Description
Location: Nyala, Darfur Position Status: Full-time Risk Level: โ Level 3 โxLevel 2 Level 1 (Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability. Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children. Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) About the INGO Forum Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, marked by widespread displacement, disease outbreaks, and confirmations of famine in several โhunger hotspots.โ In an effort to coordinate INGO efforts and establish a common voice for INGOs operating in Sudan, the INGO forum was established in 2009 as a key representation platform. To date, the forum is made up of 51 members and 17 observers operating across the country, including in some of the most difficult to reach parts of Sudan. The INGO Forum is a permanent member of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG). It co-leads the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG), alongside OCHA and spearheads collective engagement with Government and other Authorities as well as with donors. The forum also leads collective advocacy nationally, regionally and internationally through its Advocacy Working Group (AWG) and in close coordination with the regional Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) and Member liaison offices in key donor/diplomatic capitals around the world. Since 2023, the situation in Sudan has dramatically shifted as state and non-state actors wage a brutal war. The situation in non-Sudanese Armed Forces - controlled areas is particularly dire, with humanitarian access severely restricted and the absence of United Nations (UN) presence exacerbating the challenges. As humanitarian needs continue to escalate, there is an urgent need for an interim solution to address critical gaps in coordination, common services and aid delivery. To this end, the three core tenants of the INGO Forumโs work include:
Coordinated aid delivery โ Enhancing operational alignment across organizations to maximize humanitarian impact.
This includes supporting the existing NGO-led coordination mechanisms by facilitating general coordination meetings and serving a secretariat function in these spaces to then feed into broader state, regional and country level coordination platforms. It also includes coordinated engagement with relevant authorities on behalf of and as requested by the collective to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and aid delivery.
Common service provision โ Offering essential support, analysis, and shared resources to facilitate NGO operations.
This includes analysis and advice on access including on collective positions in response to directives and requirements imposed by authorities in areas of humanitarian operations, collective advocacy efforts, information sharing, donor and stakeholder engagement, security and admin SOPs and collective position papers, etc.
Stakeholder coordination and representation โ Engaging with donors, UN agencies, authorities, and the broader humanitarian system to advocate for improved response conditions. There is cause a convening and facilitation role included in this representation function.
General Position Summary The INGO Forumโs Area Coordination Lead position in Darfur has been newly created in order to strengthen coordination across workstreams and enhance the quality of support provided to Members as well as the quality of representation provided in inter-agency platforms in view of ultimately strengthening the humanitarian response in Sudan. This position will focus on improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of Humanitarian Assistance at the area level and developing information systems to improve coordination between the area and central levels of coordination. The Area Coordination Lead will have specific responsibilities for coordinating amongst members to improve evidence-based action, information sharing and consultative processes for collective positioning in coordination with the programmatic Area-Based Coordinators. S/he will regularly engage with Member CDs, OCHA, the Forum secretariat, INSO and local authorities. S/he will also work closely with the Forumโs secretariat (especially the access and advocacy advisor and the director) to ensure that collective positioning, messaging and negotiations are evidence-based and representative of the area-based Member constituency. This position reports to the Forum Director who will lead the overall Forum strategy and representation with a particular focus on operational (not technical/sectoral) and strategic coordination between different facets of the Forum. The position will deputize for the Forum Director and may be required to provide ad hoc surge support to other roles within the Forum given the limited capacity of the secretariat. Essential Job Responsibilities Coordination and representation:
Ensure inclusive gathering of Member positions on topics of discussion to be raised at the AHCT, ASMT, AICCG and other area-based coordination platforms
