Deputy Country Director

Deputy Country Director

For over 35 years, the humanitarian aid organization SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been committed to providing aid in the event of conflict and natural disasters. Our mission is to provide aid as quickly and as efficiently as possible to endangered populations by meeting their vital needs: drinking water, food and shelter.

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Deputy Country Director

• Job Type Full Time
• Qualification MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience 5 years
• Location Abuja
• Job Field

Desired start date: 01/10/2026

Duration of the mission: 6 months

About the mission

• SI has been present in Nigeria for 10 years - since 2016 in Northeast Nigeria and 2020 in the Northwest.
• SI’s coordination office is in Abuja and there are 2 regional base: In Maiduguri for the NE, including 2 sub base in Monguno and Ngala. In Gusau (Zamfara state) for the NW programs inclusing 1 sub offices in Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi State).
• In the Northeast, SI operates in 3 LGAs of Borno state (Monguno, Ngala and Konduga). SI has also intervened in other LGAs includingJere, Maiduguri MMC, Dikwa, Gwoza and Bama in the recent past.as well as emergency operation in Adamawa State.
• In the Northwest, SI intervenes in 5 LGAs of Zamfara state: Gusau, Anka, Talata Mafara, Zurmi and Kaura Namoda. SI also newly opened a base (2026) in Birnin Kebbi, to operate in 6 LGAs of Kebbi State related to an INTPA project. Si can ensure also emergency operation in Sokoto and Katsina States.
• The annual volume of the Nigeria mission is between 6 and 7 million USD.
• SI's mission in Nigeria responds to the critical needs of populations affected by conflict, natural disasters and epidemics in the North East and North West of the country, through its traditional sectors of intervention, namely WASH, FSL and Shelter. SI is currently funded by a number of institutional donors, including ECHO, CDCS, INTPA, SIDA RRM and NHF (US funding), with the possibility of further funding depending on the development of the mission's projects.
• The mission also relies on a partnership approach, localization and good coordination to strengthen its intervention in the country. It works closely with two local partners (GPON and FINDEF) and participates actively in existing coordination platforms.

Mission staff : 160

The Deputy Country Director will directly the program coordination team composed of :

• FSL Coordinator
• WASH Coordinaor
• MEAL Coordinator
• She/he will closely work with Grants & Partnership Coordinator, Field Coordinators and Project Managers of the mission.
• The Deputy country director will report to the Country Director and be in link with RPDO & PEQD department in HQ.

About the job

General objective:

• The Deputy country director Programs’ prime objectives are to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming, overseeing the strengthening of SI’s programs development, quality and accountability.
• The DCD-Programs ensures the internal coherence between program activities and is responsible for ensuring that programs are driven by needs, based on evidence, adaptable to contextual changes and conflict sensitive, monitored closely and resourced appropriately.
• He or She leads a team of technical coordinators and advisors dedicated to promoting technical expertise and quality programming in direct liaison with the Program Manger.
• He or She closely collaborates with Field Coordinators and Supports Services to mitigate operational constraints.
• The DCD-Programs leads the roll-out of institutional workstreams and cross-cutting theme framework with the support of the Programs coordination team and in collaboration with the Field Coordinators.

The main challenges:

• Access challenges and remote management due to security contraints in some areas of intervention
• Strengthening programme quality monitoring processes, remote monitoring and means of verification
• Strategic positionning in a global trend of funding decrease
• Focus on partnership and localization in all areas of intervention. This requires adapted operational modalities and a support to local partners.
• Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
• Support the programmatic strategy (2027-2029) and PROG 2027 implementation
• Reviewing evaluations, conducting needs assessments and defining intervention logics for project development
• Close monitoring the implementation of projects in line with deadlines and quality standards (CASH SOP, RRM ... etc)
• Follow-up of external representation and positioning of SI
• Monitoring of partnerships and capacity building plan in coordination with G&P department and E&C Department
• Security constraints:
• No walking policy everywhere in the country / Security situation calm in Abuja, level 2 (out of 5), Maiduguri is level 3 and level 4 inother bases/sub-bases.

Your profile

Diplomas and Experiences:

• Diplomas : M.Sc in Humanitarian affairs, programming, International affairs or similar sectors
• Experience in the humanitarian sector : 5 or + years
• Experience on a similar position : 3/4 years

Skills

Technical skills:

• Extensive knowledge about project cycle management and monitoring tools
• Operational monitoring and improvement of programmatic delivery in insecure and remote areas
• Good knowledge of cross-cutting issues, such as environment & climate change adaptations, gender, protection mainstreaming, etc.
• Knowledge of SI sectors of intervention (WASH, FSL, CASH Modality, Shelter) is a plus
• Experience in partnerships mapping and development

Transversal skills:

• Autonomy, prioritization and self-organization
• Management and leader