM), urban migration, Returns-Reintegration-Remigration, decision making, and climate change and mobility. Other themes might arise and MMC research remains agile to respond to pressing needs for evidence-based programming and policy development.

The MMC regional team is positioned across two offices in Dakar and Tunis, to follow closely activities in each sub-region, engage with key relevant stakeholders, and capitalize on the visibility and credibility gained in past years at the sub-regional level. The Regional Head of MMC sits in Dakar, along with the Research Coordinator, the Project Manager for West Africa, the research assistant, and the project officer. In Tunis, the team is composed of the Project Manager for North Africa, the Regional Information Management Specialist, the Research Specialist, and the Project coordinator. In addition, MMC has staff hosted by DRC country offices where the 4Mi project is operational in Burkina Faso and Niger, at the moment.

- Supervision of research implementation and staff management

• To oversee the operations, implementation and management of the data collection projects in West Africa in close collaboration with the rest of the MMC WANA team, the Global Research Coordinator and the other PMs in the MMC Global network.
• Work in close collaboration with the PM in North Africa based in Tunis to ensure that MMC West and North Africa harmonizes data collection and analysis across the region and along the mixed migration routes.
• Ensure contractual management of projects and that commitments are met
• Manage research partnerships in the region where relevant (data collection structures, consultants)
• In close collaboration with DRC offices in the countries, to manage the MMC Project Officers/Coordinators who are in charge of implementing the research in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and coordinate a network of field enumerators in different countries using digital technology to survey mixed migration.
• To identify partners, key informants, contacts and other interlocutors critical to the success of this project, represent MMC at conferences and workshops, and establish close working relations with relevant existing mixed migration-related agencies in different countries.
• Responsibly manage projects’ budgets and forecasts and ensure timely and regular donor reporting.
• Expand data collection geographically and contribute to the strategy and fundraising closely with the MMC Regional Head
• Develop, in close collaboration with the MMC Regional Head and DRC operations at regional and country level, appropriate internal processes and SOPs to ensure the success of MMC operations.

- Methodology, quality control and analysis of 4Mi data

• In coordination with the Global Research Coordinator and Global Information Management Coordinator, co-lead with the PM for North Africa the improvement and implementation of the 4Mi programme and methodology in the region (including, but not limited to, sampling and respondent recruitment strategy, research protocols, refining training materials) and ensure the methodology of 4Mi is regularly reviewed with respect to increasing its reliability and veracity.
• In close collaboration with the PM for North Africa, oversee the work of Information Management Specialist to ensure that 4Mi data is cleaned, validated and formatted for analysis.
• Ensure timely, regular updates of 4Mi data for the MMC website and 4Mi-related publications, in collaboration with the 4Mi Project Officers and Research Officer/s.
• Provide quantitative analysis and interpretation of data for use in infographics and research
• Contribute to publications, in collaboration with the IMOs and the Research Coordinator
• Keep abreast of new developments and ongoing debates on migration data and participate in brainstorming and strategy sessions on new areas of research.

- Dissemination and fundraising

• Support dissemination of research products to inform programming and policy-makers.
• In support of the MMC Regional Head, actively contribute to the regional MMC Strategy for fundraising (identify opportunities, develop concept notes and proposals etc.).
• In support of the MMC Regional Head, maintain donor relations with donors and expand the donor base for 4Mi.

General presentation of the position

Job title: Projects Manager West Africa

Employment category: F band, Manager

Unit/department: MMC West and North Africa

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Sectors: migration, children and youth in mobility, smuggling of migrants, Returns-Reintegration-Remigration, decision making, and climate change and mobility

Reporting to: Regional Head of MMC West and North Africa

Technical Manager: Research Global Coordinator

Direct reports:  MMC national Coordinators Burkina Faso and Niger, Project Officer

Internal & external interactions: DRC WANA region and countries, MMC Global in Geneva and Brussels, 4Mi PMs from other regions, donors, consortia and implementing partners focal points.

Profile for the position

Mandatory:

• Master’s degree in development economics, social statistics, migration or other relevant subject.
• A graduate with at least 5-7 years’ experience in an international context (with an NGO, an international organization, or a research organization) managing quantitative data collection and/or research projects.
• Experience in project cycle and budget management and donor reporting
• Experience in fundraising.
• At least 3 years of experience in team management.
• Strong speaking, analytical and writing skills in English and proficiency in French.
• Proven record in survey design and implementation in complex settings.
• Ability to travel (20%) of the time in this role.
• Strong ability to independently make rapid assessments and sound judgments.
• Excellent communication skills and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and with competing deadlines.
• Experience working as part of a regional team and in a multicultural environment.
• A highly motivated, organized self-starter who can work independently.

Desirable:

• Advanced skills in quantitative analysis and well versed in a statistical package such as STATA, SPSS, or R
• Strong and proven interest in issues of migration and/or forced displacement.
• Demonstrated understanding of current mixed migration debates and dynamics in the region is an asset.

How to apply?

Are you interested? Then apply for this position online: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both can be in English or in French.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot employ, under an expatriate contract, a citizen of the country in which she/ he is going to be stationed (in such case, Senegal).

You are welcome to contact Aurélia Donnard, Regional MMC Manager West and North Africa, aurelia.donnard@mixedmigration.org, for additional information regarding the position. Kindly note that we cannot consider applications that are directly sent to Aurélia Donnard, Regional Head of MMC West and North Africa.

Applications close on the March 16th, 2024, 11.59 PM (Dakar-time).Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.