Field Coordinator -Afar

Since 1980, Médecins du Monde (MdM) has worked independently in France and internationally to promote universal and sustainable access to healthcare. Active in Ethiopia since 1986, MdM responds to urgent humanitarian needs through a multisectoral approach integrating Primary Healthcare (PHC), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Nutrition, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). MdM provides comprehensive medical, psychological and social support to survivors of violence and promotes harm reduction, particularly for sex workers and people affected by HIV/AIDS. The organization also supports refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by violence and displacement, facilitating access to essential healthcare, psychosocial support and protection services.

MdM promotes inclusive, equitable and sustainable humanitarian responses, addressing barriers faced by women, girls, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Its interventions integrate gender equality, disability inclusion, community participation and protection to ensure that affected populations can access appropriate and quality services.

Title:                       Field coordinator-Afar

Status:                    Salaried

Duration:                10 Months

Direct Report:         General Coordinator/Country Representative 

Functional link:       Deputy General Coordinator

Location:                  Afar region

Effective Date:         Nov 1, 2026

1.    MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

a.     Overall Base Management and Coordination

• Lead the overall management and effective functioning of the Afar field base, ensuring that programme and support functions are integrated, coordinated and aligned with MdM’s country strategy and operational priorities.
• Translate strategic and programme objectives into operational plans, clear responsibilities, measurable targets and agreed timelines for field teams.
• Directly supervise designated field staff, ensuring effective delegation, performance management, accountability and professional development.
• Lead regular base coordination meetings to review programme progress, operational performance, resource utilization, security developments and outstanding priorities.
• Ensure effective coordination between field teams, technical and support departments, consortium members, implementing partners and the Addis Ababa coordination team.
• Identify operational bottlenecks, make timely decisions within delegated authority, ensure follow-up of agreed actions and escalate strategic or high-risk matters to senior management.

b.     Safety and Security Management

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the humanitarian, political and security context in Afar and assess its implications for staff safety, programme continuity, access and operational planning.
• Ensure implementation of MdM security policies, procedures, movement protocols and contingency plans across field operations and relevant partner activities.
• Coordinate with the designated security focal point and senior management to review security risks, update security plans and adapt operational arrangements as required.
• Ensure security incidents, threats and access constraints are promptly reported, documented, analysed and addressed through appropriate mitigation measures.
• Integrate security risk assessments into programme planning, field movements, partner engagement and operational decision-making.
• Exercise appropriate caution and decision-making within delegated authority, including recommending or initiating necessary operational adjustments in response to changing security conditions.

c.     Programme Management and Quality Assurance

• Ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of MdM’s multisectoral humanitarian programmes in Afar, in line with approved proposals, workplans, budgets, indicators, technical standards and donor commitments.
• Oversee programme coherence across relevant sectors, including primary healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, gender-based violence, mental health and psychosocial support, and other approved interventions.
• Work under the functional management of the Deputy General Coordinator and in close coordination to ensure programme quality, technical consistency and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Review programme performance monthly against targets, indicators, expenditure, implementation timelines and expected results; agree corrective actions with responsible teams and monitor their completion.
• Lead or support needs assessments, contextual analysis, response planning, programme adaptation and the development of new project proposals based on identified humanitarian needs.
• Ensure that monitoring findings, community feedback, lessons learned and evolving contextual information inform programme decisions and improve the relevance, quality and accessibility of services.
• Anticipate implementation risks, address operational delays and promptly escalate significant deviations, quality concerns or risks to programme outcomes.

d.     Partner and Consortium Management

• Coordinate field-level implementation with consortium members and implementing partners, ensuring complementary interventions, clear division of responsibilities and achievement of agreed programme results.
• In the current consortium arrangement, where MdM participates as a consortium member, actively contributes to consortium activities, respect and comply with the consortium lead’s agreed coordination schedule, procedures, reporting timelines and decisions, and ensures timely participation in meetings, joint planning, monitoring and information-sharing.
• Ensure MdM’s assigned activities and deliverables are implemented in accordance with approved project documents, partnership agreements, consortium commitments, donor requirements and organizational policies.
• Monitor partner performance, implementation progress, deliverables and reporting obligations within MdM’s area of responsibility, identifying capacity gaps and coordinating appropriate support and corrective actions.
• Track consortium milestones, shared outputs, reporting deadlines, operational dependencies and risks, ensuring timely communication and follow-up with the consortium lead, partners and relevant MdM technical and coordination teams.
• Promote constructive partnerships, mutual accountability, local ownership and effective collaboration while safeguarding MdM’s institutional standards and contractual obligations.
• Where MdM assumes the consortium lead role in future projects, ensure effective leadership and coordination of consortium members, including joint planning, governance, implementation monitoring, risk management, donor compliance, reporting and accountability for agreed consortium results.
• Identify and promptly escalate significant partnership, contractual, safeguarding, financial or implementation concerns to the appropriate management level, ensuring timely resolution and protection of programme objectives.

e.     Financial Management and Donor Compliance

• Directly supervise the Finance and Administration Officer and oversee field-level financial planning, budget monitoring, administrative controls and appropriate use of resources.
• Coordinate with the Finance Coordinator and Deputy General Coordinator on budget preparation, forecasting, expenditure analysis, financial reporting and donor compliance.
• Conduct monthly budget reviews with relevant budget holders, analyzing expenditure against implementation progress, identifying variances and agreeing timely corrective measures.
• Ensure that financial resources are used efficiently, transparently and in accordance with approved budgets, programme priorities, MdM procedures and donor restrictions.
• Ensure appropriate financial documentation, internal controls, supporting records and approval processes are maintained in accordance with delegated authority.
• Monitor financial risks, potential irregularities and funding constraints, ensuring prompt reporting, investigation through appropriate channels and follow-up of corrective actions.
• Contribute to financial accountability across partner and consortium activities in coordination with the relevant finance, grants and programme teams.

f.       Logistics, Procurement and Asset Management

• Directly supervise the Logistics Officer and ensure that procurement, supply chain, fleet, transport, warehousing, facilities and asset management adequately support programme delivery.
• Coordinate with the Logistics Coordinator to ensure compliance with MdM procurement procedures, approval thresholds, donor requirements and internal control standards.
• Ensure procurement and logistics plans are timely, cost-effective and aligned with approved budgets, programme workplans, field access and operational priorities.
• Monitor procurement progress, stock availability, asset utilization and logistics performance, addressing bottlenecks that could affect programme implementation.
• Ensure appropriate maintenance, safeguarding, documentation and control of organizational assets, equipment, vehicles and facilities.
• Anticipate supply-chain and operational constraints and coordinate practical solutions with logistics, programme, finance and technical teams.

g.     Human Resources and Team Management

• Directly supervise designated field staff and promote effective team leadership, clear accountability, appropriate delegation and achievement of agreed performance objectives.
• Coordinate with the HR Coordinator on staffing plans, recruitment, onboarding, performance appraisals, staff development, employee relations and workforce planning.
• Ensure regular supervision, work planning and performance reviews, with clear objectives, documented feedback and follow-up of agreed development or performance actions.
• Promote staff wellbeing, professional development, gender equality, inclusion, respectful conduct and a positive working environment across field operations.
• Address performance, conduct and workplace concerns fairly and promptly, involving HR and senior management as appropriate and following established procedures.
• Ensure staff management practices comply with MdM policies, safeguarding requirements, applicable employment obligations and organizational values.
• Identify staffing gaps and capacity-building needs and propose appropriate measures to maintain effective delivery programme.

h.     Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Directly supervise the MEAL Officer and ensure effective implementation of field-level monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities.
• Coordinate with the MEAL and Grants Coordinator and relevant technical teams to ensure that indicators, monitoring frameworks, data collection tools and reporting processes meet programme and donor requirements.
• Review programme data, indicator achievement, service coverage and data quality monthly, ensuring that evidence informs management decisions and corrective action.
• Ensure timely and reliable collection, verification, analysis and reporting of programme information, with appropriate confidentiality and data protection measures.
• Ensure accessible community feedback and complaints mechanisms are functioning effectively and that feedback is documented, referred to and addressed through appropriate procedures.
• Promote participation and accountability to affected populations, ensuring that community perspectives, protection concerns and lessons learned inform programme design and implementation.
• Ensure timely submission of accurate MEAL information for internal reviews, donor reporting, consortium deliverables and programme development.

i.       Regional Representation and External Coordination

• Represent MdM in Afar with regional, zonal and woreda authorities, humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, donors and coordination forums, within delegated authority and agreed organizational positions.
• Maintain constructive relationships with relevant authorities and humanitarian stakeholders to facilitate programme implementation, access, coordination and problem-solving.
• Participate in relevant health, nutrition, protection and broader humanitarian coordination mechanisms, promoting integrated responses and complementarity between interventions.
• Support effective coordination among humanitarian actors and consortium members, identifying response gaps, operational constraints and opportunities for collaboration.
• Communicate MdM’s programme priorities, achievements, needs and operational challenges accurately and consistently, in coordination with the Addis Ababa team.
• Coordinate external visits, donor missions, assessments and official engagements with the relevant teams, ensuring appropriate preparation, follow-up and reporting.
• Keep the General Coordinator/Country Representative and Deputy General Coordinator informed of significant contextual developments, stakeholder concerns and opportunities or risks affecting MdM’s operations.

j.       Reporting, Communication and Information Management

• Ensure timely, accurate and evidence-based field reporting covering programme performance, security, finance, logistics, human resources, MEAL, partnerships and operational developments.
• Consolidate input from relevant staff and departments for situation reports, programme reviews, donor reports, proposals and consortium reporting requirements.
• Provide regular updates to the General Coordinator/Country Representative on strategic, security and institutional matters, and to the Deputy General Coordinator on programme coordination, operational performance and implementation

• Project management: Knowledge of project cycle management, logical frameworks, indicators, workplans and monitoring.
• Humanitarian response: Understanding of humanitarian principles, emergency response, needs assessment and multi-sectoral programming.
• Leadership and supervision: Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, delegate responsibilities, develop staff and monitor performance.
• Financial management: Ability to monitor budgets, analyze expenditure, forecast needs and ensure donor compliance.
• Consortium and partnership management: Ability to coordinate multiple partners, follow up on shared commitments and support joint planning and reporting.
• Security and risk management: Ability to assess risks, follow security procedures and adapt operations to changing contexts.
• Coordination and representation: Ability to engage effectively with authorities, humanitarian actors, partners and communities.
• Communication and analysis: Strong reporting, negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Adaptability and accountability: Ability to work under pressure while maintaining integrity, safeguarding standards and organizational compliance.

2.     KEY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

a.     Internal Relations

• General Coordinator/Country Representative: Direct supervision, strategic direction and overall oversight.
• Deputy General Coordinator: Functional management, programme coordination, operational priorities and performance follow-up.
• Medical Coordinator and Technical Advisors: Technical guidance, medical standards and quality.
• Finance Coordinator: Budget planning, forecasting, expenditure monitoring and financial compliance.
• Logistics Coordinator: Procurement, supply chain, fleet, transport, stock and asset management.
• HR Coordinator: Recruitment, performance management, staff development and employee relations.
• MEAL and Grants Coordinator: Monitoring frameworks, data quality, accountability, grant compliance and reporting.
• Field teams: Direct supervision, work planning, coordination, performance management and capacity development.

b.     External Relations

• Government authorities: Regional, zonal and woreda-level coordination and facilitation of programme implementation.
• UN agencies and humanitarian coordination mechanisms: Information-sharing, needs assessments, response planning and inter-agency coordination.
• Local and international NGOs: Coordination, complementary programming and joint operational follow-up.
• Implementing partners: Activity planning, implementation monitoring, capacity strengthening and reporting.
• Consortium members: Joint planning, shared deliverables, reporting, risk management and coordination.
• Donors: Programme updates and field visits in coordination with mission management.
• Communities and community representatives: Participation, feedback, needs identification and accountability.

3.     QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

a.     Education

• University degree in public health, health sciences, project management, humanitarian studies, development studies, management or another relevant field.
• Additional training in humanitarian response, project management, security, financial management or leadership is an asset.

b.     Professional Experience

• At least three years of relevant experience in humanitarian or development operations, including field coordination or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-sectoral humanitarian response, coordinating activities across relevant sectors and responding to complex humanitarian needs.
• Proven experience in project planning, implementation, budget monitoring, donor compliance and reporting.
• Experience in consortium coordination or management, including joint planning, partner relations, shared deliverables and reporting.
• Experience in partner management, staff supervision, financial oversight, logistics and operational risk management.
• Experience working with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs and other humanitarian stakeholders.
• Experience in emergency response, remote or insecure field locations, health programming or the Afar context is an asset.

4.     LANGUAGES

• English: Fluent, including professional writing and reporting.
• Amharic: Fluent.
• Other relevant local languages: An asset.