South Sudan: Senior Field Coordinator for Morning Star

AECOM International Development implements the Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) program for the USAID Office of Transition and Conflict Mitigation (OTCM). The VISTAS program designs and implements activities with local partners through an in-kind grant mechanism to prevent the further spread of communal violence and rising tensions in critical areas where conflict may have national implications. In support of these goals, the program will seek to increase space for meaningful dialogue; build cross-line interdependency to promote peaceful co-existence; establish peace constituencies; and counter narratives that support conflict. AECOM, operating in South Sudan as AECOM International South Sudan (AISS), implements this program on behalf of USAID. AISS manages a comprehensive in-kind and cash grants program, providing commodities and services to grantees for the implementation of mutually agreed upon activities.

Background

USAID has identified trauma as a critical element that both deepens the personal and social cost of war, and also contributes to the perpetuation of conflict, turning victims into perpetrators and undermining local dispute resolution mechanisms. USAID’s Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) program is supporting an initiative titled Morning Star - a trauma-informed community empowerment (TICE) program, which will bring practical trauma tools to communities in areas deeply affected by conflict. Through Morning Star, VISTAS expects to focus on community level resilience, focusing on social infrastructure and local institutions. Resource Facilitators are being trained to reach affected communities around the nation and to train local facilitators to present Morning Star materials to their communities.

This SOW provides for ongoing support for the Morning Star program with the role of the Senior Field Coordinator over six months (July to December 2015), with an expected extension from January –June 2016. This role will provide day-to-day management of and support to the resource facilitators who will be the field implementers of the Morning Star program, and coordination with host organizations. The position is responsible for ensuring that Morning Star activities are well documented in reporting and that appropriate monitoring and evaluation protocols are put into place and followed. The STTA will provide deliverables including weekly activity updates (for all resource facilitator related activities), monthly programmatic updates, individual assessments on each resource facilitator on a quarterly basis, and a final report upon completion of the activity.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee and backstop the Resource Facilitators through day-to-day support and management
• Ensure that Resource Facilitators are properly trained in all aspects of the curricula, and receive additional or refresher trainings as necessary.
• Provide direct supervision and mentoring to RFs, including weekly consultation and supervision sessions
• Organize and facilitate regular consultation sessions and on-going training for RFs
• Conduct field visits in order to monitor quality and consistency of RFs’ and Community Facilitators’ activities
• To work with MS staff and communities to identify priority needs for additional MS tools
• Develop reporting protocols that enable proper documentation and accountability, as well as active learning cycles.
• Support the integration of monitoring and evaluation into Resource Facilitator’s daily work to enable lessons learned and shifts in course when necessary.
• Train and mentor the Morning Star Junior Field Coordinator to take the work forward independently after 6-12 months.Coordinate with the Morning Star Grants Coordinator on the roll out of any joint activities in the field.

Deliverables

• Weekly activity notes submitted to the Morning Star Program Director and Executive Directors.
• Monthly Programmatic Updates submitted to the Program and Executive Directors.
• Provide individual assessments for each RF on a quarterly basis to the Program and Executive Directors.
• A final report documenting achievements, challenges and recommendations for the Morning Star program moving forward

Requirements

The consultant must have experience coordinating activities and staff from a distance in conflict or post-conflict settings. They should have some experience with trauma programming, counseling, or psycho-social support. The consultant meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A degree international development, or related fields.
• Trauma programming experience and strong understanding of trauma concepts and related programming;
• Strong experience in reporting, information management, and M&E;
• Experience in managing and mentoring staff;
• Ability to work sensitively cross-culturally, with the local Community Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and religious bodies, and in an inclusive manner across society.
• Fluent in oral and written English. Local South Sudanese languages an advantage.

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